Known as being a hybrid version of seven-card stud and Chinese dominoes, Pai Gow is a casino game you should definitely not miss out on, especially if you’re looking for a thrilling casino experience with a bit of a difference! If you’re interested in playing Pai Gow Online you should have a read through CasinoTop10’s game guide which will help you familiarize yourself with the game and learn the rules, Pai Gow strategy, how to manage your bankroll and a spot of history!
Pai Gow Poker Guide
Although Pai Gow Poker online isn’t as mainstream as other casino games, such as Slots online, Blackjack online, and online Roulette, it’s definitely a crowd-pleaser with gamblers who know how to play Pai Gow the game well. Nowadays, most online casinos offer this exciting game, however, choosing the best casino is often a difficult task for many. So, if you happen to be looking for a Pai Gow online casino to play at, let our experts at CasinoTop10 cut out some of the work for you with our comprehensive list of online casino reviews above. Once you’ve read a few of them and gotten round to choosing a casino to play at, you can make a casino deposit and start playing this fantastic game for real money!
Pai Gow Poker Online
Despite the fact that Pai Gow Poker Online is quite similar to its classic brick and mortar version, its digital variant can have a slightly different feel to that which regular players of the game are used to. Comparatively, in the online version of the casino game, you’ll notice that you can only play against the dealer rather than five other players.
There’s also no banking option for players to take advantage of in the online game. An advantage of playing this casino game online is that you’ll be able to use the ‘House Way’ option in the game if you have no idea how to set your cards. Also in most games, you’ll realize that you’ll only be able to see half of your bit of the table. However, most of the rules are in fact the same.
Facts about Pai Gow Poker
- Pai Gow Poker was first created in 1985 by Sam Torosian, the owner of the Bell Card Club in Los Angeles, USA.
- Traditional Pai Gow is much older, having first been played in China more than a century ago.
- The Joker in Pai Gow Poker can be used to complete a flush or straight in the five-card hand while it functions as an Ace or a Wild in a two-card hand.
- There are many variations of Pai Gow Poker that include exciting side bets and features such as progressive jackpots.
What is Pai Gow Poker?
Pai Gow Poker is a version of a traditional Chinese dominoes game called Pai Gow. Instead of being played with dominoes, Pai Gow Poker is played using a standard fifty-two card deck of playing cards plus a single joker. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer or banker by creating two hands. One hand should be made with two cards and as low as possible, while the other should be as high as possible and is made from five cards.
To win their bet, players must beat the dealer’s two hands. The player’s low hand must be lower than the dealer’s low hand, while the player’s high hand should be higher than the dealer’s. If only one wins, the player’s stake is returned, but if the dealer beat’s both hands, the player loses their stake.
How is Pai Gow Poker Different from Traditional Pai Gow?
Traditional Pai Gow is played using a set of thirty-two Chinese dominoes. The object of the game is the same, to create two hands that beat the dealer’s two hands. There’s the front hand which has the lower value, and the rear hand, which has the higher value. Each hand is made up of two tiles, and players are each dealt a stack of tiles to use.
Pai Gow translates to “make nine” as in most cases, the maximum hand value that can be created is nine. If a hand value goes over nine, the first digit is dropped. Pai Gow tiles ranking is fairly complicated in this aspect. For example, a hand with a five-five and seven-three would add up to twenty, which would be valued at zero.
How to Play Pai Gow
Although the rules of this poker variation might confuse you at first, the game itself is very simple and quick to learn. Our players-turned-experts have managed to compile a few steps for you to follow in order for you to be able to walk through the game. Have a look at the rules below:
Select Pai Gow Poker
Once you’ve clicked on your game of choice and it’s loaded, you’ll then need to place a wager in the betting spot.
Arrange Your Cards
During the final stage of the game, the two hands are then compared to the two hands the dealer has formed. If both of your hands are better than the dealer’s, the result will be in your favor and you’ll be able to walk away with the cash. However, if both of your hands are worse than the dealer’s, you’ll then lose your bet. If only one of your hands is better than the dealer’s, this will result in a push. So, in effect, you’ll win nothing.
Final Stage
During the final stage of the game, the two hands are then compared to the two hands the dealer has formed. If both of your hands are better than the dealer’s, the result will be in your favor and you’ll be able to walk away with the cash. However, if both of your hands are worse than the dealer’s, you’ll then lose your bet. If only one of your hands is better than the dealer’s, this will result in a push. So, in effect, you’ll win nothing.
Outcome 1
If both of your hands are better than the dealer’s, the result will be in your favor and you’ll be able to walk away with the cash.
Outcome 2
If both of your hands are worse than the dealer’s, you’ll then lose your bet.
Outcome 3
If only one of your hands is better than the dealer’s, this will result in a push. So, in effect, you’ll win nothing.
Pai Gow Rules
It’s always important to learn how to play Pai Gow Poker online before you begin. You can always find detailed instructions in the game information online, but here are the Pai Gow Poker rules:
- The game is played between the dealer and the player. Before beginning, the player places their chips to denote how much they want to bet on that hand.
- The player is then dealt seven cards, with which they must make two separate hands. One hand should contain two cards and the other five.
- The two-card hand should have as low a value as possible, while the five-card hand should have as high a value as possible.
- Hand values are the same as in traditional Poker, with the Royal Flush being the most valuable.
- If the player’s low hand is lower than the dealer’s and their high hand is higher than the dealer’s, they win their bet. Ties go in the dealer’s favor, and only beating one hand will mean the player’s stake is returned.
Pai Gow Odds
Standard Pai Gow Poker has a house edge of 2.84%. The house has an advantage over the player because if the player’s hand ties with the dealer, they still lose their bet. The player must beat both hands to win.
The payout in Pai Gow Poker online is 1:1 if you win. However, in some games such as Fortune Pai Gow Poker, there’s a special Fortune bonus payout for making certain hands. These are as follows:
| Hand | Odds |
| Seven-Card Straight Flush | 8000:1 |
| Royal Flush with Suited Royals | 2000:1 |
| Seven-Card Straight Flush with Joker | 1000:1 |
| Five Aces | 400:1 |
| Royal Flush | 150:1 |
| Straight Flush | 50:1 |
| Four of a Kind | 25:1 |
| Full House | 5:1 |
| Flush | 4:1 |
| Three of a Kind | 3:1 |
| Straight | 2:1 |
How Does the Game Commence?
The game starts off when the dealer deals out cards to see who he/she should deal to first by rolling the dice. But before he deals out the cards, you’ll be required to place your initial bet, which is known as the ante, in the betting circle first. Generally, you’ll find that most casinos have quite low minimum bets. However, this is not always the case and will vary from one online casino to the next.
Once the dealer determines who to deal the cards out to first and all bets have been placed, the dealer will then give out seven cards to each player. If some of the seats at the table are vacant, the dealer will still give out cards. However, they will then be removed. Once all players have their seven cards, the cards are then split into two hands; the front hand which consists of two cards, and the backhand which consists of 5 cards.
The Role of Banker
Whilst playing at a brick-and-mortar casino, you’ll notice that the role of the banker alternates from player to player. So in essence, every player sitting at the table has the opportunity to be the banker for one hand. Our experts at CasinoTop10 recommend that you factor in your bankroll provided that you choose to take this option as it’s definitely one that comes with a financial risk. So, don’t leap before you look! If you’re uncomfortable with the extra risk involved in being the banker, you may of course choose to decline the option.
Pai Gow Strategy
Implementing a strategy whilst playing this casino game can definitely improve your chances of winning. Like Blackjack, Pai Gow Poker allows you to use some skill whilst playing. If used correctly, you’ll be able to cut the house edge down by about 2.84%. Ultimately, this casino game is all about how you arrange your hands. So, do take this into consideration. Take our simple Pai Gow Poker Strategy tips into consideration whilst playing the game:
- If you have no pair, straight or flush, you should play the highest card with your front hand that consists of a 5 card poker hand. You should then opt to arrange your two highest cards in the low hand.
- Provided that you have a pair amongst the 7 cards you’ve been dealt out, it would be a good idea to place your pair in the backhand rather than the front hand.
- Provided that you have two, you should opt to place the lower pair in your front hand and the higher one in the backhand.
- If you have three pairs, you should always place the highest pair which ranks well in the front hand, and the two lower pairs in the backhand.
- If you happen to have been dealt the only joker in the deck of cards, you can go ahead and use it to complete a straight flush or to make up a pair.
Pai Gow Money Management
Managing your bankroll in Pai Gow Poker is of crucial importance in order to secure the bounty and claim it as your own at the end of the game. If you happen to wager too many of your chips and lose, you might end up sitting on your couch eating sandwiches for a week because you can’t afford anything else to eat. So, be careful not to let your money dwindle away! Read all about how to manage your bankroll whilst playing this casino game below.
How Large Should My Bankroll Be?
Fundamentally, deciding how large your bankroll should be is up to you. However, our players-turned-experts at CasinoTop10 do recommend that you put aside a bankroll that is anywhere from 50X to 100X the table’s minimum bet is. So, for example, if the smallest wager you can place is $5, your bankroll should ideally be from $250 (50 x 5) to $500 (100×5). But if you want to play for higher stakes than this and you’d like to sit down at a Pai Gow table which has a minimum stake that happens to be $50, your bankroll should be between $2,500 (50 x 50) and $5,000 or even higher.
Pai Gow Money Management Tips
Use these tips to make sure you play Pai Poker Online responsibly and stay on top of your bankroll.
1.Use Your Bankroll Wisely
Remember the key to success most of the time is pacing yourself whilst playing a casino game. So, don’t start off by placing huge bets as you just might end up losing it all in a matter of minutes. Instead, start by placing small bets. If you realize that you’ve come across a stroke of good luck, then think about betting bigger.
2.Take House Commissions Into Consideration
Remember that winners must pay a five percent commission on all winning bets. So, you must take commissions into consideration before you’ve finalized your bankroll. The commissions will eat at your winnings to some extent. You’ll need a bankroll that can handle losing streaks that will not be entirely made up by a winning streak of equivalent length.
3.Be Realistic in How Much You Expect to Win Whilst Playing the Casino Game
Even if your bankroll is large and you can afford to place large bets, you should always try to be realistic about how much you expect to win. You cannot expect to turn $500 into $3000 at a $5 table at the snap of your fingers. Moreover, you should not expect a return every hour or so as you won’t manage to win all the time.
4.Know When To Stop Playing
Pai Gow Poker tends to be a game that develops very slowly. If you started with a reasonable bankroll and lose your entire stake, maybe it’s just best to pack up your things and go home for the day rather than taking a visit to the atm.
Pai Gow Strategy
Pai Gow is as much about skill and selecting the right cards to make the best hands as it is about luck. To win consistently, you’ll need to implement a Pai Gow Poker strategy and understand how to form winning hands. The house edge of Pai Gow Poker is 2.84%, which means that with the right strategy, you can have a lot of success.
- Bankroll management is one of the most important strategies you can use for any game, and Pai Gow Poker is no different. Be sure to divide your bankroll into units and also use a certain number of units for each bet. Stay within your budget, and you’ll have more fun and more success.
- Use a Pai Gow strategy calculator to tell you the best hands to make. You won’t be able to use this at a land-based casino, but it’s easy to use when playing online.
Pai Gow Poker Free
You can play Pai Gow Poker free online at most good online casinos. Take a look at our Pai Gow Poker casino top lists to find one to play at. Playing Pai Gow Poker free won’t win you any money, but it’s an excellent way to learn the game without risking your own cash. You can play as many hands as you like, learning how the game works and the best strategies to use before moving on to the real thing. You can also make use of a Pai Gow bonus Poker free to play without risking your own money.
Pai Gow at Land-Based Casinos vs. Pai Gow Poker Online
Although the original game of Pai Gow Poker played at land-based casinos is pretty much a replica of its online counterpart, there are several differences you should take note of. Read about the differences between the two below.
Pai Gow Poker at Brick and Mortar Casinos
The American Pai Gow Poker game which is played at brick and mortar casinos takes its roots from the Chinese domino game Pai Gow. However, it also includes many of the aspects of seven-card stud and even blackjack.
For one thing, the game is played by using a deck of 52 cards plus a joker. Yet, it’s played on a table that is oval in shape, similar to that of Blackjack, rather than a Poker table. In its classic form, the casino game has six spots at its table and a spot that is reserved for the dealer.
Pros and Cons of Pai Gow Vs Other Poker
Pros
- Making two hands is exciting and adds new possibilities
- The Joker can act as a Wild card, increasing your chances of winning
- Some versions of Pai Gow Poker include progressive jackpots for big prizes
- Many versions of Pai Gow Poker pay out big bonuses for rare hands, such as the seven-card Flush
Cons
- Pai Gow Poker is played against the dealer, so there’s less room for strategy and psychology as with Texas Hold ‘Em
- There’s only one betting round in Pai Gow Poker, so in most cases, the wins will only double your stake
Face Up Pai Gow Explained
Face Up Pai Gow is a slightly different variation of Pai Gow Poker. Rather than dealing their cards face down, all of the dealer’s cards will be visible to the player. The house edge in this variant is as low as 1.81%, making it slightly more favorable than the regular version of Pai Gow Poker. However, the dealer does have an advantage as if they form an Ace High hand, the player’s bet is a push.
Another thing to note is that side bets are included. You can bet on the Fortune Bonus side bet, where you’ll win extra if you have a straight or better with your five-card hand. There’s also the Ace High bet, which pays out if the dealer has an Ace High hand. This is a good way to cover the potential of losing the bet to an Ace High hand. The payout of this side bet depends on the outcome, with the highest giving a 40:1 payout for both the player and dealer having an Ace High hand.
Pai Gow Poker History – The Story Behind the Game
Since its inception in 1985, Pai Gow Poker has quickly become a casino favorite. The casino game was invented in 1985 by the owner of the Bell Card Club, known as Sam Torosia, who decided to incorporate the ancient Chinese domino game Pai Gow and Poker into a new game. Yet, Torosia is hardly a household name amongst gamblers. This is probably due to the fact that on creating the game, Sam received some very bad legal advice on patenting card games. In fact, he never filed one for his game. Once his game had become extremely successful, it was then picked up by multiple other casinos that were in direct competition with his. Unluckily for Sam, they were under absolutely no obligation to pay him a single cent.
Pai Gow Tiles
In Pai Gow Poker, you play using standard playing cards. However, in the traditional game of Pai Go, games are played using dominoes known as tiles. These numbered titles are used in a similar way to playing cards, representing values based on the pips on each tile.
Pai Gow Poker Online FAQs
What is Pai Gow?
Pai Gow is a traditional Chinese game played with dominoes or numbered tiles. It led to the creation of Pai Gow Poker, which is played in a similar way but with standard playing cards instead. In this game, players create a low hand and a high hand with seven cards and try to beat the dealer.
How to play Pai Gow?
Pai Gow Poker uses the standard 52-card deck and includes an additional card being a Joker. The game is played against the dealer who deals 7 cards which you split into two hands (5 and 2). The aim is to have both of your hands better than those of the dealer.
What is the house advantage in Pai Gow Poker?
The house edge in Pai Gow poker is 1.5%. This is one of the lowest house advantages of all casino games.
How do you win in Pai Gow Poker?
In Pai Gow, you win if both of the hands you have organized are better than those of the dealer. In this case, you win. If you and the dealer both win a hand each, it is a draw. If the dealer has both hands stronger than yours, he wins. The order of the best hands is similar to the standard poker winning hands.
Where can I play Pai Gow Poker?
All our listed casinos found on this page have Pai Gow Poker games. Pai Gow poker is a unique casino game especially with the wild card in the deck. It makes the game tremendously exciting!
How to Find Pai Gow Online – Play at one of the Best Pai Gow Casinos for Real Money!
If you’re looking to play Pai Gow online, you’ll be able to find a top-rated casino right here on our site. We rate, review, and rank the best online casinos and only recommend sites that are fair and fun to play at. Before you sign up, check the game library on the casino to make sure it has Pai Gow. Most sites have a search function, so you can type Pai Gow and see if it’s available.
With its low house edge and relaxed pace, Pai Gow Poker online is a game that certainly provides hours of fun and a way to unwind after a long day at the office. Provided that you know the rules well and play the casino game using an optimal strategy, you’ll be able to generate lucrative wins with some of lady luck’s help. So, if you’re tired of playing poker in its classic form, why not try to play this variant of poker instead? Head over to our Best Pai Gow Poker Casinos list above and sign up to get your online casino bonus. Then simply start betting, splitting, and counting your cash after a marvelous win!
