Pai Gow Poker Rules

The aim of Pai Gow Poker is to divide your seven cards into a 'Highest' hand consisting of five cards and a '2nd Highest' hand consisting of two cards. The five card hand must always be better than the two card hand. The five card hand is ranked according to standard poker hand rankings; expect that an A-2-3-4-5 straight is the second highest straight. The two card hand will either be a pair or individual cards. The highest possible two card hand is a pair of aces and the lowest is a 2 and a 3. You have the option to divide your hand yourself of let the computer do it using a method called the 'House Way' (see below for more details).

The game is played using a standard deck of cards and one Joker. The joker can bused to complete a straight, flush or a straight flush, in all other situations it is treated as an ace.

House Way

'House Way' refers to a set of rules which dictate how the dealer arranges their hand. To use the 'House Way' on your hand simply click on the 'House Way' button.

The term 'front' is referring to the two card hand and the term 'back' is referring to the five card hand.

'House Way' Rules:

  • No pair: The highest card goes to the back and the next two highest go to the front.
  • One pair: The pair goes to the back and the next two highest cards in the front.
  • Two pair: Place to two pairs in the back. However, in the following situations they should be split:

     

    • If one pair consists of at least sevens and there is no single ace.
    • If you have a pair of jacks or better and 6’s or better and a single ace.
    • If you have a pair of aces and any other pair.
  • Three pair: Always use the highest pair in front.
  • Three of a kind: Always place three of a kind in the back, except you should split up three aces.
  • Full house: You should split except if you have a pair of twos and an ace or king which can be played in front.
  • Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Place the highest pair in front.
  • Three of a kind twice: Always place the highest pair in front.
  • Straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flushes:
  • Always place a straight or a flush in the high hand. However they should be played as a two pair in the following situations:

     

    • You have any two pairs and a single ace.
    • You have a pair of jacks and pair of sixes.
    • A pair of aces and any other pair.
  • If you have a six or seven card straight or flush you should place the highest hand possible in front and keep the strait or flush in the back.
  • You should play a straight or a flush over a straight flush in order to improve the front hand to a jack or better.
  • You should play a straight or a flush in preference to a royal flush so that the front hand becomes king or better.

Four of a kind: Play the cards according to their rankings as follows:

  • 2 up to 6: Always keep them together.
  • 7 up to10: You should split them unless an Ace or better can be played in front.
  • Jack up to King: Should be split unless the hand also includes a pair of tens or higher.
  • Aces: Should be split unless a pair of sevens or higher can be played in front.
  • Five aces: Should be split unless a pair of kings can be played in front.

Once the hands have been arranged they are compared to the dealer’s and the winner is decided.

If both of the dealer’s hands are worth more than yours then you lose your bet.

If one of the dealer’s hand is higher and the other lower then it is a push and your bet is returned to you.

If both of your hands beat the dealer’s then you win even money on your bet (1:1) less 5% bank commission.

If there is an exact match between the hands (known as a 'copy') then the banker wins the tie.