Pai Gow Poker is said to be the hardest casino game to learn. Although the ranking of the hands is rather involved, the concept of the game is quite simple.

Pai Gow Poker Rules

Pai Gow Poker game is a variation of the Chinese domino game Pai Gow. A 53 card deck is used when playing Pai Gow poker, including a joker. Pai Gow poker is one on one, the player(s) against the banker, each competing to make the best possible hands.

In Pai Gow Poker play begins making a wager. Next every player and the banker receive seven cards. The banker can be a player, but is usually the house. A roll of the dice or a randomly generated number determines which player gets the first set of cards. The Pai Gow poker players then each arrange their seven cards into a five-card hand (high hand) and a two-card hand (low hand). When setting the hands the two-card hand may not be higher then the five-card hand in Pai Gow poker. If it is then both hands are deemed \"foul\" and both lose. The joker can only be used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush, otherwise it is treated as an Ace.

The five-card hand is ranked as in poker, with the exception that an A-2-3-4-5 straight is the second highest straight. The two-card hand will either be a pair or two individual cards. The highest two-card hand is a pair of aces and the lowest is a 2-3.

After all the Pai Gow Poker players have arranged their hands, the banker arranges theirs according to a set of fixed rules known as the Pai Gow poker \"house way.\" Then the Pai Gow poker player\'s five-card hand is compared to the banker\'s five-card hand. Likewise the Pai Gow poker player\'s two-card hand is compared to the banker\'s two-card hand. The highest hand wins.

In the event of an exact match between hands, called a copy, the tie goes to the banker.

If the Pai Gow poker player beats the dealer with both hands, the player wins even money, less a 5% commission.

If the Pai Gow poker player wins one and loses one the bet is a push.

At some places, if there is an empty seat, the dealer will also deal a \"dragon\" hand. Another player may assume the dragon hand, if he wishes essentially playing two positions rather than one. The player may have to use the Pai Gow poker house way in setting the dragon hand.

In Pai Gow Poker any player may elect to be the banker in turn. If a player banks the 5% commission is charged on the net win. When a player is the banker the dealer will still play, betting an amount equal to the last bet the player made when the dealer was banking. It is strongly to the advantage of the player to be the banker as much as possible in Pai Gow Poker because the dealer wins on copies and the 5% commission is charged after losses are set against winnings. The opportunity to bank in Pai Gow poker usually rotates from person to person, including the house, but sometimes will zigzag between the players and the dealer.