Pai Gow Poker is a popular table game in Las Vegas. It is spread at 60 casinos. Many have multiple tables.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy. There are various strategies of how to win at Pai Gow Poker from extensive layed out and charted structures that might have a five star general scratching his head over it for days, to over simplified directions that would be common sense to all after a few hands of play. Our intention here is to provide some basics of strategy for the average Pai Gow player so they can.
One draw of Pai Gow Poker is its slow pace and number of pushes. This helps players stay in the game longer and rack up free drinks. The low minimum bet is also another draw. Some casinos spread it for as little as $5 at locals’ joints.
Las Vegas Pai Gow Minimum Bets
| $5 Pai Gow Poker |
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| $10 Pai Gow Poker |
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| $15 Pai Gow Poker |
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| $25 Pai Gow Poker |
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| $50 Pai Gow Poker |
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How to Play Pai Gow Poker
#1: Place Your Bet – Players start by making a wager on the hand. There are usually at least two other side bets. Some Las Vegas casinos offer three. These may include a progressive jackpot, high hand, crown hand and Pai Gow Insurance, which pays if a player makes a hand that does not have any pairs or better.
#2: Seven Cards are Dealt – Once the players make bets, the dealer gives each player seven cards. The order is determined by a machine or dice shaken by the dealer or player. These cards are given in consecutive order and not dealt in a normal poker manner. Seven cards in a row come out of the shuffle machine at the table. The dealer also receives seven cards.
#3: High and Low Hands – Players must set the seven cards into two separate hands. These two hands are low and high. The high hand, consisting of five cards, must beat the low hand, which is only two cards.
#4: Compare Hands with Dealer – Once the player’s hands are set, the dealer shows its cards. The dealer sets the hand based on the house way. This varies from one casino to another in terms of how aggressive it wants to play. Pai Gow Poker is unlike any other game as the operator can determine how the house sets its hand as long as it publishes the method for all players to see.The dealer’s hand is then compared to each player’s hand.
- If both player hands beat both dealer hands, the player wins.
- If both dealer’s hands beat both of the player’s hands, the house wins.
- If the dealer ties one of the player’s hands and wins the other, the house wins.
- If the player wins one hand and ties the other, the hand is a push.
- A tie between a dealer’s hand and the player’s hand is known as a copy in Pai Gow Poker.
Pai Gow Commission
Some casinos require the player to pay 5% of any win as commission. In general, these houses will permit players to bank the game. Otherwise, a commission-less game is spread where the house has a push hand. These push hands may be a queen-high dealer pai gow, or if the house is forced to play a nine in the low hand.
Even if you are not in Las Vegas, you can play Pai Gow Poker online.
Complete Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker Survey 2018
| Casino | Game | Min Bet | Max Bet | # of Tables | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Queens | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 500 | 1 | No |
| Aliante Casino | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 3 | No |
| Aria | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 4 | No |
| Arizona Charlie’s Boulder | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 1 | No |
| Arizona Charlie’s Decatur | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 500 | 1 | No |
| Bally’s | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 1 | No |
| Bally’s | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 2 | No |
| Bellagio | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 6 | No |
| Bellagio | Pai Gow Poker | 50 | 10000 | 1 | No |
| Binion’s | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 1 | No |
| Boulder Station | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 2000 | 2 | No |
| Caesars Palace | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 2 | No |
| Caesars Palace | Pai Gow Poker | 50 | 5000 | 2 | No |
| Caesars Palace | Pai Gow Poker | 100 | 5000 | 1 | No |
| California | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 500 | 2 | No |
| Cannery | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 3 | No |
| Club Fortune | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 200 | 1 | No |
| Cosmopolitan | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 5000 | 2 | No |
| Cosmopolitan | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 2 | No |
| Cromwell | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 3000 | 3 | No |
| Downtown Grand | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 1 | No |
| Eastside Cannery | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 2 | No |
| Encore | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 1 | No |
| Excalibur | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 1 | No |
| Fiesta Rancho | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 500 | 1 | No |
| Fiesta Henderson | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 3 | No |
| Flamingo | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 3000 | 2 | No |
| Flamingo | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 3000 | 2 | No |
| Fremont | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 500 | 1 | No |
| Gold Coast | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 4 | No |
| Golden Nugget | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 1 | No |
| Green Valley Ranch | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 5 | No |
| Hard Rock | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 2 | No |
| Harrah’s | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 5 | No |
| Linq | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 3000 | 2 | No |
| Luxor | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 3000 | 1 | No |
| M Resort | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 4 | No |
| Main Street Station | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 500 | 1 | No |
| MGM Grand | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 1 | No |
| Mirage | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 2 | No |
| Monte Carlo | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 3 | No |
| NYNY | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 2 | No |
| Orleans | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 4 | No |
| Palace Station | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 4 | No |
| Palazzo | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 20000 | 1 | No |
| Palazzo | Pai Gow Poker | 50 | 2000 | 3 | No |
| Palms | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 2 | No |
| Paris | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 3 | No |
| Paris | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 3 | No |
| Paris | Pai Gow Poker | 100 | 5000 | 1 | No |
| Paris | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 3 | No |
| Planet Hollywood | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 4 | No |
| Planet Hollywood | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 5000 | 1 | No |
| Plaza | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 1 | No |
| Rampart | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 2 | No |
| Red Rock | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 4 | No |
| Rio | Pai Gow Poker | 15 | 5000 | 4 | No |
| Sam’s Town | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 2 | No |
| Santa Fe Station | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 1000 | 4 | No |
| Silverton | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 2 | No |
| Sahara Las Vegas | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 10000 | 2 | No |
| South Point | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 2000 | 7 | No |
| Stratosphere | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 1000 | 2 | No |
| Suncoast | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 2000 | 3 | No |
| Texas Station | Pai Gow Poker | 5 | 500 | 2 | No |
| The D | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2500 | 1 | No |
| Treasure Island | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 5000 | 2 | No |
| Tropicana | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 1 | No |
| Venetian | Pai Gow Poker | 50 | 20000 | 1 | No |
| Westgate | Pai Gow Poker | 10 | 2000 | 1 | No |
| Wynn | Pai Gow Poker | 25 | 10000 | 4 | No |
scottbennett63
I was playing Pai Gow Poker at a casino in Las Vegas. The dealer had a button that would tell her how to set her hand as all of the cards are scanned by the shuffle machine. My cynical mind is that the the random generator, the shuffle machine and the loyalty card computer (tracking player bets) could be sync'd to determine which hands should go where. Is anyone aware of this and could Pai Gow now be a pre-determined game such as slots?
Paigowdan
Some are quite aware of this. The system in use is Shufflemaster Inc.'s 'I-deal' system, and it is used on their Fortune Pai Gow product.
Yes, it is true, the table system knows what each player's hand packet is, and also uses a random number generator to determine the start position of the deal, essentially knowing what every position player - including the dealer - has. This is how it knows how to set each position hand to the house way, if a player asks. It also instructs the dealer how to set is hand to the approved house way. This is also why player banking or the dragon hand aren't allowed, - because it disorientates the table computer system has to which position is holding what cards for this hand-setting assist.
However, there is some pushback on the system, namely:
1. Many players become annoyed or infuriated when they see their hand being known pre-deal, then displayed by the table computer system upon a hand setting recommendation. Seeing the cards that we are holding in our hand displayed on the system when asked makes us say, 'the Table computer KNEW my cards going INTO the deal - and is displaying it now! Huh??!!'
2. If, - in a very rare and unlikely scenario, the table software is 'gaffed' or illegally modified, the modified computer code could possibly instruct the system to ship a bonus hand of a Four of a kind or better to the dealer's position - or to a specific player's position. ['Where's the USB port on this thing?!'] Please note that the system does not 'Arrange' hands, as it really shuffles legitimately within the shuffler, it's just that the system knows the composition of each hand after the internal shuffle is done, and after the random number generator determines the deal, and so does NOT say 'who gets what hand.' In defense of this system, also note that the random number generator is disconnected from the database result of the deck shuffle, so that the random number generates the starting position of the deal without knowledge or interest in a random fashion, THEN later is instructed of 'who has what,' so that it can assist in hand setting, if needed. This is very much like a Video Poker machine or slot machine, where the results are known by the system [as the hand is already determined before it is played out by the player(s)], - but is allowed to happen in a fair and random fashion, - and is only tracked to assist hand-setting, and to prevent the introduction of 'mucked cards' into play through after-the-fact verification.
3. Players frequently feel uncomfortable playing a live card game where the play results were actually pre-known and resolved by the system before the play of the hand itself - but after (and not known by the database) until after the random number generator and a random shuffle is completed. The random number generator gives both a random 'start deal position' - as well as a random shuffle itself, and so are not influenced. The system doesn't know and doesn't influence anything, but tracks the full deal only after the random shuffle and the random starting position, - and after deal has begun, - exactly the same way as on all slot and VP machines, but on a table game. That's all it is about these machines.
4. Still, many Pai Gow players insist on playing at tables where physical dice are used to determine the start position, and some casinos use this way on this request. In these cases, there is no display console on the table, and a dice shaker determines the random start position, or the display is covered, and a dice shaker is used.
5. The I-deal system has been examined for fair play usage by Nevada Gaming and other gaming jurisdictions, just as the slot machine systems are verified. If you know and trust slot or VP play, you should by all means have confidence in the I-deal system. You should also have trust in it if you just play tables games also.
Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes - Henry David Thoreau. Like Dealers' uniforms - Dan.
DJTeddyBear
For the record, I trust the system, but can easily see why paranoia exists.4. Still, many Pai Gow players insist on playing at tables where physical dice are used to determine the start position, and some casinos use this way on this request. In these cases, there is no display console on the table, and a dice shaker determines the random start position, or the display is covered, and a dice shaker is used.
Why can't dice always be used?Instead of an RNG displaying the starting position, the dealer should use the dice, then enter the result.
The hand-setting routine would still be able to set the dealer's hand.
The result is, although the system would know all the hands in advance, there is no way it could know who is getting which hand, so no player paranoia about the system rigging the dealer's hand.
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁 Note that the same could be said for Religion. I.E. Religion is nothing more than organized superstition. 🤗
Paigowdan
Dave,Dice are used heavily, and are trusted.
Actually, there are some 'touch screen' third-party Random number displays in use, not connected to the I-deal system, or to any shufflers.
We used them at Fiesta Henderson with Galaxy Gaming's 'Emperor's Challenge' Pai Gow in 2009, and they worked well.
Pai Gow Poker Free Download
But the dice are so easy to use, and the players totally trust them, that we use them on EZ Pai Gow. The Asian players especially like the usage of Asian dice and shaker.There is currently no commercial mechanism to connect the 'starting hand' number result from either the dice or to a third-party independent Number generator on the I-deal hand setting display, - simply because Pai Gow hands are not difficult to set for a poker or Pai Gow dealer.
Dealing Pai Gow is very much like Dealing Blackjack or Three-Card Poker: Easy!
The dealer just looks at his hand and sets it (if knowing poker), and done. One or Two break-in shifts dealing it, and it is mastered. Slower game, anyway. If a dealer cannot quickly help a player to set his own hand by the house way, then he might have trouble setting his own hand. This is rare, and he's taken off the game.
Now dealing Craps on a jammed up table is often very nasty, THAT needs a TCS Huxley kind of assist.
And 'house paranoia' is prevelant in many many players, so dice shaker usage or a third-party RNG works out very well, and just as quick with all dealers. But I like the I-deal RNG display.
Shit, if you need a computer to tell you how to set a card hand, you should not be dealing....there are very, very few 'Blackjack only' dealers with more than two months of dealing experience..Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes - Henry David Thoreau. Like Dealers' uniforms - Dan.
DJTeddyBear
But the dice are so easy to use, and the players totally trust them, that we use them on EZ Pai Gow. The Asian players especially like the usage of Asian dice and shaker.
For those that don't know, Asian dice have a different look. This picture is from the Wikipedia - Dice page, showing standard board game dice, Asian dice, and craps dice.Quote:
There is currently no commercial mechanism to connect the 'starting hand' number result from either the dice or to a third-party independent Number generator on the I-deal hand setting display,
It seems that it should not be too much trouble to add a keypad for this.Pai Gow Poker online, free
Dealing Pai Gow is very much like Dealing Blackjack or Three-Card Poker: Easy!
The dealer just looks at his hand and sets it (if knowing poker), and done. One or Two break-in shifts dealing it, and it is mastered. Slower game, anyway. If a dealer cannot quickly help a player to set his own hand by the house way, then he might have trouble setting his own hand. This is rare, and he's taken off the game.
I thought it was mentioned in another thread that the system tells the dealer how to set the hand. Very useful for break-in dealers.
That brought on the discussion that, although typical house ways are easy to set, ideal house ways would have to many minor exceptions - exceptions that are too hard to remember and therefore left out. These exceptions would be easily incorporated into a computer that tells the dealer how to set the hand.
Dan -
I'm not really arguing with you. I just think that if there is player paranoia, then it's easily eliminated by using dice, and adding an interface to allow the dealer to enter the dice result - after the cards are dealt.
If you agree, then you're in a far better position than the rest of us, to suggest it to ShuffleMaster or other Powers-That-Be.
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁 Note that the same could be said for Religion. I.E. Religion is nothing more than organized superstition. 🤗
Nareed
Dan,
I can't find anything to disagree with you about, but ou're overlooking a rather simple amtter: trust.
If the player can see the shuffle and the dice, she knows everything is random. It is when you hide something, or give out information, that mistrust can arise. But then I imagine that happened when automated shufflers replaced hand shuffling, too. So maybe it's just a matter of time.
And naturally there are people who will believe the game is fixed even if everything is out in the open. But you can't argue with such people.
I can't find anything to disagree with you about, but ou're overlooking a rather simple amtter: trust.
If the player can see the shuffle and the dice, she knows everything is random. It is when you hide something, or give out information, that mistrust can arise. But then I imagine that happened when automated shufflers replaced hand shuffling, too. So maybe it's just a matter of time.
And naturally there are people who will believe the game is fixed even if everything is out in the open. But you can't argue with such people.
PapaChubby
Dealing Pai Gow is very much like Dealing Blackjack or Three-Card Poker: Easy!
The dealer just looks at his hand and sets it (if knowing poker), and done. One or Two break-in shifts dealing it, and it is mastered. Slower game, anyway. If a dealer cannot quickly help a player to set his own hand by the house way, then he might have trouble
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I know you are far more qualified than I in this matter, but I must disagree with these statements. I believe that dealing PG poker is considerably more challenging than blackjack. One of the reasons I enjoy playing PG poker is that i have found the dealers to be more competent and experienced. It seems this also tends to make them more personable and entertaining. I think that understanding the house way in PG poker is more difficult than remembering whether to stand or hit on a soft 17. A blackjack dealer doesn't even need to bother with splitting and doubling strategies. Plus, I am frequently impressed with the PG poker dealers' ability to calculate the 5% commission on complicated bets, and make appropriate change.I am concerned that the introduction of computers that set the dealer's hand, as well as commission-free games, will eliminate the need for competent, experienced dealers. This would significantly decrease my enjoyment of the game.
Wizard
Administrator
Administrator
For the record, I trust the system, but can easily see why paranoia exists.
Face Up Pai Gow Poker
I agree. Personally, I would file the distrust of card readers under the usual hysteria every time a new piece of technology comes out. This too shall pass.
It's not whether you win or lose; it's whether or not you had a good bet.
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SOOPOO
Pai Gow Poker
I played at either cosmopoloitan or aria, and did not like the 'feel' of the game. The dealer told me that she would be unable to deal the game if it was not for the computer telling her the house ways. I did not know that player banking is not allowed. I think that will be a BIG drawback as many of the higher roller players I have seen, although they do not bank frequently, need to 'change the cards' by banking when they are on a losing streak. When alone at a table I always bank every other hand and it is a reason I always seek out an empty table if possible.
Doc
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I have never played any version of Pai Gow (tiles, poker, EZ, whatever), so this comment is offered purely out of ignorance...
It seems to me that if someone is suspicious of the integrity of casinos that use card readers, it is not necessarily due to suspecting that they are controlling what cards are dealt to whom.
I have the impression that if a player (or dealer) knew the opponent's cards/tiles, that person might sometimes be able to improve his/her chances by setting the hand differently from the usual way -- setting it to perform best in opposition to the opponent's specific cards rather than against cards in general. If a computer knows what cards are dealt to everyone and is telling the dealer how to set the house hand, it certainly seems possible for the computer to take advantage of that information in making the decision. It would be improper, but it seems possible.
Did I misunderstand something here? Was this discussed above and I just overlooked it?
It seems to me that if someone is suspicious of the integrity of casinos that use card readers, it is not necessarily due to suspecting that they are controlling what cards are dealt to whom.
I have the impression that if a player (or dealer) knew the opponent's cards/tiles, that person might sometimes be able to improve his/her chances by setting the hand differently from the usual way -- setting it to perform best in opposition to the opponent's specific cards rather than against cards in general. If a computer knows what cards are dealt to everyone and is telling the dealer how to set the house hand, it certainly seems possible for the computer to take advantage of that information in making the decision. It would be improper, but it seems possible.
Did I misunderstand something here? Was this discussed above and I just overlooked it?