Pai Gow Poker Guide

Pai Gow Poker differs significantly from other forms of poker. With most forms of poker, you are able to switch your cards out for other in order to improve upon your hand. However, with Pai Gow poker, the cards you are initially dealt are the only ones that you are given. This creates some different types of strategies one needs to use when playing this form of poker. In other free poker games, you can trade in your cards for others and can bluff your cards more easily. In Pai Gow, not only are you using cards but also dice.

When playing Pai Gow Poker, the cards are split into seven different piles. As the dice are rolled, these piles of cards will be distributed. The roll of these dice determines the order in which the piles of cards will be dealt. Each player is assigned a different number, when their number is rolled then they receive their card pile. Therefore, the order in which the piles are dealt varies from game to game. Typically with Pai Gow poker, there is one hand that no one is given. This unused hand is known as the dragon hand. Also, if not enough people are playing a Pai Gow Poker hand, then there could be other dragon hands or undealt card piles.

Depending upon the rules of the casino in which you are playing, it is possible for players to not only play their own hand but also the dragon hand. In this form of play, you would have an advantage over the house that is not privy to what this additional hand looks like. After all, knowing more about what cards are at your disposable can help you make a more effective determination as to the merit of your cards.

Another aspect of Pai Gow Poker that can change from location to location is the banker. In some situations, players are allowed this job during the game. Of course, this would give you an advantage over your opponents. After all, you would be the house and would accept their edge as well as the role. Usually when players can be the banker, the duty rotates from hand to hand so one player cannot dominate.