Pai Gow is a relatively simple game to play. All a player needs is a firm grasp of the poker card rankings and the skill to make the five-card hard stronger than the two-card hand. As such, players need to be strategic to improve their chances of winning. For instance, a player acting a banker has a meager edge of 0.4% against them. On the other hand, not following a strategy means that the edge increases to 2.51%. Being strategic in a seven handed table results in an overall house edge of 1.45%, which is decent considering the slow-paced nature of this game.

What Every Poker Player Should Know About Pai Gow Odds

This article explores some truth about Pai Gow poker odds. These insights can be applied to make your gamming exploits more profitable.

Online Pai Gow Poker guide. Pai Gow is an unusual card game that can best be described as like Blackjack for Poker players - you play against the dealer, but have to form two Poker hands. Although simple, there is plenty scope for players who want to develop an optimal playing strategy. Casino Answers » Pai Gow Poker » Pai Gow Poker Odds & House Advantage Pai Gow Poker Odds & House Advantage It’s always important to know the odds and house advantage of any game you play in the casino, so this is why knowing the odds for pai gow poker is important should you decide you want to dip your toe into the pai gow poker waters. Pai Gow Poker is a game that uses a 53-card deck. In addition to the standard cards, there is a joker. While a joker would be wild and replace any card in most poker games, it has narrow uses in Pai Gow Poker. A joker may only replace a card missing from a straight flush, flush, or straight.

Odds of Play

Any player needs to understand the odds of the game. Players need to understand their odds of winning a hand in Pai Gow, the odds of the dealer winning both hands and the chances that the game will end in a tie. Past statistics show approximately 40% of Pai Gow games end in a push, where neither the dealer nor the player wins. The odds of the other remaining outcomes are almost equal. A dealer has a 30% chance of winning both hands while the odds of the player winning are 29%. Overall, the dealer enjoys a slight advantage over the player.

Odds of Winning Both Two and Five Card Hands

A player's main goal should be to make the best out of the seven cards dealt. This means that they should strive to win both the two and five-card hands. The probability of a player winning with just one of the two hands is undoubtedly not feasible. Players who have dealt with seven cards such as 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and a Jack can get a straight win for the five-card hand, but nothing good for the two-card hand. Ideally, players should avoid folding when they have a strong five hand.

Bonus Pai Gow Poker (sometimes called Fortune Pai Gow) is played in exactly the same way as normal Pai Gow Poker, except that you're given a bonus payout of up to 8000 times your bet if you place a bonus bet and your seven cards hand contains a winning combination - regardless of how you set the front and back.

Banker Odds

Pai Gow Poker odds depend on how the house sets its hand. A player who chooses to serve as a banker plays against other players. This option usually gives the player a tremendous advantage. The banker wins copies. This means that if two people have straights, the banker wins when his or her two-card hand is stronger than that of the players. Also, he does not lose when the player's hand is better. Notwithstanding, the banker is allowed to deduct all losses from their wins before they can pay their commission, a benefit that is not enjoyed by other players.

Effects of Not Banking on Player Odds

Every decision a Pai Gow player makes influences their odds of winning. Thus, when a player opts not to be the banker, this decision gives the house an edge of 2.84%. Two main things inform the house edge. First, players have to contribute 5% of their winnings to the casino, and secondly, the commission levied on the bet. Also, when a player opts not to be the banker, he or she stands a high chance of losing a tie with the banker. The decision not to be a banker gives the house an extra edge of 1.27%.

What Every Poker Player Should Know About Pai Gow Odds

This article explores some truth about Pai Gow poker odds. These insights can be applied to make your gamming exploits more profitable.

Pai Gow Poker has become one of the most popular casino table games. It involves the player competing against the banker to make the better low and high hand than the house.

This is a slow-paced, relaxing game. The low number of hands dealt per hour and the number of pushes keep players in the game longer. Some consider it a great way to get comp drinks with little risk.

There are five types of Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas. Each is a bit different. All is explained below, along with details of which casinos offer Pai Gow Poker.

Pai Gow Poker Variants in Las Vegas

Fortune Pai Gow is based on the traditional version of the game. Players may bank this game. The button moves around the table.

Banking is optional. Winners pay a five percent commission on all wins.

Emperor’s Challenge Pai Gow

Emperor’s Challenge is another Pai Gow Poker variant that is based on the original game. Like Fortune, players may bank and pay a five percent commission on wins.

The difference between Fortune and Emperor’s Challenge is the side bets. New casino coming to biloxi.

Pai Gow Poker Fortune Bonus Payouts

Pai Gow Plus is another classic variant.

It is essentially the original version of the game.

Face Up Pai Gow

Face Up Pai Gow now accounts for about two-thirds of the Pai Gow Poker installs in Las Vegas. That is an incredible feat considering the game did not exist a few years ago.

In Face Up Pai Gow, the dealer looks at the house hand before players act. If the dealer has an ace high pai gow, the hand pushes. If the dealer has any other hand, it is set face up and players set their hands accordingly.

This version turns a skill game into pure luck.

There is no commission on wins in Face Up Pai Gow. Players may not bank.

This was the first version of Pai Gow Poker that eliminated the five percent commission on wins. The dealer pushes if the house has a queen high pai gow. Players may not bank. There is no commission on wins.

Best Las Vegas Casinos for Pai Gow Poker

There are many variables that go into what makes a Las Vegas casino the best one for Pai Gow Poker. Some players have a specific variant in mind. To others, the ambience and minimum bet matters more.

Pai Gow Poker Envy Bonus Payouts

Variant	Max Bet
Aliante Casino	Emperor’s	5	1000	3
Arizona Charlie’s Decatur	Emperor’s	5	500	1
Club Fortune	Emperor’s	5	200	1
Eastside Cannery	Emperor’s	5	1000	1
M Resort	Emperor’s	10	2000	3
The Strat	Emperor’s	10	2000	2
Westgate	Emperor’s	15	2000	1
4 Queens	Face Up	15	500	1
Aliante Casino	Face Up	5	1000	1
Aria	Face Up	25	10000

Pai Gow Poker Bonus Odds