Learning the basics will make a huge difference in Pai Gow Poker. If you want more details on the house way or other rules, just check our guide to real money Pai Gow Poker. Most casual players will stick to a strategy similar to the house way. It requires the dealer to play their hand in a prescribed manner. Remember that the dealer must follow the “house way,” which are specific rules every casino has. The dealer will deduct your earnings (for every $100 you earn, the dealer receives $5). You should also know that the house claims a 5% commission on every hand you win. In Pai Gow Poker, the house edge is 2.84%, but you can only achieve that with the optimal strategy. This is the mathematical advantage that casinos have over the players to make a profit. The house edge will also affect your Pai Gow Poker strategy. For example, having a pair of jacks for your two-card hand and an ace-high for your five-card hand isn’t acceptable. Standard poker hand rankings will determine winners, losers, and ties.Īnother important rule I have to mention is that your two-card hand can’t rank higher than your five-card hand. However, you only win money when both of your hands are better than the dealer’s hands. You’ll get to look at them before arranging your cards into separate hands: a five-card hand and a two-card hand (with varying combinations, of course).Īs I already mentioned, the goal of the game is to beat the dealer. You begin by placing an ante bet before you, and the dealer will then receive seven cards face down. The game involves a standard 52-card deck along with a joker card, which can be used to complete a straight or flush. The rules of Pai Gow Poker are very simple, and the ultimate goal of the game is to beat the dealer (just like in 3-Card Poker or Ultimate Texas Holdem). The house edge also has an impact on what you’ll earn over the long term, and you should always try to curtail any disadvantage that exists. Getting good at playing Pai Gow will require you to know the rules, the flow of the game, and the payouts. Here’s everything you need to know about the game. If you’re serious about learning how to play Pai Gow Poker and potentially earning some extra cash, you need the right approach. I also want to explain the rules of Pai Gow Poker in greater detail and discuss other aspects of the game. This includes information on how to optimize every hand and improve your odds of winning. In this guide, I offer you my ultimate Pai Gow Poker strategy. The game is a popular variation of poker that’s simple to play and has extremely low volatility. You can’t win every hand when playing Pai Gow, but you should still try to make the best of every situation.

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