The coin size in Pai Gow ranges from 10
cents to 100 dollars with a max bet of 300 dollars. The object of
Pai Gow Poker is to form a highest (five-card) and 2nd highest
(two-card) hand out of the seven cards you are dealt. The high hand
must always outrank the 2nd highest hand, hence the names “Highest”
and “2nd Highest”. The high hand is ranked as in Poker, except that
an A-2-3-4-5 straight is the second highest straight. The 2nd
highest hand can be either a pair or individual cards. The highest
hand for the 2nd highest hand is a pair of aces and the lowest is a
2-3.
You can divide your hand yourself, or let the computer split it
for yourself, using the House Way. Pai Gow Poker is played using a
standard 53 card deck, including a Joker. The joker can only be used
to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush, otherwise it is
treated as an ace. The House Way is a set of rules that describes
how the dealer arranges his hand. You can use the House Way on your
own hand as well, by clicking the “House Way” button.
The
"front" refers to the two card hand and the "back" refers to the
five card hand.
No pair: Place the highest card in the back
and the next two highest cards in the front.
One pair: Place
the pair in back and the next two highest cards in the front.
Two pair: Play two pair in back
Three pair: Always
play highest pair in front.
Three of a kind: Always play
three of a kind in back except break up three aces.
Full
house: Split except with pair of 2's and an ace/king can be played
in front.
Full house with three of a kind and two pairs:
Play the highest pair in front.
Three of a kind twice:
Always play highest pair in front.
Straights, flushes, straight
flushes, and royal flushes: Always play straight or flush in the
high hand
With a six or seven card straight or flush put the
highest hand possible in front while maintaining the straight or
flush in back.
Play straight or flush over straight flush to
improve front hand to jack or better.
Play straight or flush
over royal flush to improve front hand to king or better.
Four of a kind: Play according to the rank of the four of a
kind:
2 through 6: Always keep together.
7 through
10: Split unless an ace or better can be played in front.
Jack
through king: Split unless hand also contains a pair of 10's or
higher.
Aces: Split unless a pair of 7's or higher can be
played in front.
Five aces: Split unless pair of kings can
be played in front.
After the hands have been arranged, your
hands are compared to these of the dealer’s and the winner is
determined. In case of an exact match between hands (called a copy)
the tie goes to the banker.
