Pai Gow Rules

Pai Gow is an old Chinese game involving dominoes but if you go into an online casino you are likely to come across a poker game of the same name which is based on this original version.

Although it is a poker variant you stand far more chance of coming across it in an online casino rather than a poker site. It is usually played on a one on one basis as the player against the dealer, although you might also find a multi player version.

How Does Pai Gow Work?

You need to decide upon the stake you want to play with, and then you get given seven cards from a standard deck – although there is only one joker, which acts as an ace or to complete a flush or a straight.

The cards are then divided into the high hand and the low hand, with five cards in the former and two in the latter. The casino software system won’t let you make up a hand which doesn’t meet the Pai Gow rules, which means that the higher hand has got to have the higher value of the two.

The high hand works pretty much like a standard poker hand, although the top two straights are 10 J Q K A followed by A 2 3 4 5. The lower hand is often a pair, although it is also often just the cards which are left over. A pair will won over a non pair. If the player and the dealer both have pairs then the higher one wins, while if the value is the same then the dealer wins.

Once the hands are organised you get to see the dealer’s hands and a result is obtained. If you win both hands then the money is yours, lose both and lose the money. If you win one hand and lose the other then you get your money back.


It is a very good choice of game if you want one which lets you use some strategy and make some decisions rather than just rely upon luck.

Choosing a Pai Gow Game

Not all online casinos offer Pai Gow games, and if you like the sound of it then you should have a look around some of the best casino sites to find one which offers it. You will find that the rules are the same all the time and that most sites give you a similar experience.

Carry On Playing

As you pick up new strategies you should find that you enjoy the game even more and start to win more money on it. It is a fine game for anyone who wants to keep on improving and learning new casino skills.