Pai Gow Poker Rules

In Pai Gow Poker, the object is to divide your seven card hand into a five-card (“Highest”) and a two-card hand (“2nd Highest”). The five-card hand must always outrank the two-card hand (hence the names “Highest” and “2nd Highest”). The five-card hand is ranked as in Poker, except that an A-2-3-4-5 straight is the second highest straight. The two-card hand can be either a pair or individual cards. The highest two-card hand is a pair of aces and the lowest is a 2-3. You can divide your hand yourself, or let the computer split it, using a method called the House Way (see below).

Pai Gow Poker is played using a standard 53 card deck, including a Joker. The joker can only be used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush, otherwise it is treated as an ace.

House Way

The House Way is a set of rules that describes how the dealer arranges his hand. You can use the House Way on your own hand as well, by clicking the House Way button.

The "front" refers to the two card hand and the "back" refers to the five card hand.

No pair: Place the highest card in the back and the next two highest cards in the front.
One pair: Place the pair in back and the next two highest cards in the front.
Two pair: Play two pair in back, except split in the following situations:
- One pair is 7's or greater and no ace singleton.
- Pair of jacks or better and 6's or better and an ace singleton.
- Pair of aces and any other pair.
Three pair: Always play highest pair in front.
Three of a kind: Always play three of a kind in back except break up three aces.
Full house: Split except with pair of 2's and an ace/king can be played in front.
Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Play the highest pair in front.
Three of a kind twice: Always play highest pair in front.
Straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flushes:
Always play straight or flush in the high hand except play as a two pair if one of the following:
- Any two pair and an ace singleton.
- Pair of jacks and pair of 6's.
- Pair of aces and any other pair.
With a six or seven card straight or flush put the highest hand possible in front while maintaining the straight or flush in back.
Play staight or flush over straight flush to improve front hand to jack or better.
Play staight or flush over royal flush to improve front hand to king or better.
Four of a kind: Play according to the rank of the four of a kind:
- 2 through 6: Always keep together.
- 7 through 10: Split unless an ace or better can be played in front.
- Jack through king: Split unless hand also contains a pair of 10's or higher.
- Aces: Split unless a pair of 7's or higher can be played in front.
Five aces: Split unless pair of kings can be played in front.

After the hands have been arranged, your hands are compared to these of the dealer’s and the winner is determined:

If both the dealer’s hands are higher, you lose your bet.
If one of the dealer’s hands is higher, one lower, it is a push and your bet is returned.
If both your hands are higher, you win even money on your bet (1 to 1) minus 5% bank commission.

In case of an exact match between hands (called a copy) the tie goes to the banker.

Online Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is a combination of Poker and an ancient Chinese game Pai Gow.
Player receives seven cards, which he/she splits into two hands – a five card hand and a two card hand. The object is to beat the dealer.

First, place a bet by selecting a chip and clicking on the Bet area in the middle of the table. Place multiple chips if you want. To remove a chip from the bet field, right click on it.
Click on Deal.
You receive seven cards. Leave five of them in the “Highest” hand and select two that go to the “2nd Highest” hand. To send a card to the “2nd Highest” hand, just click on it. To send it back to the “Highest” hand, click on it again. The five-card hand (or the “Highest”) must always outrank the two-card hand (or the “2nd Highest”). You can also click the House Way button to let the computer select your hands in a certain manner.
Click on Done (if you did not press House Way).
The dealer’s cards are revealed. If both the dealer’s hands are higher than yours, you lose your bet. If one of you hands is higher and the other is lower, the round results as a push and your bet is returned. If both your hands are higher, you win even money on your bet (1 to 1) minus 5% bank commission. In case of an exact match between hands (called a copy) the tie goes to the banker.

Click on New Game if you want to play another round. Place a bet again as described above, or click on the Rebet button to place the same bet as in the previous round. Buttons:

Deal	After you have placed your bet, press this to deal the cards.

Clear Bets	Clear the bet you have placed.

Done	After choosing the two cards for the 2nd highest hand, click this button to proceed.

House Way	Let the computer put together your highest and 2nd highest hand in the most efficient manner.

New Game	Start a new game round.

Rebet	Place the same bet as in the previous round and deal the cards.

Skip Turn	Skip your turn when you are playing in multiplayer mode.

Chat	To chat with other players, click this button, type your message and then click this button again (or press enter).

History	See the game history - dates, bets and results of your previous game rounds.

Help	Open the help file (which you are reading right now).

Options	Open the Options dialog box – see the Options section of this help file.

Cashier	This button appears only in Real Money mode. Click it to go to the Cashier. The Cashier enables you to deposit or withdraw money, view your transaction history, etc.

Play For Real Money	This button appears only in Fun Mode. Clicking this will take you to the Real Money mode account creation page. If you already have a Real Money mode account, it will take you to the Real Money mode Login screen.

Lobby	Press this to exit the game and go back to the lobby. You can’t exit in the middle of a game round.

Shortcut keys
If you wish, you can press the following keys on your keyboard instead of clicking on the buttons on the screen.

Press this key	To do this
TAB	Tab between the buttons on the screen.
ENTER	Click the button that is currently highlighted.
SPACEBAR	Start a new game round (same as the New Game button).
Number keys	Raise your bet. Different number keys raise your bet by a different chip value. The number of functioning keys depends on the chips allowed for the current player and can be subject to change.
ESC	Exit the game and go back to the lobby.

Note: These are general Pai Gow Poker rules. They may vary slightly in some online casinos

Note on large wins: Winning amounts of $10,000 or more are considered to be large wins. Games involving large wins are verified by a live operator.

Note on disconnections: If you are disconnected from the Internet in the middle of a game while playing for Real Money, re-establish your Internet connection and log back into the casino. You will be automatically directed to the game that was interrupted so you can continue playing.

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