Pai gow poker got started in the United States. It’s inspired by – but not to be confused with – pai gow, the Chinese domino game.
History of Pai Gow Poker – when 53 American cards meet 32 Chinese domino tiles. To begin, before we dive into the nitty-gritty of this, Pai Gow guide let’s see how this popular casino game was created and what features make it so enjoyable for millions of players from all corners of the globe. One of my favorite casino games is Pai Gow Poker. Pai Gow is a form of poker amongst many different variations of the game you can find in actual casinos and online. See pokersites.com for a list of top rated online poker sites. It is a surprisingly enjoyable combination of the Chinese game Pai Gow, and poker.
Pai gow poker was created in the USA by Sam Torosian and Fred Wolf.
Sam Torosian is the one who invented the game. But no one really knows who he is. The reason why is sort of sad.
Sam received bad legal advice from both Mike Caro, a poker player and author, and a lawyer. Both said card games were public domain. In other words, Sam couldn’t patent his game.
After adding the game to his casino floor, and Fred Wolf doing the same in the casino he managed, pai gow poker took off.
Unfortunately, Torosian later found out he could patent pai gow poker. But he had only one year after introducing the game before it became public domain.
Sam missed his window…and an estimated $70,000+ per month in royalty checks.
And it’s probably also because of Torosian’s mistake that Fred Wolf patented every other game he’s invented. Those include Sweepstakes Blackjack, Fast-Action Hold’em, Lucky Pan-9, and Pai Gow Jokers.
Two years ago, I started playing Pai Gow Poker. The following Pai Gow Poker Tips for Beginners will get you started. Compared to Pai Gow Tiles, Pai Gow Poker is a relatively easy game. To begin with, it’s important to know the rules to increase your chances of winning.
Pai Gow Tiles Optimal Strategy
First, a little Background
Pai Gow Poker as we know it today first came about in the mid 1980’s. There is some controversy surrounding who first developed the game. Generally, its origins are most widely credited to Sam Torosian and his partner Fred Wolf. The game was modeled and named after Pai Gow Tiles. This Chinese domino game dates back about a thousand years to the Song Dynasty, 960 to 1279.
Six players join the dealer at the table where they play with a 52-card deck plus one joker. Each player is dealt a seven-card hand. This is divided into two hands, one with five cards and the other with two. The goal is to defeat both of the hands of the banker, a role that is usually filled by either the dealer, Players can bank the hand as well.
How to play
Pai Gow Tile Game
The standard poker rankings apply. In addition, players must make sure that the five-card hand has a greater value than the two-card hand. Once the players have arranged their hands, they play it against the banker’s. (usually the dealer)
Dealers are allowed to help players arrange their hands. This called “house way.” It is the same rules that the dealer sets their two hands. If you set your cards incorrectly, you’ll automatically lose. Subsequently, ask the dealer for placement tips before the hand is dealt. Showing your hand to other players and even the pit boss is acceptable for the correct strategy.
A player is a winner if both hands beat the banker; they’re a loser if the dealer/banker beats their hands. If one hand wins but the other loses, a push occurs. This means that no money is exchanged. If a player ties with the banker, the banker automatically wins.
Pai Gow is usually played because it is a slow game, with many pushes. Approximately >40% of hand are pushes. On these bets, you neither win nor lose your original ante. Side bets either win or lose.
Pai Gow Poker Tips for Beginners – Strategy
Here are some basic strategy tips for beginners from Play Pai Gai Poker.org:
- Don’t split pairs. You’re better off keeping the pair in back, and, in most cases, will push the hand (at worst).
- With 2 pair, place your strongest pair in back (weakest pair in front).
- With 3 of a kind, only split them up when you are holding aces. Keep a pair in back, and one ace up front.
- With 3 pairs, split them up to have 2 pair in back and 1 pair in front. Place your strongest pair up front.
- With 4 of a kind, split them up and put a pair up front. The exception to this rule is if you’re holding quad 2s through 6s. Always keep these hands intact.
- Split full houses. This is counter intuitive, I know. But chances are high that if you keep the hand intact (in back) that you’ll push (at best). When you split the hand up you have a (high) chance of winning.
- When in doubt, ask the dealer to set your cards ‘the house way.’ This is better than guessing and making less than optimal plays.
Pai Gow Tiles Strategy Tips
The Joker in Pai Gow by Toby Bochan from About Poker.com
Instead of acting as a whatever-card-you-want wild card, the joker in Pai Gow is called a “bug.” It acts as an ace unless it can be used to fill out a straight or a flush. This also means that you can have five aces, which is the best possible five-card hand in Pai Gow..
So there you have it. I suggest you check out the Wizard of Odds website to practice before you hit the tables.
Related Post – Resouces for Gambling Part 3 – Pai Gow Poker
That’s all for today.
Binbin