Pai Gow poker

For poker gamblers looking for a new casino game, Pai Gow poker offers an interesting variation from the standard poker format. Pai Gow poker uses one standard deck of 52 cards, plus one joker.  The gamblers play one on one against the banker, and the object of the game is to make two poker hands from the seven cards dealt to each player. One hand is a five card hand as in standard poker, leaving two cards which make up the second hand. The five card hand must rank higher than the two card hand, and both hands must beat the banker for the player to win. If the banker wins both hands the player loses their stake, but if neither the banker nor the player wins both hands, the stake is returned to the player. Gamblers on Pai Gow poker should note that the banker also wins in the event of a ‘tie’, which is defined as when the banker wins the five card hand but the two card hand is tied. It is also important that the Pai Gow gambler understands the role of the joker, which is not a true wild card in Pai Gow. It can be used as an ace in both the five card hand and the two card hand, or it can be used to complete a straight, a flush or a straight flush in the five card hand. We recommend that any Pai Gow gambler using a new site whether online or at a casino should check the house rules regarding the rankings of the five card hand, particularly with regard to the A,2,3,4 5 straight. Normally in Pai Gow poker this straight is ranked below A,K,Q,J,10 and above K,Q,J,10,9, but some online casinos do not apply this rule and rank A,2,3,4,5 as the lowest ranked straight or straight flush. Pai Gow poker can be very entertaining and of course there are a number of strategies which improve the gamblers chances of winning, which we have detailed on our Pai Gow page at Gambling.ie