Pai Gow Poker

Casino enthusiasts can choose from diverse games in the modern world. When it comes to Singaporean casinos, games like Sic Bo, Craps or Mahjong are quite popular. However, one game that has started to go trendy is Pai Gow Poker, also known as “Pai Gow.”

Like some of the games mentioned above, Pai Gow is a game that comes from China. The Chinese culture has brought several games (among many other things) into our general culture, and this game happens to be a very popular choice among players from different countries.

If you’re looking forward to learning how to play Pai Gow Poker and having fun for a while, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s what you need to know regarding Pai Gow Poker and how you can start playing it as an online casino real money game enthusiast or perhaps a beginner.

History Of Pai Gow Poker 

As we’ve mentioned, Pai Gow Poker comes from China. The original game doesn’t use cards. It uses a domino set instead. While the original date of this version is unknown and pretty much impossible to figure out, we do know the origins of the current version.

The American version of Pai Gow Poker was born in 1985, and Sam Torosian was the one who brought it to the United States. Torosian took inspiration from Pusoy (Chinese Poker), which was one of the games he played with his recurrent clients at his Bell Card Club. Unfortunately, Torosian didn’t patent the game, and now the game is available in pretty much any casino you can visit worldwide – especially those in Las Vegas.

“Pai Gow” translates to “make nine.” The name pretty much summarizes the nature of the game. While the game doesn’t have such an extensive history, the gameplay can be quite interesting.

How To Play Pai Gow Poker?  

Like regular Poker, Pai Gow Poker has a similar goal: you have to find ways to get the two winning hands throughout the game. You’ll have two hands, one with five cards and the other with two. You won’t be playing against other players; you’ll play against the house. Thus, the game is full of excitement!

Regularly, the game welcomes six players. However, that only happens in in-land casinos. You can play solo in the online version of the game. The game uses a deck of 52 cards, the standard used in most casino games that involve cards.

Here’s how the Pai Gow Poker gameplay goes.

1. Gameplay

As mentioned, the game uses a deck of 52 plus one card, the Joker. Like in regular Poker, you play against the house, and it has similar modes as that game.

The game begins when the player(s) place their bets. Then, the dealer deals seven cards to each player and seven to themselves. Then, each player must divide their hand into two hands: one with five hands and the other with two. This leaves the player with two hands:

• The “High” (H) hand must have a higher value.
• The “Low” (L) hand must have a lower value.

In the regular game, the player is granted an area in the table to place both of their hands, typically an “H” for the high hand and an “L” for the low hand.

In the next step, the players compare their hands with the ones the croupier has. That said, there can be different situations:

• It may be possible that the player’s hands are better than the croupier has. If that’s the case, the player wins.
• Contrary to the example given above, it is also possible for the player to have worse cards than the croupier. If that’s the case, the player loses.
• If both the house and the player win a round, then the player will recover his initial investment. This event is called a “push.”
• Last but not least, if the round ends up in a “tie,” then the player will lose all the funds they put in their wager.

As you can see, the game is quite similar to regular Poker and can be as entertaining as that one. Hence, it can be quite fun, and the player has plenty of opportunities to win.

2. The Joker

As we’ve mentioned above, the Joker is part of the game in Pai Gow Poker. It is known as “the bug.” However, please note that many online casinos do not include the Joker in the cards. In either case, it’s better to be familiar with the gameplay to know what to do in case the casino you’ve chosen actually includes it.

In games like Pai Gow Poker, the Joker plays the “wild card” function. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you can replace it with any card you want in certain situations. You can only use the Joker to complete flushes or straights. If none of those situations applies to your current hand, then you must treat it as an ace. When it comes to flushes and straights, the Joker has the highest value possible. 

Another thing you should take into account is that casinos have different rules for the Joker. Hence, it’s recommended to read out the rules and figure out whether it is included or not before you start playing.

3. Pai Gow 

It’s also possible to get “Pai Gow” o “non-hand.” This happens when the player is unable to make a pair or something better with their current cards. Hence, it can be considered an automatic loss.

4. Side Bets 

You can play Pai Gow Poker variants that include “alternative” or “side” bets that you can use to make the game a bit more interesting and thrilling while also increasing your earnings. These bets are independent of your actual bet – it’s like an “extra” bet you add on top of your actual bet.

The bets can be different in every casino. However, some of the most popular options include the following:

• A “Fortune Pai Gow” allows you to place a side bet on trips or a better hand.
• “Pai Gow Mania” allows you to make two side bets simultaneously. 
• “Jackpot Pai Gow Poker” has several variations, such as having five aces or a royal flush. It can be different depending on the casino.
• “Emperor’s Challenge” is another type of bet that you can have. Similar to the Jackpot Pai Gow Poker, you can win the Emperor’s Challenge if you have five aces or a royal flush (among many other hands). However, an Emperor’s Challenge will grant you a better payout than a Jackpot Pai Gow Poker. 

Like this, there can be tons of other side bets that you can make in Pai Gow Poker. It depends on the casino where you’re playing. That’s why it is recommended to read out the table and figure out all the possible bets that you can make. This way, you can have a better idea of the different ways you have to win throughout the course of the game.

Strengthen Your Pai Gow Poker Skills 

As we’ve described, Pai Gow Poker is a unique game with tons of possible winning combinations you can make to win a big jackpot or lottery. However, it can take you a while to understand how everything works in this game, and that’s why it is recommended to learn how to play Pai Gow Poker and become better at it before you start making bets for real money.

Most casinos offer a “free” version of the game where you can play without compromises. This feature allows you to understand the games and learn all the winning combinations, among many other options.