Pai Gow Poker

The object of Pai Gow Poker is to have a higher five-card and two-card Poker hand than the dealer.

Pai Gow Poker is played using only a single deck, with one Joker. Players are dealt 7 cards, and these cards must be split into a two-card Poker hand and a 5-card poker hand. When making the split, bear in mind that the five-card hand MUSTbeat both the dealer's hands. Therefore, you want to make up this hand using the strongest cards.

Once the hands are made the game is on - Seven cards are dealt face up to the house. If one hand wins and one loses, the hand is a push and no money changes hands. The Joker can be used to complete a straight or a flush, otherwise the Joker always represents an Ace.

If at anytime one of the hands is identical to one of the dealer's hands, it is considered a tie and all ties are won by the dealer(house).

GAME PLAY:

After the bets are placed seven cards are dealt face up. These must be split your hand into a front hand (two-card hand) and a back hand (five-card hand).

Pai Gow Poker HAND RANKINGS, in order of strength:

• Five Aces : Four Aces plus Joker. This is the best hand in Pai Gow Poker.
• Royal Flush : Consists of Ace, King, Queen, Jack and 10 of the same suit.
• Straight Flush : A Straight Flush consists of five cards in order (7-8-9-10-J) and of the same suit.
• Four of a Kind : Consists of four cards of the same rank, plus one other odd card ( 7-7-7-7-8).
• Flush : All five cards in the hand belong to the same suit.
• Straight : Five cards in order, but not the same suit.
• Three of a kind : Three cards of the same rank, and two others (8-8-8-3-2).
• Two Pair : Two sets of two cars of same rank.
• One Pair : Two cards of the same rank.
• No Pair : Place the second and third highest cards in front.