Playing the Easy-Paced Pai Gow Poker Game

We are mostly familiar with the fast-paced games in casinos. Most games are really simple and easily played and the outcomes are decided at times in a matter of seconds. An example of casino games that are played at this sort of pace would be slots or video poker.

pai gow poker, in contrast, is played in a rather slower pace. Players get to use a 53-card deck with a Joker. This poker variant is quite complex, following suit with the original Pai Gow game from China. The pace of the game is indeed slower than other games with showdowns at times ending in ties.

Like other poker variants, the deal rotates around among the players by turns. Another similarity of this game with other variants is that the dealer also plays the role of banker. But if you prefer to go online, the mode of play is a lot simpler where you play an individual game against the house. Though, an online game may allow you to chat with other players in the game with you, you still play your own game against the dealer like the case in a game of blackjack.

Players get to make their bets at the beginning of a round and then they would each receive seven cards. From their current hand, players would make two hands. One hand would be composed of two cards and the other would have five cards.

The hand that has only two cards is called a front (or low hand) while the other hand that has five cards is called a back hand (or high hand). The unique twist is that players are required to beat the dealer on both hands before they are considered winners. The five-card hand is made into poker hands that most players would be familiar with. The other hand (the two-card hand) is played as a pair. If a player only wins in one hand and loses on the other it is considered a push. If your hands and the dealer's hand are all the same, then the dealer wins. This is known in the game as a copy.

Whenever you win, the house would take a commission totaling to five percent. Let's say you bet a table minimum of five dollars. If you win you only get $4.75 out of the five dollar winnings. Just remember that in Pai Gow Poker, wins are paid at even money (less the five percent commission of course).

If ever you want to spend longer times at a poker table and try out a really interesting game, then Pai Gow Poker would be a great prospect. The pace is slower and the table action has interesting twists.