Next, the Players are each given seven cards with which to make two separate poker hands. The house will still collect a 5 percent commission on any winning hands, and the bank will be alternated between the house and the player (the house dealer will take the bank at least every other hand).Īfter individual wagers are placed in the circle in front of the Players, the Dealer then rolls the dice to determine which Player is dealt cards first. The bank player wins all ties, pays any winners from their own pocket, and collects any losing wagers.
In this instance, all players compare their hands to the bank player rather than the house dealer. Due to a rather slow pace and a lot of ties pai gow poker is less intense than most casino games and a modest bankroll can usually last a long time.Īn interesting element of Pai Gow Poker is that any player can request to be the banker. The game is one-to-one, the player (or players) plays against the banker, each competing to make the best possible hand. The Joker can only be used as an Ace, or to complete a Straight or a Flush. It's played with a standard 53 card deck, including a Joker. Pai Gow Poker is a mixture of the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow with classic American poker.
