Pai Gow poker is a simple game to play. It is played with a 53-card deck, which includes the joker. The joker can be used as an ace or as any card that completes a straight or flush.

The house dealer deals the cards into seven hands of seven cards. Six of the hands go to players and one hand goes to the banker. Out of the seven cards each player receives, the player creates a two-card hand (sometimes called the front hand) and a five-card hand (sometimes called the backhand). The two-card hand must rank lower than the five-card hand. The goal of the game is to make two hands that are both higher than the two hands made by the banker. Pai Gow poker uses the same ranking of hands as in other high poker games.

Rules for PAI GOW Poker

• 1. All action proceeds in a clockwise direction starting from the action button.
• 2. You may not show your hand to or discuss your hand with, any other player at any time while the game is in play.
• 3. The total count of the dice points after opening the dice cup determines which player receives the first hand, counting from the banker as number 1 and proceeding clockwise. The banker’s position is always 1, 8, and 15, no matter how many players are seated. Examples: If the dice points total 9, the player immediately to the left of the banker receives the first hand. If the dice points total 15, the banker receives the first hand.
• 4. The point total of the dice also determines the position of the action button, except when the banker position is indicated; in those cases, the first player to the left (clockwise) of the banker receives the action button.
• 5. The banker’s hand will not be opened until all other hands have been set. In the case in which the banker’s hand is opened before all hands are set, the house dealer will set the player’s hand in the house logical manner.
• 6. A misdeal will be declared if:

a. The joker or an ace is boxed or exposed on the deal.

b. Two or more cards are boxed or exposed on the deal.

c. The hands are delivered to the wrong spots and two or more players have looked at their cards.

d. The hands are delivered to the wrong spots and a player looked at the player-banker’s hand.

• 7. In the event that the action hand is pushed to the wrong spot, and only one player has looked at the cards, the hands will be retrieved by a floor person and redelivered correctly. The hand for the player that looked at the cards will be played the house” logical” way.
• 8. An exposed card on the deal will be replaced, after the deal is finished, with the first of the remaining four cards. A boxed card on the deal will be replaced immediately.
• 9. The joker may be used as an ace or to complete a straight or flush.
• 10. You are responsible for the final setting of your hand. The house dealer will assist in the setting of your hand and offer the house” logical” way upon your request, but cannot be held responsible for the final decision.
• 11. Statements regarding the value of your hand are not binding. The cards read for themselves.
• 12. If you set your hands in such a way that the two-card hand ranks higher than the five-card hand, your hand is fouled and the wager is forfeited to the extent that money covers.
• 13. If you put three cards in one hand and four in the other, or one card in one hand and six in the other, your hand is fouled and the wager is forfeited to the extent that money covers.
• 14. You may look at only one hand, regardless of the number of hands on which you have wagered. You can be the “active” player on only one circle (spot) and on only one hand, regardless of the number of hands on which you have wagered.
• 15. The banker’s hand is not set until the banker has signified his or her final decision in an obvious manner to the house dealer.
• 16. A hand that is misread by the house will play at true value if it can be retrieved intact.
• 17. When the banker or player asks the house dealer to help set the hand, the house dealer cannot allow the banker or players hand to set the hand fouled. If the house dealer mistakenly allows a fouled hand to be played, management will set the hand in the “logical way” and play will continue. A banker’s or player’s hand can never be set fouled. If they asked house dealer to help set the hand.
• 18. Management has the right to reset the bankers hand if it is discovered that the dealer did not show the best possible option, provided that both the front and the back hands will increase in value and the payoffs have not started.
• 19. Management may change any of these rules without further notice.