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How to play Pai Gow Poker:
Pai Gow Poker is the customized version of the Chinese game of Pai Gow which has historically been played with domino type tiles. Pow Gow Poker has transformed the game and it is now largely played in American Casinos on Blackjack like tables. Play consists of a standard 52 card deck and one joker; the joker can be used as an Ace or to complete a flush or straight. In most cases play is made up from six players plus the banker, the players are playing against the banker in which case the casino acts as the banker.
When starting out playing Pai Gow Poker in a casino environment it is always wise to check the table minimum. The table will always have a minimum amount of bets that can be placed there and to avoid disappointment and embarrassment this should be checked in advance. Bets will be made to start the game and the dealer will deal out seven piles of seven shuffled cards. This is the procedure regardless of how many players are playing at the table. To get the game started, the banker will shake a specific cup containing three dice to mark out who gets the first hand of the game.
The first player will look at their 7 cards and sort them into a five card hand which is referred to as the high hand and then a two card hand which is known as the low hand. These two piles will then be placed in their relevant positions on the table; the two card hand should be placed in front and the five card hand behind this. The object of the game is to try and make the five card hand to rank higher than the two card hand.
The Pai Gow table will have 7 spots upon which 1 will be in front of the dealer and 6 for players. These spots are relevant as to where the players’ bets will be positioned. After dealing and the players setting their hands, the dealer will then set their hand. The dealer will then go anti-clockwise round the table checking the banks hands to the hands of the players. This is where it is determined whether the placed bet is won by taking, paying or knocking.
The most simplistic way to play the game is to try and make the highest 2 card hand possible, minus the five card hand. In general, the winning 2 hand would be made up of a pair of cards and the 5 card hand of 2 pairs of cards. If the player is new to the game and requires assistance with how to set their hands, the dealer will always advise on how the house would set the hand. This is a great source of encouragement at the table and makes is less daunting for the player.
As there are lots of cards involved in the game and each new game requires shuffling of the cards, it can take quite a while to play the game. Therefore, a maximum amount that a player can use to make bets can last for long periods of time due to the nature of the game.
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