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Card Games
A complete in depth review of the Pai Gow Poker game at CasinoRoom.
What is Pai Gow Poker?
Pai Gow Poker is a fun and relaxing variation of poker where the object is to beat the dealers hand twice!
Out of seven cards a player must derive two separate poker hands a 5 card hand (high) and one 2 card hand (low) and beat both of the similarly constructed dealer hands.
Pai Gow Poker also features a side bet called the Fortune Bet.
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How to Play Pai Gow Poker
Placing and removing bets
You place chips by using the left mouse button and you remove them by using the right mouse button. The Re-bet (F1) places a bet equivalent to the preciously made bet.
There are two different bets to place in Pai Gow Poker.
The ante bet (forced) is placed in the left $ field and the optional Fortune Bet is placed in the right $ field. Maximum and minimum bet amounts are
displayed in the upper left info field.
Cashier
To make more funds available for play please click on the cashier ($) icon. You cash out simply by leaving the game (X). All your winnings will then be
automatically added to you CasinoRoom.com account.
Payout table
You can easily access the Fortune Bet payout table by clicking on the "P" icon.
Winnings
All winnings are automatically added to your stack minus a 5% commission.
Arranging a hand
Once you're satisfied with your bet click "deal". This will bring up a close-up view of your seven cards. You either click on the two cards you want to
become your two card low hand or press "hint" (F5) for suggestion of how to arrange them. Using the "hint" feature will arrange your hand based on the same
rules than govern the automatic arrangement of the dealer's cards.
Commit (F6) finalizes your selection.
Fortune Bet
To play the Fortune Bet place a chip in the right $ field on the layout. The Fortune Bet pays out separately from the ante bet and requires a five-card
straight and up in order to pay. The Fortune Bet is based on the full 7 card hand is not affected by how you choose to arrange your cards.
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Pai Gow Poker Rules
As soon as all the players at the tables have placed their bets, the dealer will deal seven cards to each player including himself.
Your task is to arrange these seven cards into two separate hands. The high hand (5 cards) and the low hand (2 cards). Based on the Pai Gow Poker hand
rankings, you must arrange them in a way that will beat both the two corresponding dealer hands.
You can arrange them any way you like, but you must always follow this one simple rule:
The high hand must ALWAYS be a better ranked hand than the low hand.
There is also an option to let the game automatically arrange your hands based on some basic principles. These are the same principles used to arrange the
dealer's hand.
The deck used to play Pai Gow Poker is a standard 52 card deck with the addition of a joker.
The joker can only be used to complete a straight, a flush or straight flush. Otherwise it is treated like an ace.
Once you have finished arranging your hands, the dealer flips his cards.
The outcome is determined as follows:
| HIGH HAND |
LOW HAND |
OUTCOME |
PAYOUT |
| Win |
Win |
Win |
1 to 1 |
| Win |
Lose |
Draw |
- |
| Lose |
Win |
Draw |
- |
| Lose |
Lose |
Loss |
Bet lost |
| Note: All winning bets will be charged a 5% commission. |
The dealer wins push (stand off) hands like pair of aces against pair of aces.
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Pai Gow Poker Hand Rankings
These are the rankings whereupon your hands and the dealer's hands are measured. Whoever has the better ranked high and low hand wins that particular part
of the total Pai Gow Poker hand.
HIGH HAND (5 cards)
Straight flush* - A five card straight of the same suit.
Four of a Kind - Four cards of the same value.
Full House - Three cards of the same value combined with a pair.
Flush Five cards of the same suit.
Straight* - Five cards connected by value, i.e. 2-6.
Three of a Kind Three cards of the same value.
Two pairs A hand consisting of two separate pairs.
Pair - Two cards of the same value.
* Note: Unlike normal poker hand rankings, the ace to five straight/straight flush is considered to be the second best one only beaten by
the ace to ten straight/straight flush. *
LOW HAND (2 cards)
The best possible low hand in Pai Gow Poker is a pair of aces followed by pairs of lesser value.
Often, however, one does not have a low hand pair. Then the highest card counts.
If both you and the dealer hold a low hand ace, the highest valued second card in the low hands will decide the winner. So a low hand of ace, jack
beats a low hand of ace, ten and a king, six low hand beats a jack, ten hand.
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Fortune Side Bet
The Fortune Bet is an optional bet that allows you to win up to 8000 times your wager!
It plays separately from the ante and pays according to the payout table presented below.
The Fortune Bet is based on the full 7-card hand and it does not matter how a player opts to arrange his hand. Even if he should decide to split five aces
into a three of a kind high hand and a pair of aces low hand he still wins 1000 to 1 on the Fortune Bet.
| FORTUNE BET PAYOUTS |
| Natural 7-card straight flush |
8000 to 1 |
| Royal flush plus Royal match |
2000 to 1 |
| Wild 7-card straight flush |
1000 to 1 |
| Five Aces |
400 to 1 |
| Royal flush |
150 to 1 |
| Straight flush |
50 to 1 |
| Four of a kind |
25 to 1 |
| Full house |
5 to 1 |
| Flush |
4 to 1 |
| Three of a kind |
3 to 1 |
| Straight |
2 to 1 |
| Note: A Royal Match is a suited king and queen. All wild hands contain a joker. |
The dealer wins push (stand off) hands like pair of aces against pair of aces.
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CasinoRoom.com House Rules
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: Use the following groups to determine how to play a two pair:
2 through 6: Low pair
7 through 10: Medium pairs
Jack through king: High pairs
• Low pair and low pair: Split unless holding a king or better, then play two pair in the back.
• Low pair and medium pair: Split unless holding a king or better, then play two pair in the back.
• Low pair and high pair: Split unless holding an ace, then play two pair in the back.
• Medium pair and medium pair: Split unless holding an ace, then play two pair in the back.
• Medium pair and high pair: Always split.
• High pair and high pair: Always split.
• Pair of aces and any other pair: Always split.
• Three pair: Always play highest pair in front.
• Three of a kind: Always play three of a kind in back unless they are aces, then play a pair of aces in back and one ace in front.
• Three of a kind twice: Always play highest pair in front.
• Straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flush:
• With no pair: When choosing whether to play a straight, flush, or straight flush play the category which will allow the highest two cards in
front.
• With 6th or 7th card: Play the lower straight or flush in the back to place the highest cards in front.
• With one pair: Play pair in the front only if a straight, flush, or straight can be played in the back.
• With two pair: Use two pair rule.
• With three pair: Use three pair rule.
• With three of a kind: Play pair in front.
• With full house: Use full house rule.
• Full house: Always split unless the pair is twos and you have an ace and a king to play in the front.
• Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Play the highest pair in front.
• Full house with three of a kind twice: Always play the highest pair in front.
• 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 a king or better can be played in front.
Jack through king: Split unless an ace can be played in front.
Aces: Always split.
• Four of a kind and a pair: Play pair in front.
• Four of a kind and three of a kind: Play pair in front from the three of a kind.
• Five Aces: Split aces and play three aces in back and two aces in front unless you have a pair of kings, then play five aces in
back and kings in front.
| Hand examples |
Case |
Hand |
Arrangement |
Comments |
No pair |
Ac, 3h, 8s, 4d, Tc, Qd, 6h |
Tc, Qd | Ac, 8s, 6h, 4d, 3h |
|
One pair |
Ac, 3h, 8s, 4d, Tc, Qd, Qh |
Ac, Tc | Qd, Qh, 8s, 4d, 3h |
|
Two pairs |
Low + Low, no K or better
|
2h, 2s, 6s, 6h, 3s, 7c, 8d |
2h, 2s | 6s, 6h, 3s, 7c, 8d |
High hand must be better than low hand, so the lowest pair is played in the front |
Low + Low, with one King or better in the hand |
2h, 2s, 6s, 6h, 3s, 7c, Kd |
Kd, 7c | 2h, 2s, 6s, 6h, 3s |
Assuming you take the highest card to put together with the King. |
Low + Medium, no King or better |
2h, 2s, 7s, 7h, 3s, 4c, 8d |
2h, 2s | 7s, 7h, 3s, 4c, 8d |
|
Low + Medium, with one King or better in the hand |
2h, 2s, 7s, 7h, 3s, 4c, Kd |
Kd, 4c | 2h, 2s, 7s, 7h, 3s |
|
Low + High, no Ace in the hand |
2h, 2s, Qs, Qh, 3s, 4c, 8d |
2h, 2s | Qs, Qh, 3s, 4c, 8d |
|
Low + High, Ace in the hand |
2h, 2s, Qs, Qh, 3s, 4c, Ad |
Ad, 4c | 2h, 2s, Qs, Qh, 3s |
|
Medium + Medium, No Ace |
7h, 7s, 9s, 9h, 3s, 4c, 8d |
7h, 7s | 9s, 9h, 3s, 4c, 8d |
|
Medium + Medium, Ace in the hand |
7h, 7s, 9s, 9h, 3s, 4c, Ad |
Ad, 4c | 7h, 7s, 9s, 9h, 3s |
|
Medium + High |
7h, 7s, Qs, Qh, 3s, 4c, 8d |
7h, 7s | Qs, Qh, 3s, 4c, 8d |
|
High + High |
Qh, Qs, Ks, Kh, 3s, 4c, 8d |
Qh, Qs | Ks, Kh, 3s, 4c, 8d |
|
Pair of Aces + any other pair |
Ah, As, 9s, 9h, 3s, 4c, 8d |
9h, 9s | As, Ah, 3s, 4c, 8d |
|
Three pairs |
7h, 7s, 9s, 9h, 3s, 4c, 4d |
9s, 9h | 7h, 7s, 4c, 4d, 3s |
|
Three of a Kind |
Three of a kind, 2s to Ks |
5h, 5s, 5d, 9h, 3s, 4c, 8d |
9h, 8d | 5h, 5s, 5d, 3s, 4c |
|
Aces |
Ah, As, Ad, 9h, 3s, 4c, 8d |
Ah, 9h |As, Ad, 3s, 4c, 8d |
|
Twice three of a kind |
5h, 5s, 5d, 9h, 9s, 9c, 8d |
9h, 9c | 5h, 5s, 5d, 9s, 8d |
|
Straight, Flush & Straight Flush |
Flush or Straight? Play Flush |
8h, Th, 9d, 6d, 7d, 2d, 3d |
8h, Th | 9d, 6d, 7d, 2d, 3d |
|
Flush or Straight? Play Straight |
2d, 4d, 3h, 5h, 6h, 9h, Th |
9h, Th | 2d, 3h, 4d, 5h, 6h |
|
Flush or straight with 6 or 7 cards |
2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 7d, 9d |
9d, 7d | 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d |
|
Flush or straight with one pair, no straight if pair played |
2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 8c, 3s |
3s, 8c | 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d |
If the pair is played in front, the straight can’t be played at the back. Therefore, pick the straight over the pair. |
Flush or straight with one pair, straight even if pair played |
2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 8c, 8s
|
8c, 8s | 2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d |
|
Flush or straight with one pair, straight with or without playing the pair |
2x, 7x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x
7x, 7x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x
2d, 7d, 2c, 3d, 8d, Td, 6d
2d, 7d, 7c, 3d, 8d, Td, 6d
|
2x, 2x | 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x
7x, 7x | 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x
2d, 2c | 7d, 3d, 7d, Td, 6d
7d, 7c | 2d, 3d, 8d, Td, 6d |
There’s a possibility of playing two straights / flushes, one of them allowing also to play a pair in the low hand. In that case, choose to play pair + straight/flush, even if straight/ flush is a bit lower |
Flush or straight with two pairs |
2d, 3d, 4d, 5d, 6d, 3s, 4s |
3d, 3s | 4d, 4s, 2d, 5d, 6d, |
Two pairs rule, even if it means to sacrifice the straight! |
Flush or straight with three pairs |
2d, 3d, 4d, 2h, 3h, Ah, J! |
Ah, J! | 2d, 2h, 3d, 3h, 4d |
The Joker can be placed as an Ace, and then it is the three pairs rule. |
Flush or straight with three of a kind |
Ts, Tc, Td, 9d, 8d, 7d, 6d |
Ts, Tc | Td, 9d, 8d, 7d, 6d |
|
Flush or straight with full house |
Ad, 2d, 3d, 4d, 2h, Ah, J! |
2h, 2d | Ad, Ah, J!, 3d, 4d |
Same as above! (with the three pairs) |
Flush or straight, to complete with J! or card |
7x, Jx, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, J!
7d, Jc, 4d, 5d, 8d, Td, J! |
J!, Jx | 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x
J!, Jc | 4d, 5d, 8d, Td, 7d |
The straight or flush should be completed with the card, and the J played in the low hand as an Ace |
Full House |
Pair higher than 2s |
5h, 5s, 5c, 4d, 4c, 6h, 3h |
4d, 4c | 5h, 5s, 5c, 6h, 3h |
|
Pair is 2s, but no K, A |
5h, 5s, 5c, 2d, 2c, 6h, 3h |
2d, 2c | 5h, 5s, 5c, 6h, 3h |
|
Pair is 2s, + A, K |
5h, 5s, 5c, 2d, 2c, Ah, Kh |
Ah, Kh | 5h, 5s, 5c, 2d, 2c |
|
Three of a kind + two pairs |
5h, 5s, 5c, 2d, 2c, Kc, Kh |
Kc, Kh | 5h, 5s, 5c, 2d, 2c |
|
Twice 3 of a kind |
5h, 5s, 5c, 2d, 2c, 2h, Kh |
5h, 5s | 5c, 2d, 2c, 2h, Kh |
|
Four of a Kind |
2 though 6 |
3h, 3d, 3s, 3c, 5h, 7s, Kh |
Kh, 7s | 3h, 3d, 3s, 3c, 5h |
|
7 though 10, no King for the front |
9h, 9d, 9s, 9c, 5h, 7s, 3h |
9h, 9d | 9s, 9c, 5h, 7s, 3h |
|
7 though 10, King or better for the front |
9h, 9d, 9s, 9c, 5h, 7s, Kh |
Kh, 7s | 9h, 9d, 9s, 9c, 5h |
|
J through K, no Ace for the front |
Qh, Qd, Qs, Qc, 5h, 7s, Kh |
Qh, Qd | Qs, Qc, 5h, 7s, Kh |
|
J through K, Ace for the front |
Qh, Qd, Qs, Qc, 5h, 7s, Ah |
Ah, 7s | Qh, Qd, Qs, Qc, 5h |
|
Aces |
Ah, Ad, As, Ac, 5h, 7s, Kh |
Ah, Ad | As, Ac, 5h, 7s, Kh |
|
+ Pair |
Qh, Qd, Qs, Qc, 5h, 5s, Ah |
5h, 5s | Qh, Qd, Qs, Qc, Ah |
|
+ Three of a Kind |
Qh, Qd, Qs, Qc, 5h, 5s, 5c |
5h, 5s | Qh, Qd, Qs, Qc, 5c |
|
5 Aces |
No Pair of Kings |
Ah, Ad, As, Ac, J!, 7s, Kh |
Ah, Ad | As, Ac, J!, 7s, Kh |
|
+ Pair of Pings |
Ah, Ad, As, Ac, J!, Ks, Kh |
Ks, Kh | Ah, Ad, As, Ac, J |
|
Definitions:
Low pair: 2 to 6
Medium pair: 7 to 10 (T)
High pair: J to K
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