Pai Gow Poker is a fun and strategic card game that combines elements of the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow and traditional poker. Here's a quick rundown of how it works:
1. **The Setup:**
- The game is typically played with a standard 52-card deck plus one joker.
- Each player, including the dealer, is dealt seven cards.
2. **Objective:**
- Players must create two hands from their seven cards: a five-card hand (known as the "high" or "back" hand) and a two-card hand (known as the "low" or "front" hand).
- The five-card hand must always rank higher than the two-card hand.
3. **Hand Rankings:**
- The five-card hand follows standard poker hand rankings (e.g., flush, straight, full house).
- The two-card hand is ranked based on pairs and high cards.
4. **The Joker:**
- The joker can be used as an ace or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush in the five-card hand.
5. **Winning:**
- After setting their hands, players compare their hands to the dealer's hands.
- To win, both of the player's hands must rank higher than both of the dealer's hands.
- If one hand wins and the other loses, it's a push (tie).
- If both hands lose, the player loses the bet.
6. **House Way:**
- The dealer’s hand is set according to predetermined rules known as the "house way."
7. **Commission:**
- The casino often takes a 5% commission on winning bets.
It's a game that requires some strategy and luck, making it exciting and engaging. Have you played before, or are you looking to try it out?
