Pao Gai Poker

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Pai Gow Poker Free Games Welcome to the pai gow poker free website! This website was created by experienced pai gow poker players with one simple goal in mind; to help pai gow poker players of all skill levels learn how to play pai gow poker online for free. Playing Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas. Pai Gow Poker (pronounced pi gow) combines the elements of the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow and the American game of poker. A relatively slow-paced game, Pai Gow Poker is played with a traditional deck of 52 playing cards, plus one joker. The joker can be used only as an ace, or to complete a straight,. Free Pai Gow Poker casino game by the Wizard of Odds and selection of real money options.

A set of Chinese dominoes. The top double-row of tiles lists the eleven matching pairs, in descending value from left to right. Below them are five non-matching pairs, worth less than the matching pairs, and also in descending value from left to right. The Gee Joon tiles, lower right, are the highest pair of all.

Pai gow (Chinese: 牌九; pinyin: pái jiǔ; Jyutping: paai4 gau2) is a Chinesegamblinggame, played with a set of 32 Chinese dominoes. It is played in major casinos in China (including Macau); the United States (including Boston, Massachusetts; Las Vegas, Nevada; Reno, Nevada; Connecticut; Atlantic City, New Jersey; Pennsylvania; Mississippi; and cardrooms in California); Canada (including Edmonton, Alberta and Calgary, Alberta); Australia; and, New Zealand.

The name 'pai gow' is sometimes used to refer to a card game called pai gow poker (or “double-hand poker”), which is loosely based on pai gow.

Rules[edit]

Starting[edit]

Tiles are shuffled on the table and are arranged into eight face-down stacks of four tiles each in an assembly known as the woodpile. Individual stacks or tiles may then be moved in specific ways to rearrange the woodpile, after which the players place their bets.

Next, each player (including the dealer) is given one stack of tiles and must use them to form two hands of two tiles each. The hand with the lower value is called the front hand, and the hand with the higher value is called the rear hand. If a player's front hand beats the dealer's front hand, and the player's rear hand beats the dealer's rear hand, then that player wins the bet. If a player's front and rear hands both lose to the dealer's respective hands, the player loses the bet. If one hand wins and the other loses, the player is said to push, and gets back only the money he or she bet. Generally seven players will play, and each player's hands are compared only against the dealer's hands; comparisons are always front-front and rear-rear, never one of each.

There are 35,960 possible ways to select 4 of the 32 tiles when the 32 tiles are considered distinguishable. However, there are 3620 distinct sets of 4 tiles when the tiles of a pair are considered indistinguishable. There are 496 ways to select 2 of the 32 tiles when the 32 tiles are considered distinguishable. There are 136 distinct hands (pairs of tiles) when the tiles of a pair are considered indistinguishable.

Evaluations of three basic hands

Basic scoring[edit]

The name 'pai gow' is loosely translated as 'make nine' or 'card nine'. This reflects the fact that, with a few high-scoring exceptions, the maximum score for a hand is nine. If a hand consists of two tiles that do not form a pair, its value is determined by adding up the total number of pips on the tiles and dropping the tens digit (if any). Examples:

  • 1–3 with 2-3: value 9 (nine pips altogether)
  • 2–3 with 5-6: value 6 (16 pips; drop the 10)
  • 5–5 with 4-6: value 0 (20 pips; ones digit is zero)
A Day tile (left) and a Teen tile (right)

Gongs and Wongs[edit]

There are special ways in which a hand can score more than nine points. The double-one tiles and double-six tiles are known as the Day and Teen tiles, respectively. The combination of a Day or Teen with an eight results in a Gong, worth 10 points, while putting either of them with a nine creates a Wong, worth 11. However, when a Day or Teen is paired with any other tile, the standard scoring rules apply.

Gee Joon tiles[edit]

The 1-2 and the 2-4 tiles are called Gee Joon tiles and act as limited wild cards. When used as part of a hand, these tiles may be scored as either 3 or 6, whichever results in a higher hand value. For example, a hand of 1-2 and 5-6 scores as seven rather than four.

Pairs[edit]

The matching pair of eights (left) is worth more than the non-matching pair of eights (right). If a hand contained one of the tiles on the left and one of the tiles on the right, these would not form a pair at all, since the tiles that make pairs are defined by tradition.

The 32 tiles in a Chinese dominoes set can be arranged into 16 pairs, as shown in the picture at the top of this article. Eleven of these pairs have identical tiles, and five of these pairs are made up of two tiles that score the same, but look different. (The latter group includes the Gee Joon tiles, which can score the same, whether as three or six.) Any hand consisting of a pair outscores a non-pair, regardless of the pip counts. (Pairs are often thought of as being worth 12 points each.)

When the player and dealer both have a pair, the higher-ranked pair wins. Ranking is determined not by the sum of the tiles' pips, but rather by aesthetics; the order must be memorized. The highest pairs are the Gee Joon tiles, the Teens, the Days, and the red eights. The lowest pairs are the mismatched nines, eights, sevens, and fives.

Ties[edit]

When the player and dealer display hands with the same score, the one with the highest-valued tile (based on the pair rankings described above) is the winner. For example, a player's hand of 3-4 and 2-2 and a dealer's hand of 5-6 and 5-5 would each score one point. However, since the dealer's 5-5 outranks the other three tiles, he would win the hand.

If the scores are tied, and if the player and dealer each have an identical highest-ranking tile, the hand is ruled a copy and the dealer wins. For example, if the player held 2-2 and 1–6, and the dealer held 2-2 and 3–4, the dealer would win since the scores (1 each) and the higher tiles (2-2) are the same. The lower-ranked tile in each hand is never used to break a tie.

There are two exceptions to the method described above. First, although the Gee Joon tiles form the highest-ranking pair, they are considered to have no value when evaluating ties. Second, any zero-zero tie is won by the dealer, regardless of the tiles in the two hands.

Strategy[edit]

The key element of pai gow strategy is to present the optimal front and rear hands based on the tiles dealt to the player. There are three ways to arrange four tiles into two hands when no two of them form a pair. However, if there is at least one pair among the tiles, there are only two distinct ways to form two hands.

There are three ways to arrange these tiles into two hands.

Using the tiles shown at right, the following hands and scores are possible:

  • A and B (0), C and D (0)
  • A and C (5), B and D (5)
  • A and D (3), B and C (7)

The player must decide which combination is most likely to give a set of front/rear hands that can beat the dealer, or at least break a tie in the player's favor. In some cases, a player with weaker tiles may deliberately attempt to attain a push so as to avoid losing the bet outright. Many players rely on superstition or tradition to choose tile pairings.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pai Gow.
  • Pai gow lore at Wizard of Odds website (Michael Shackleford)
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pai_gow&oldid=989739017'


Pai Gow Poker is a popular table game in Las Vegas. It is spread at 60 casinos. Many have multiple tables.

One draw of Pai Gow Poker is its slow pace and number of pushes. This helps players stay in the game longer and rack up free drinks. The low minimum bet is also another draw. Some casinos spread it for as little as $5 at locals’ joints.

Las Vegas Pai Gow Minimum Bets

$5 Pai Gow Poker
  • Aliante Casino
  • Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and Boulder
  • Binion’s
  • Boulder Station
  • Cannery
  • Club Fortune
  • Eastside Cannery
  • Fiesta Rancho and Henderson
  • Sam’s Town
  • Santa Fe Station
  • South Point
  • Suncoast
  • Texas Station
$10 Pai Gow Poker
  • 4 Queens
  • Cosmopolitan
  • Downtown Grand
  • Excalibur
  • Fremont
  • Gold Coast
  • Golden Nugget
  • Green Valley Ranch
  • Hard Rock
  • Linq
  • Luxor
  • M Resort
  • Main Street Station
  • Monte Carlo
  • New York New York
  • The Orleans
  • Palace Station
  • Palms
  • Plaza
  • Rampart
  • Red Rock
  • Silverton
  • Sahara Las Vegas
  • Stratosphere
  • The D
  • Treasure Island
  • Tropicana
  • Westgate
$15 Pai Gow Poker
  • Flamingo
  • Paris
  • Planet Hollywood
  • Rio
$25 Pai Gow Poker
  • Aria
  • Bellagio
  • Caesars Palace
  • Encore
  • Harrah’s
  • Palazzo
$50 Pai Gow Poker
  • Venetian

How to Play Pai Gow Poker

Gai
#1: Place Your Bet – Players start by making a wager on the hand. There are usually at least two other side bets. Some Las Vegas casinos offer three. These may include a progressive jackpot, high hand, crown hand and Pai Gow Insurance, which pays if a player makes a hand that does not have any pairs or better.
#2: Seven Cards are Dealt – Once the players make bets, the dealer gives each player seven cards. The order is determined by a machine or dice shaken by the dealer or player. These cards are given in consecutive order and not dealt in a normal poker manner. Seven cards in a row come out of the shuffle machine at the table. The dealer also receives seven cards.
#3: High and Low Hands – Players must set the seven cards into two separate hands. These two hands are low and high. The high hand, consisting of five cards, must beat the low hand, which is only two cards.

#4: Compare Hands with Dealer – Once the player’s hands are set, the dealer shows its cards. The dealer sets the hand based on the house way. This varies from one casino to another in terms of how aggressive it wants to play. Pai Gow Poker is unlike any other game as the operator can determine how the house sets its hand as long as it publishes the method for all players to see.The dealer’s hand is then compared to each player’s hand.

  • If both player hands beat both dealer hands, the player wins.
  • If both dealer’s hands beat both of the player’s hands, the house wins.
  • If the dealer ties one of the player’s hands and wins the other, the house wins.
  • If the player wins one hand and ties the other, the hand is a push.
  • A tie between a dealer’s hand and the player’s hand is known as a copy in Pai Gow Poker.

Pai Gai Poker Rules

Pai Gow Commission

Pai Gow Poker

Some casinos require the player to pay 5% of any win as commission. In general, these houses will permit players to bank the game. Otherwise, a commission-less game is spread where the house has a push hand. These push hands may be a queen-high dealer pai gow, or if the house is forced to play a nine in the low hand.

Even if you are not in Las Vegas, you can play Pai Gow Poker online.

Complete Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker Survey 2018

Pai Gai Poker Free

CasinoGameMin BetMax Bet# of TablesVideo
4 QueensPai Gow Poker105001No
Aliante CasinoPai Gow Poker510003No
AriaPai Gow Poker25100004No
Arizona Charlie’s BoulderPai Gow Poker510001No
Arizona Charlie’s DecaturPai Gow Poker55001No
Bally’sPai Gow Poker1550001No
Bally’sPai Gow Poker2550002No
BellagioPai Gow Poker25100006No
BellagioPai Gow Poker50100001No
Binion’sPai Gow Poker510001No
Boulder StationPai Gow Poker520002No
Caesars PalacePai Gow Poker2550002No
Caesars PalacePai Gow Poker5050002No
Caesars PalacePai Gow Poker10050001No
CaliforniaPai Gow Poker155002No
CanneryPai Gow Poker510003No
Club FortunePai Gow Poker52001No
CosmopolitanPai Gow Poker1050002No
CosmopolitanPai Gow Poker25100002No
CromwellPai Gow Poker2530003No
Downtown GrandPai Gow Poker1010001No
Eastside CanneryPai Gow Poker510002No
EncorePai Gow Poker25100001No
ExcaliburPai Gow Poker1010001No
Fiesta RanchoPai Gow Poker55001No
Fiesta HendersonPai Gow Poker510003No
FlamingoPai Gow Poker1530002No
FlamingoPai Gow Poker2530002No
FremontPai Gow Poker105001No
Gold CoastPai Gow Poker1020004No
Golden NuggetPai Gow Poker1550001No
Green Valley RanchPai Gow Poker1020005No
Hard RockPai Gow Poker1020002No
Harrah’sPai Gow Poker2550005No
LinqPai Gow Poker1030002No
LuxorPai Gow Poker1030001No
M ResortPai Gow Poker1010004No
Main Street StationPai Gow Poker105001No
MGM GrandPai Gow Poker25100001No
MiragePai Gow Poker25100002No
Monte CarloPai Gow Poker1010003No
NYNYPai Gow Poker1020002No
OrleansPai Gow Poker1020004No
Palace StationPai Gow Poker1020004No
PalazzoPai Gow Poker25200001No
PalazzoPai Gow Poker5020003No
PalmsPai Gow Poker1020002No
ParisPai Gow Poker1550003No
ParisPai Gow Poker2550003No
ParisPai Gow Poker10050001No
ParisPai Gow Poker1550003No
Planet HollywoodPai Gow Poker1550004No
Planet HollywoodPai Gow Poker2550001No
PlazaPai Gow Poker1010001No
RampartPai Gow Poker510002No
Red RockPai Gow Poker1020004No
RioPai Gow Poker1550004No
Sam’s TownPai Gow Poker510002No
Santa Fe StationPai Gow Poker510004No
SilvertonPai Gow Poker1010002No
Sahara Las VegasPai Gow Poker10100002No
South PointPai Gow Poker520007No
StratospherePai Gow Poker1010002No
SuncoastPai Gow Poker520003No
Texas StationPai Gow Poker55002No
The DPai Gow Poker1025001No
Treasure IslandPai Gow Poker1050002No
TropicanaPai Gow Poker1020001No
VenetianPai Gow Poker50200001No
WestgatePai Gow Poker1020001No
WynnPai Gow Poker25100004No