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Pai Gow Games – Best Online Pai Gow Casinos

Recently updated on January 5th, 2021

Pai Gow CasinosOnline Pai Gow is an internet-based version of the popular Chinese game called Pai Gow. The online version can either use the traditional 32 Chinese dominoes or playing cards.

Pai Gow poker is one of the most popular versions of online poker in the world. We’ll be looking at both versions of the game for you. Read on to find out more about one of the rarest table games online.

How to Play Pai Gow Online

As we’ve said, there are two versions of Pai Gow for gamblers to enjoy. The first is the traditional domino game, played with 32 dominoes. While the second is played like a poker game with a pair of dice.

Pai Gow Tiles

The game will start with eight face-down stacks on the table. Each stack will have four dominoes, and will be referred to as the ‘woodpile.’ These stacks can be rearranged by you in specific ways, followed by placing bets.

Then, each player will be given one stake of tiles to form two hands with two tiles each. The hand with a lower value is the ‘front hand,’ while the hand with a higher value is known as the ‘rear hand.’

Should the player’s rear and front hands both beat the dealer’s, then the player wins the round. But if the dealer wins, you will lose your bet. However, if one hand loses and the other wins, the player will get your bet back. Up to seven players at the table can play the game against the dealer, but not against each other.

 

Play Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is played with a 52-card deck, and is similar to Seven Card Stud. However, there are some differences that sets the two games apart.

If a player is not sitting in the assigned number, your hand is added to the four discarded cards. This is also referred to as a dragon hand, some land-based casinos will let you pick up this hand and play it. Also, a die is used to decide which number begins the round.

Much like the traditional game, in Pai Gow Poker you will set your hands. However, the rules are different as one hand only has two cards and the other five cards. You begin by being dealt seven cards, which you use to create your high hand and card low hand.

The two-card hand is referred to as the ‘in front’ hand, while the five-card poker hand is called the ‘behind’ hand. During the game, four cards of the deck won’t be used, no matter how many you are at the table.

To win, your hand rankings need to be higher than the dealer’s, which can be achieved with a pai gow poker strategy.

Pai Gow Tiles at Casinos

Pai Gow Glossary

Here are a few common terms used in Pai Gow and Pai Gow Poker at top casinos.

Banker

Also known as the dealer, this is your opponent in Pai Gow.

Co-banking

An option that is available in some casinos, where the player and the house are 50/50 partners as the bank.

Dragon Hand

A hand dealt to an empty sitting position in the game.

Pai Gow Stacks

Flush

A hand with all five cards in the same suit. Such as clubs, spades, diamonds, or hearts. All suits have the same value.

Four-of-a-kind

A hand that contains four cards of the same value.

Full House

Three cards of the same value plus two of another face value.

Hand Behind

The name given to the hand with five cards, as it is placed behind the smaller two-card hand.

Hand in Front

The name of the two-card hand placed in front of the five-card hand.

High Card

If no player has a poker hand with a pair or better, the highest card, or sequence of cards, will determine the winner.

Joker

A card that is also known as a ‘wild card’ in Pai Gow Poker. A Joker can be used in a flush, a straight, a straight flush, or as an ace.

Pair

A poker term for a hand with two cards of the same value.

Royal Flush

The highest-ranked hand in card poker.

Straight Flush

A hand with five cards of the same suit in numbered order.

Straight

A hand with five sequential cards from different suits.

Three-of-a-kind

A hand with three cards or dominoes of the same value.

Tie

When the player’s hand and the dealer’s hand have the same value, the one with a higher number in your hand wins.

Two Pair

Also known as a hand with two pairs, cards with the same face value.

Pai Gow Poker Games

 

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FAQs about Pai Gow

What does Pai Gow mean?

Loosely translated, Pai Gow means ‘card nine’ or ‘make nine.’ Generally, this is the highest value of a Pai Gow hand.

What is the best Pai Gow strategy?

This depends on which version of Pai Gow you are playing. For example, in traditional Pai Gow, there are many different strategies that depend on how well you know the game.

How do Pai Gow tiles work?

As we’ve said before, each player plays with eight stacks that can be arranged to your liking. The tiles are then grouped into two hands, which will be set against the dealer.

What is the ‘House Way’ in Pai Gow?

Typically, this is how the dealer plays according to the ‘house’ or the casino’s method. The dealer will arrange your hand according to the ‘house way’ so that each hand uses the standard house edge. At Internet casinos, this will depend on the software provider and Random Number Generators (RNGs).

Where can I play Pai Gow for real money online?

If you choose from our list of top web casinos, you’ll be able to find the best online games available. Pai Gow and Pai Gow Poker are very popular so you’ll be spoilt for choice.