The house dealer, or any player, may be the banker. Winning hands are paid even money, less a 5% commission. However, if the player wins one hand, and loses the other, it’s a “push” and no money exchanges hands. If one of the player’s hands ranks exactly the same as the banker’s hand, it’s a tie.
The player’s two-card (low) hand must rank higher than the banker’s two-card (low) hand, and the player’s five-card (high) hand must rank higher than the banker’s five-card (high) hand. The object of Pai Gow Poker is for a player to create two poker hands to beat both of the banker’s two hands. Also, the five-card hand must be higher than the two-card hand (if the two-card hand is a pair of sevens, for example, the five-card hand must contain at least a pair of eights or higher). The highest two-card hand is two Aces, and the highest five-card hand a royal flush. The rankings of the hands are based on basic poker rankings. Each player attempts to defeat the banker (the casino dealer, or one of the other players at the table).Įach player is dealt seven cards, which are made into two hands: a two-card hand and a five-card hand. Pai Gow Poker is played on a table set for six players, plus the dealer.
