Pai Gow Poker

For many players in Kuwait, Pai Gow Poker may seem like any other casino poker game, but it has older and deeper roots. It originates from a traditional Chinese game, and after moving to the casino, it transformed into a game completely different from its original form, characterized by a calm playing style and reliance on balance. In this article, we will review everything Kuwaiti players need to know about Pai Gow Poker.

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What is Pai Gow Poker?

The game originates from the Asian game Pai Gow, which was played with Chinese dominoes. It was converted into a poker game in 1985 in the United States, where the dominoes were replaced with a 52-card deck, including one Joker card.

From the way Pai Gow Poker developed, we can say that it is not a traditional poker game, nor is it like Texas Hold’em or Omaha. This game is played against the dealer (the house), comparing the player’s cards with the dealer’s cards to determine the result, whether it is a win, loss, or tie. Pai Gow Poker also has a key difference from other poker versions: it does not rely on a single “hand” but on “two hands,” one of 5 cards and the other of 2 cards.

Cards in Pai Gow Poker

It is essential to first understand the fundamentals of the game, such as the cards used, the number of cards dealt to the player, the Joker card and its function, and the way hands are split, as these details form the foundation of Pai Gow Poker.

Card Distribution

The deck consists of 52 cards plus one Joker, which helps make some “hands” stronger and easier to form compared to regular poker.

Seven cards are dealt to each player and the dealer as well, and each person splits these seven cards into two parts:

• The first part consists of five cards and is called the High Hand
• The second part consists of two cards and is called the Low Hand

The Joker Card and How to Use It

Before we explain the Joker card and its role in Pai Gow Poker, it should be noted that Kuwaiti players may find some differences between platforms in the rules for using the Joker. Therefore, it is important to check the Joker usage rules at the table before playing. Here are the main ways to use the Joker in the High Hand

• Use as an Ace: If the hand does not contain any useful combination, the Joker acts as an Ace
• Complete a Straight: If the player has 4 consecutive cards and is missing one card to complete the sequence, the Joker acts as that card. Example: we have four cards 9♣️ 10♦️ J♠️ Q♥️, in this case, the Joker becomes a King to complete the sequence.
  Note: In the previous example, the Joker could have become 8♥️, but we chose the King because it forms a stronger Straight, as the strength of a Straight is measured by its highest card.
• Complete a Flush: If the player has 4 cards of the same suit, the Joker can complete the flush as the fifth card. Example: A♦️ J♦️ 9♦️ 6♦️, the Joker becomes a ♦️ card
• Complete a Straight Flush: If the player has four consecutive cards of the same suit, the Joker will act as the fifth card of the same suit. Example: we have four cards 9♠️ 10♠️ J♠️ Q♠️, the Joker will be K♠️
• Complete a Royal Flush: Using the same logic, the Joker acts as the missing card to complete the Royal Flush. Example: A♥️ K♥️ Q♥️ J♥️, in this case, the Joker is 10♥️

Therefore, having the Joker among the player’s cards is not a minor detail; it can shift the balance of power, giving Pai Gow Poker its distinctive character compared to other poker games.

Result Criteria: Win, Loss, or Push

The final result in Pai Gow Poker depends on comparing both hands (Low and High) of the player and the dealer. Each hand is compared with its counterpart: the player’s High Hand against the dealer’s High Hand, and the same for the Low Hand. The result is determined as follows:

• Win: If the player beats the dealer in both High and Low Hands
• Loss: If the dealer beats the player in both hands with better cards
• Push: This is the most common outcome in Pai Gow Poker. A push occurs when one hand wins and the other loses, or when either or both hands match the dealer’s hands.

Hand Splitting in Pai Gow Poker

Using the seven cards, players and the dealer build “two hands”: a High Hand of 5 cards and a Low Hand of 2 cards, which are then compared. Therefore, the method of splitting the cards is a crucial factor in the game, as it can increase or decrease the chances of winning.

What Does the Term House Way Mean?

It is worth noting that many casinos and the best poker sites for Kuwaiti players rely on a guide known as the House Way. This guide provides clear rules for splitting hands, especially since hands in Pai Gow Poker can sometimes be split in multiple ways. Therefore, this guide serves as the final authority in standardizing play style. The guide aims to achieve three objectives:

• Strengthen the High Hand
• Balance the strength of both hands, instead of making one strong and one weak hand
• Try to increase the likelihood of a push as much as possible by adopting a defensive strategy

General Examples of Hand Splitting

First, it is very important to clarify that the High Hand must be stronger than the Low Hand. If this condition is violated, the result will be an automatic loss. Here are some examples of how to distribute the cards between the two hands:

• No combination: Place the highest card in the High Hand, and place the second and third highest cards in the Low Hand
• If you have one Pair: Place the pair in the High Hand, and place the two remaining highest cards in the Low Hand
• Two Pair: The common rule is to split the pairs to make “one pair in the High Hand” and one pair in the Low Hand (to increase the chances of Push and winning), but this may vary between casinos
• Three Pair: Place the highest pair in the Low Hand, and the other two pairs in the High Hand
• If you have a Full House: It is usually best to split it, placing the three-of-a-kind in the High Hand and the pair in the Low Hand, as this gives two competitive hands instead of one strong and one weak hand
• If you have a Straight or Flush: They are usually kept in the High Hand

Hand Rankings in Pai Gow Poker

There is no difference between Pai Gow Poker and traditional poker games in the hand ranking table; the difference lies in the presence of a High Hand and a Low Hand, as well as the Joker card, which we explained earlier. However, it should be noted that the Low Hand ranking is limited, unlike the High Hand, as follows:

• Low Hand:
  1. Pair: e.g., A♠️ A♦️
  2. High Card: e.g., A♠️ 9♦️
• High Hand: From strongest to weakest
  1. Royal Flush
  2. Straight Flush
  3. Four of a Kind
  4. Full House
  5. Flush
  6. Straight
  7. Three of a Kind
  8. Two Pair
  9. One Pair
  10. High Card

How to Play Pai Gow Poker

Pai Gow Poker is usually played the same way all over the world, although there may sometimes be slight differences in certain details, such as table commission if any, or rules for side bets and ties. Therefore, it is always possible to check the game rules before starting.

First: The Main Bet

The round starts by placing the main bet before the cards are dealt, and its value must be within the table’s minimum and maximum bet limits. Some tables also allow a side bet called “Bonus Bet,” which is calculated independently of the main bet outcome and has some special features that we will explain later.

Second: Dealing the Cards

After bets are closed, the dealer deals seven cards to each player and to themselves.

Third: Splitting the Hand

Now each player arranges their cards and splits them to form two hands: one with two cards and another with five cards, ensuring that the five-card hand is stronger than the two-card hand, otherwise it will be considered a Foul and cause an automatic loss.
Many casinos and poker platforms also allow the player to ask the dealer to arrange their cards according to the House Way.

Fourth: Comparison Stage

After all participants have arranged each hand, the comparison is done separately: the player’s high hand is compared with the dealer’s high hand, and the low hand is compared the same way. As mentioned earlier, the outcomes are determined as follows:
Winning both hands means winning the main bet
Losing both hands means losing the main bet
Winning one hand and losing the other means a tie, usually resulting in the return of the main bet amount

Side Bets in Pai Gow Poker

Side bets are optional bets that a player can place during the betting stage before the cards are dealt. Usually, there is no link between them and the main bet, as the outcome of the side bet is determined according to specific rules based on its type.

Fortune / Bonus Bet

This bet usually is not related to how the hand is split; rather, its outcome depends on the best combination that can be made from the seven cards. The bet can be placed for any amount according to the table’s minimum limits.

Some tables also add the Envy Bonus feature, which means that if a player places a Fortune bet and another player at the table gets a Four of a Kind or higher, the side bet player will earn certain winnings. Note that activating the Envy Bonus requires betting the minimum amount set by the table for this type, usually $5 or more.

Progressive Side Bets

Before the cards are dealt, the player selects the Progressive option and places the bet, which is usually a fixed amount according to table rules. The outcome of this bet is determined based on the combination of cards that can be made from the seven cards.

At some tables, the card combination must be a Full House or higher; but how is the payout calculated?

• Some special combinations pay a percentage of the jackpot meter (e.g., a seven-card straight flush (♠️ 9♠️ 10♠️ J♠️ Q♠️ K♠️) may pay 100% of the meter, and Five Aces (four aces + joker) may pay 10% of the meter on some tables)
• Other traditional hands pay a fixed amount (such as Royal Flush or Straight Flush, according to the table’s paytable)

Progressive Meter: It is the large number you see on the table or platform, representing the accumulated prize value for the progressive bet up to that moment. It can also be described as a shared “piggy bank” that grows with every Progressive bet placed.

Pai Gow Poker Strategies and Tips

Although poker in general relies heavily on luck, knowledge of playing techniques and poker strategy plays a significant role in improving winning chances. Luck alone is not enough without understanding how to manage the cards.

Pai Gow Poker Playing Strategy

• Focus on the strength of the high hand first: form the best possible combination in the high hand, then optimize the low hand as much as the high-hand priority rule allows.
• Protect the low hand with a pair when it does not weaken the high hand significantly: a pair in the low hand is effective because the low-hand options are limited.
• Split the pairs: place one pair in the High hand and one pair in the Low hand instead of keeping them together, as this increases the chances of winning or tying and reduces losses in both hands.
• If you have 3 pairs: place the highest pair in the Low hand and the other two pairs in the High hand, creating an excellent balance.
• Place the Joker in the High hand most of the time: it is stronger there (completing straight/flush), and move it to the Low hand only if it makes a significant difference, such as a strong pair or preventing a Foul.

Top Tips for Kuwaiti Players in Pai Gow Poker

• Avoid a “Foul hand”: this results in an automatic loss for the round.
• Do not chase a weak straight or flush at the expense of a guaranteed pair: especially if the Low hand is very weak or the High hand is weaker than it should be.
• Do not overdo side bets: although they are fun, they are usually less profitable than the main bet, especially the Progressive.
• Use automatic assistance in online poker when needed: many platforms provide “Set Hand/House Way” to reduce splitting mistakes.

Pai Gow Poker Glossary

• Quick glossary of Pai Gow Poker terms
• High Hand: a 5-card hand which is the most important in evaluation, measured by standard poker ranking (Pair, Straight, Flush…)
• Low Hand: a hand of only 2 cards; evaluated as either a Pair or a High Card
• Push: an outcome meaning you neither win nor lose the main bet; usually occurs when you win one hand and lose the other
• House Way: fixed rules used by the casino to arrange the dealer’s hand into High/Low, often also used to help the player split their hand correctly
• Commission: a percentage deducted by the online casino from winnings in some versions of the game; the rate and application method may vary by table
• Banker: the party who holds the bank for the round. It can be the dealer or sometimes a player (depending on table rules). The banker is compared against everyone, and special rules or commission may apply if present
• Foul: when your hand is arranged incorrectly, the most common reason being that the Low hand is stronger than the High hand. The result is usually an automatic loss for the round

Frequently Asked Questions About Pai Gow Poker