Playing Pai Gow poker online in 2023
Pai Gow poker is readily available at many of the top online casinos in 2023, with this popular variant combing elements of poker and a the traditional Chinese game of Pai Gow. Real money Pai Gow poker is not as popular as other variants of poker on the internet, however most gambling sites will have it in either or both of live dealer or random number generated format. Below we will run you through the Pai Gow poker rules, betting and gameplay, hand rankings, some basic strategy and history.
The top Pai Gow Poker sites for real money are:
Best Pai Gow Poker sites
The top Pai Gai Poker sites will largely be determined by your location, with whether you can access real money gambling probably the deciding factor. For instance, Pai Gow Poker is readily available in the United Kingdom, where there is regulated gambling, however other places, like Australia, have outright banned online casinos.
The two different formats of Pai Gow Poker you will find at online casinos are live dealer and random number generated (RNG) games.
Pai Gow Poker in live dealer is essentially when you play against the dealer. You will see the cards being dealt out on a live video feed, while you can place your bets on a graphical interface. The gameplay mirrors that which you will find at retail casinos.
RNG Pai Gow Poker is slightly different in that all of the game is based around graphics, rather than a video feed. These Pai Gai Poker games for real money are perfectly safe and are audited in much the same as live games, although they are controlled by a computer, rather than a dealer in a studio.
The best online casinos with Pai Gow Poker generally have a bevy of gambling deposit options available, with these suiting many different currencies and jurisdictions. These range from everything to credit and debit cards, right through to cryptocurrencies and other unique payment options.
Pai Gow Poker rules
Pai gow poker is a casino game played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards plus one joker. The goal Pai Gow Poker is to split a seven-card hand into two hands, one with five cards and one with two cards. The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand.
To start a game of Pai Gow poker, each player places a bet and the dealer deals seven cards to each player and himself. The players then look at their cards and divide them into two hands: a two-card hand and a five-card hand. The two-card hand must be a pair or a high card, and the five-card hand must be a standard poker hand.
Once all the players have set their hands, the dealer sets his own hand according to a set of rules known as the “house way.” The dealer’s hands are then compared to the players’ hands. If both of the player’s hands beat both of the dealer’s hands, the player wins their bet. If both of the dealer’s hands beat both of the player’s hands, the player loses their bet. If one of the player’s hands beats one of the dealer’s hands and the other hand loses to the other dealer’s hand, the bet is a push and the player’s bet is returned.
In Pai Gow poker, the joker can be used as an ace or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush. It cannot be used in any other way.
That’s the basic rules of Pai Gow poker. It’s a simple and enjoyable game that combines elements of poker and the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow.
Pai Gow poker betting and gameplay
In the game of Pai Gow Poker, players place their bets before the cards are dealt. This is known as the “ante” or the “initial bet.” Once the cards have been dealt and the players have set their hands, the dealer will reveal their own hand and compare it to the players’ hands to determine who has won. If the player has won both of their hands (the two-card hand and the five-card hand), they will receive a payout based on the initial bet they made.
Pai Gow Poker is typically played with a fixed betting limit, meaning that players are only allowed to bet a certain amount on each hand. The exact amount of the betting limit will vary depending on the casino or online site where the game is being played.
In addition to the initial bet, players may also have the option to place a “bonus bet” before the cards are dealt. This is an optional bet that is separate from the initial bet, and it can often result in additional payouts if the player’s hand meets certain criteria. The specific rules and payouts for the bonus bet will vary depending on the game and the casino.
Pai Gow Poker hand rankings
In the game of Pai Gow Poker, the hand rankings are as follows, from highest to lowest:
- Five of a Kind
- Straight Flush
- Four of a Kind
- Full House
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a Kind
- Two Pair
- One Pair
- High Card
Note that in Pai Gow Poker, the ranking of the hands is slightly different than in other poker games, as the presence of the joker card (a wild card that can be used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush) can change the value of certain hands. In general, however, the rankings listed above are the standard ones used in the game.
Pai Gow poker side bets
In the game of Pai Gow Poker, a “side bet” is an optional bet that players can make in addition to their initial bet. Side bets are separate from the main game and often have different rules and payouts.
Some common side bets in Pai Gow Poker include the “fortune bonus” bet, the “aces up” bet, and the “sevens up” bet. The rules and payouts for these bets will vary depending on the casino or online site where the game is being played.
Making a side bet can add an extra element of excitement to the game and can potentially result in larger payouts. However, it is important to remember that side bets are usually independent of the main game and are not required in order to play Pai Gow Poker. Players should carefully consider their own betting strategy and risk tolerance before deciding whether or not to place a side bet.
Pai Gow poker strategy
Pai Gow Poker is a game that involves a certain amount of skill and strategy, and there are several things you can do to improve your chances of winning. Some tips for developing a winning Pai Gow Poker strategy include:
- Always set your hand so that your two-card hand is stronger than your five-card hand. This is known as the “house way,” and it is considered the optimal way to set your hand.
- Pay attention to the cards you are dealt and try to determine what the best possible two-card and five-card hands you can make with them are. This will help you make better decisions about how to set your hand.
- Try to create two-card hands that have a high card value, as these are more likely to win against the dealer’s two-card hand.
- Avoid splitting pairs of Aces or 10s unless you have a strong five-card hand to go with them. This is because splitting these pairs can weaken your overall hand and make it less likely to win.
- Remember that the joker is a wild card that can be used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush. If you have the joker in your hand, try to use it to create the strongest possible hand.
Overall, developing a winning Pai Gow Poker strategy takes time and practice. The more you play the game, the better you will become at making strategic decisions and maximizing your chances of winning.
Pai Gow poker history
Pai Gow Poker is a relatively modern poker game that was developed in the United States in the 1980s. It is based on the traditional Chinese game of Pai Gow, which has been played in China for centuries.
The game of Pai Gow Poker was created by Fred Wolf, who was a professional poker player and casino executive. He combined the elements of Pai Gow with the rules of traditional poker to create a new game that was exciting and easy to learn.
The first Pai Gow Poker games were played at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, California, and they quickly gained popularity among players and casino operators.
Today, Pai Gow Poker can be found in casinos and online poker rooms around the world, and it remains a popular game among both casual and serious poker players.