Pai Gow poker is an online casino game similar to poker in which you have to beat the dealer to win. It’s one of the most popular casino card games available in traditional online casinos and live casino lobbies. Below are all Pai Gow Poker games from different software providers.
What Is Pai Gow Poker?
Pai Gow Poker online combines the elements of Chinese Pai Gow and traditional poker. It’s played with French-suited playing cards, usually at a table for 6 people.
The standard 52-card deck is used, but with one Joker added to the mix. The goal for each player is to beat the dealer/banker with a 5-card poker hand and 2-card poker hand, which are looked at separately.
Pai Gow is one of the online casino table games that you can find in almost every casino. Although this variant isn’t the most popular among poker players, there are those who prefer it to Texas Hold’em or other games.
How to Play Pai Gow Poker Online
To play Pai Gow Poker, you need to be familiar with regular poker rules and hand rankings. In Pai Gow, you have two separate poker hands with the highest 2-card hand being a pair of Aces while the highest five-card hand is 5 Aces (4 Aces and a Joker).
Speaking of Joker, it can be used as an Ace or complete a Straight or Flush. There are no other uses for the Joker. At the start of the game, every player receives 7 cards and it’s up to you to decide on your 2 hands. The only rule is that the 5-card hand must be stronger than the 2-card hand.
Out of all casino games, this is one of the rare ones where you have to win both hands. If you win one, it’s a push and if you lose both, well you lose. Although Pai Gow rules are simple, it takes some time getting used to it, so you can always play free Pai Gow Poker online before you enter a casino and play for real money.
Who Is This Game For?
Online Pai Gow Poker is excellent for beginners. Why? Most hands end in a push (tie) and winning both or losing both isn’t that common. What this means is that there’s more room for you to experiment and learn the game without losing a fortune.
Additionally, you’re playing against the dealer, which means that your move can’t influence other players at the table. And with the House Way, the dealer can set the cards for you, so you’re not thinking about the strategy too much.
Pai Gow Poker is a relaxing game, ideal for new casino players. There are different versions of Pai Gow (where Joker is wild, replacing any card or Face Up Pai Gow, where you can see the dealer's hand). Regardless of the variant you select, learning the game is easy and winning and losing large amounts of money isn’t what this game’s about.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy: The House Way
If you’re unsure how to split the cards into two hands, you can choose the house way. In this case, the dealer must split the cards according to the rules. These rules come with slight variations in different online casinos, but they must be respected.
With the house way, you’re playing defensively. While this option is great for beginners or for hands where you’re insecure, remember that the casino’s goal isn’t to lose. So, choosing the house way maximizes pushes or tied games.
Also, it helps players not make any fouls and automatically lose hands. A foul happens if your 2-card hand is stronger than the 5-card hand. Using the house way is optional and you can use it sporadically or not use it at all.
📖Deeper Dive
To know how to play Pai Gow, you must familiarise yourself with the basic Pai Gow Poker rules. The game’s simple enough, but your decision on how to split hands is everything, so take some time to understand the game properly.
The Most Popular Pai Gow Variations
Online Pai Gow Poker comes in different variants and there are a few popular ones you should check out. It’s up to different casino software providers to choose which game they want to create and offer to casinos. We’ve listed some of the commonly played variants below:
Face Up Pai Gow Poker
With Face Up Pai Gow Poker, the dealer’s cards are shown from the start. You know exactly how to split your cards. By having the perfect information, all the guesswork is removed. However, some players don’t prefer this game because a part of the excitement is lost, too.
Fortune Pai Gow Poker
This is a standard Pai Gow with the Fortune bonus side bet, which you can make throughout the game. If you want a more exciting version of this game, Fortune Pai Gow Poker brings the extra mini game and a shared win option for every player who participates.
EZ Pai Gow Poker
Bored of the commission? EZ Pai Gow is the right game for you. It’s a clean game and when you win a specific amount of money, that’s definite.
Online Pai Gow Poker comes in several other variants, but the differences between all of these are small. There are some minor tweaks and there aren’t better or worse versions of the game. It boils down to player preference.
Can You Play Pai Gow Poker on Mobile?
Yes, you can play Pai Gow Poker online via your mobile phone. Regardless of whether you’re using Android or iOS, the games run smoothly. Check with the casinos you’re playing at whether you have to install the app, or you need to access it via your browser.
How We Review Pai Gow Poker Games - Why Trust Our Ratings
Our experts test every game, enter the details and write a short game review. We’re trying Pai Gow games from different providers, so that you know exactly what to expect when you deposit and start playing. Analysing different aspects of games helps you get the entire picture in advance.
Provider Licensing and RNG Certification
All games we list on our site are made by reputable software providers who have adequate licences. The games must be tested for fairness for them to reach online casinos. So we’re checking such aspects with every Pai Gow Poker.
Paytable Analysis
Understanding paytable and hand rankings is essential to gameplay. However with card and table games, games from different providers have the same paytables. Still, we make sure everything is in order.
Betting Limits
Betting limits can make real differences. Not every player has the same preferences when it comes to minimum and maximum bets. Look at the limits for every Pai Gow poker rated on our site and choose your favourite.
User Experience
Finding the best Pai Gow Poker online comes down to experience. Besides the objective facts about the game, bet sizes and limits, we also give a subjective opinion regarding visuals, audio, menus, etc.
Why Play Pai Gow Poker Online
Pai Gow Poker is a fun game you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. It’s a low stress game with you vs. dealer and with a slightly slower pace, it can be very fun. There are a few major variants of Pai Gow, but almost every online casino has them on offer.
Whether you’re playing video games, or live casino games with a host, Pai Gow is beginner-friendly with easy rules and no advanced strategies.
