Pigow

Pai Gow Online The casino game Pai Gow Poker is a card game that pits the player or players with the dealer. Although is played with a deck of 53 cards plus a wild card, the game Pai Gow Poker is based on the ancient Chinese domino game called Pai Gow. Each player is dealt seven cards and must create two poker hands with these. As stated above, Pai Gow is a slow-paced casino game, suited to the casino enthusiast who prefers a calm, leisurely game. But land-based casinos are rarely, if ever conducive to this sort of atmosphere. They’re busy, loud, somewhat chaotic and purposely keep you on your toes and reaching for your wallet. Pai Gow Poker is a casino table game and is played with a standard 52-card deck plus one joker. The rules are fairly simple. After making a bet, each player is dealt seven cards and must make two poker hands: A standard five-card poker hand and a two-card poker hand.

  • In the game of Pai Gow, each player and the dealer receive seven cards from which each player must form two hands, one of the five cards and one of two cards. Using the standard poker hand ranking methods (see below), the players must organize their cards so that the five card hand is of higher value than the two card hand.
  • Immerse yourself in a fusion of ancient Chinese Pai Gow combined with classic American poker. The game is played with a traditional deck of 52 cards plus one joker –used as an Ace, or to complete a straight or a flush. Choose to play against the banker, or be the banker. This game features the optional Fortune Bonus bet with.

Type of Dominoes Used: Oriental
Type of Game: Oriental Dominoes


(Pai Gow is Cantonese; Pai Jo is Mandarin; aka Pai Kow)

This gambling game is an ancient Chinese or Korean domino game that has become very popular in quite a few Nevada, U.S., casinos.

Additional equipment needed: 3 dice to be thrown at the beginning of the game to determine the deal) and a number of chips of varying shapes denoting different denominations (or anything else that can be used for staking). Use chips during the game for staking and then settle accounts at the end of the game.

Object of the game: To have your high hand beat the banker's high hand and to have your low hand beat the banker's low hand.

Number of players: 4 players (one 'banker' and three 'punters') and any number of bystanders may participate.
Dominoes are stacked facedown in 2 piles, each pile containing 4 rows of 4 dominoes.
Each player takes a turn throwing 3 dice, going counterclockwise around the table and ending with the player who becomes the first banker, to determine where the deal begins. The dominoes are dealt by the banker, counterclockwise around the table, each player receiving 4 tiles.
Players examine their tiles without exposing them. From these tiles they form two separate hands of 2 tiles per hand: a high hand and a low hand, each designed to beat the banker's high hand and low hand. When the 3 players have placed their tiles on the table, they put their stake alongside. The banker may impose a limit if he wishes. Any onlooker may participate in the game by placing a stake alongside the tiles of a chosen player.
When all the stakes have been placed, the 3 players expose their first pair, their high hand. Next, the banker exposes his high hand. Then, the players expose their second pair, low hands. The banker follows by exposing his low hand.
To win a round, one of the three players or the banker must win both hands by holding a pair of tiles of higher standing than his opponents. If two different players win one hand each, the round is drawn and stakes are lifted from the table and may be staked again after the next deal. If the banker wins both hands, he takes all the stakes on the table. If a player wins both hands, the banker pays him his stake, and also those of any onlooker who may have laid a stake with him. The banker also pays the other players and participating onlookers, if their pairs rate higher than both of his. If any player's pairs are lower than the banker's, the banker wins their stakes. There is no exchange between banker and a player unless the value of each pair is higher (or lower) on both hands.
When the gains and losses have been settled, the banker deals the second pile of 16 tiles. The second round is played in the same way.
When both rounds are finished, all the tiles are reshuffled and stacked in two piles of 16 dominoes each. The player on the banker's right becomes the new banker, and the game continues. Players may drop out at the end of any round and their place may be taken by an onlooker.

The game of Pai Gow is considered to be a rather complex game. At least until players have become totally familiar with it. Once they do it soon becomes a favorite. As the participation in the game has grown it has allowed it to increase in it popularity. One of the factors that support this is seen by the number of online casinos that offer the game. It was originally more popular in Chinese culture but has grown beyond this where many different countries now enjoy the game. The game of Pai Gow poker is now offered by many online Casinos.

Pig owl optical illusion

Basic Pai Gow Gameplay

The game is sometimes referred to as double-hand poker, which gives a bit of an indication as to how the game is played. The game is played with the intent of making two hands of poker based on the seven cards that a player is dealt. The two hands are comprised of a high hand made with five cards. This is called the back hand-big hand. The second hand is comprised of a hand comprised of two of the cards, which is the low hand. Called the front hand-small hand. The player’s high hand has to beat their low hand.

How To Win Pai Gow

How To Pay To Pai Gow

There are three ways that a player can come out a winner in Pai Gow. The first is where the player has the cards that allow them to win both hands. Or the opposite is where the dealer wins both hands then the player loses. Another possibility is that the player wins one of the hands and the dealer wins the other. When this happens it is classed as a push so there are no winners. Another possibility is a tie. If this happens then win automatically goes to the dealer. A certain amount of strategy is needed when playing the five-card hand.

Playing Pai Gow for Fun

Pai Gow Game For Fun

Most people that play the game of Pai Gow do so for the fun of the game. Even if they are betting on the game. For those who become upset because they have not won this can take away from the pleasure of the game. It is important that for those who are betting that they are in a position to take a loss, which means they lose their bet. If this becomes stressful then they are not enjoying everything that the game has to offer. There are plenty of opportunities to play the game on line for free with no betting involved.

Pai Gow Rules

History of Pai Gow

The modern version of Pai Gow that is played at most of the online casinos is played with cards, rather than dominoes which is the traditional games. The original game of Pai Gow which is played with dominoes dates back several hundred years as a form of Chinese entertainment. Once this game was brought to North America it evolved into the game of Pai Gow poker which has become so popular. It first became a favorite of many in California in 1986, and then before long it began to make its presence in many on land casinos as well as online casinos.