You Can Stay in this Game a Long Time
This is one of the slower table games that you can play at casinos. Craps and Blackjack are fairly quick movers but Pai Gow Poker, which finds its origins in a Chinese tile game called pai gow, tends to have quite a few ties, which lengthens the game. The nature of Pai Gow Poker is that of a duel between the Banker and the Player. This duel action also results in a slower moving game.
That's the essence of Pai Gow--Player versus Banker, who is also usually the dealer. With a long-playing time and low buy-in, this game is a favorite amongst players who want extended time at the gaming table.
With Pai Gow Poker, as with many casino games of this ilk, players make their wagers prior to any hands being dealt. After all bets are placed, each person gets seven cards, which they group into two hands--one is composed of five cards and the other is made up of two. In putting the two hands together, the Player and Banker arrange their hands so that the five-card hand is stronger than the two-card one.
Once that is done, the hands are compared, with each Player matching their cards with the Banker's. Even money, minus five percent, is paid to the Player for winning both hands. If the Banker takes both hands, the Player loses their wager. It's a push if the Player and Banker split hands, with the Player winning one and the Banker the other. With a push the wager is returned to the Player.
The hands in Pai Gow Poker are ranked as they are in poker. However, rules regarding rankings can vary a bit from casino to casino so make sure you check the house rules prior to playing.
One wrinkle is that a Player may elect to be the Banker. If this is the case, then the Player has the opportunity to take in five percent on any winning hand. The former Banker still plays but like everyone else must now go up against the new Player/Banker.
Becoming the Banker gives a Player the best edge. However, you need enough cash to play versus each person. If you can do it, by all means become the Banker in this game. Taking that spot can result in large payoffs.
You can find Pai Gow Poker at just about any online, full-service casino. If you want a relatively slow, low stakes table game, then you should check this one out.
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