Pai Gow poker is a game with Chinese origins. Originally played with dominoes, today, it is a very popular card game. Widely considered a modern version of Chinese Pai Gow, a game played thousands of years ago, it has undergone significant changes throughout the centuries. The modern form of the Pai Gow is easy enough to learn.  After a thorough reading of the rules and some practice, a motivated individual can pick it up pretty quickly. To help those interested in learning how to play, we have provided a quick, but thorough explanation of the rules below.

Pai Gow pits each player against the dealer. It is a bit different from at least some forms of poker, largely because of the number of hands each player is required to play. Pai Gow requires that a person has two hands to manage and not just one.

To begin play, every participating player makes a wager. After they have done so, they are dealt seven cards. Players are required to make two hands out of those seven cards. One hand will be made up of five cards and the other, two cards. The dealer deals him or herself seven cards as well. They will also need to create two hands.

The five card hand is known as the ‘High Hand’. The two-card hand is referred to as the ‘Low Hand’. The ‘High Card’ hand must always be higher in value then its counterpart, the ‘Low Hand.’

Each player’s aim is to create hands higher in value then the dealer’s hands. They accomplish this by creating the best pokers hands they are capable of. When playing offline, the knowledge, skill and ability that goes into creating poker hands is very important. Online, things are a bit simpler. Players can opt for the House Way and have their hands arranged for them by the computer, though this is not required. Individuals just starting out may find this helpful. However, if this option is used too often, it can handicap players because they never learn to create hands themselves.

Pai Gow uses a standard deck of 52 cards plus a Joker. Jokers are essentially, all-purpose cards. Individuals can use them as an Ace or as necessary to complete a Straight Flush, Flush or Straight. Besides the fact that Pai Gow uses 53 cards, another difference is the outcome of a tie. In most forms of poker this is a push. In this version, it is a loss for the player. The dealer wins all ties.

There are a number of potential winning hands in Pai Gow poker. The highest ranking hand is 5 Aces, followed by a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, Ace, King, Queen and then Jack.

Pai Gow is a very popular form of poker. Individuals that enjoy playing it will find that they have plenty of opportunity to do so, online. The internet has served the casino community at large, very well. Individuals are able to play anytime they get the notion. They are also able to play games that they never have before. The exposure is extraordinary and the reach unparalleled, compared to any other time in history.
Individuals interested in playing Pai Gow but have never played before, should consider taking advantage of the free games many websites offer. Most online casinos will allow their members to play with virtual (fake) money. This gives individuals an opportunity to learn the game and sharpen their skills before playing in actual, money games.

Most major online casinos and/or poker rooms will offer Pai Gow games. To be sure, a person simply needs to check that casino’s listing of available games. Many will also provide a listing of rules and sometimes, even tips to help improve play. Players would be wise to take advantage of all of the free resources offered to them. When utilized effectively, individuals can make more money then if they went at it alone. Overtime, if a person is committed to learning the game and improving, they just may be able to consistently turn a nice profit playing Pai Gow.  Of course, other things go into the equation, for example, table selection, skill level, levelheadedness and bankroll management.