Wouldn’t you love to see the Dealer’s hand set before setting your own? This is now a reality in this fun and exciting version of Pai Gow Poker. Like traditional Pai Gow, the object of the game is for both the Player’s hands to rank higher than both of the Dealer’s hands. Unlike traditional Pai Gow, there is no commission on winning hands.
The Game is played with a traditional deck of 52 cards, plus a Joker. The Joker may only be used as an Ace or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush.
The Dealer will give everyone seven cards. A set of dice or a randomly generated number determines which Player gets the first set of cards. Before any Player is able to look at their cards the Dealer will set their hand into a five card hand (High Hand) and a two card hand (Low Hand) according to an established set of rules known as the “House Ways”. If the Dealer has an Ace High Pai Gow (meaning no pairs, three of a kinds, straights, flushes, or straight flushes) all Player’s main game wagers will push. Then, once the Dealer is done, the Player’s will set their hand into a High Hand and Low Hand as well. The five card hand is ranked as in traditional poker, with the exception that A-2-3-4-5 is the second highest straight. The two card hand will be either 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 Players have arranged their hands the Dealer and Player’s five card hands are compared. Likewise, the Dealer and the Player’s two card hands are compared. The highest hand wins. To win the main game wager both the High Hand and Low Hand must beat the Dealer. To lose both hands must lose. If one hand wins and one hand loses, the outcome is push. If the either of the hands match, it is a tie or “Copy”. Ties are always awarded to the Dealer.
Fortune Bonus Face Up Pai Gow Side Bet
This exciting and fun filled side bet is a wager on the value of the Player’s hand. The pay table starts with 3 of kind (even though a straight pays less odds) and ends with a 7 card straight flush without a Joker. The top payout is 2500 to 1. The side bet is complete with an Envy bonus that kicks in at the Four of Kind level.
Ace High Face Up Pai Gow Side Bet
This side bet is the player’s way to win when the Dealer has an Ace High Pai Gow. This bet will pay odds while the Player’s main game wager pushes. The starting payout is 5 to 1 for a Dealer’s Ace High. The Top payout is 40 to 1 for a Player and the Dealer having an Ace High at the same time.