Pai Gow is a two-player version of dominoes which originated from the Chinese game called Pai Gow, which roughly translates as "make nine". Despite the game's Chinese roots, pai gow is very popular in Iceland and is played with a standard deck of 52 playing cards with the addition of one joker. In Icelandic, the game is called “paTTur.”

The objective of pai gow is simple, each player is dealt seven cards from a 52-card deck and then creates two poker hands, one five-card poker hand and one two-card poker hand. The two-card poker hand must be stronger than the five-card poker hand and the combined rank of each poker hand must be higher than the dealer’s. Players win if that criteria is met; otherwise, they lose. The game is played against the dealer and typically the casino provides a bonus payout if the player wins.

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The Rules of Pai Gow

Before a round of pai gow begins the players must place a bet in the designated betting area. The dealer will then distribute the cards with each player receiving seven cards and the dealer receiving the remaining cards.

Players must then create two poker hands based on the seven cards the player has received. The five-card hand has to be stronger than the two-card hand. Once player’s hands are crafted, the dealer will turn over their cards. The dealer must have a minimum rank of King-High and also have both the five-card and two-card hands that are stronger than the player’s hands. If the dealer does not have a King-High ranking then the players win without having to compare their hands.

If the dealer does have a King-High ranking then the hands of the player and dealer must be compared. If the value of the five-card and two-card hands of the player are higher than that of the dealer’s then the player will win. The player will then be paid out with the initial wager that the player placed in the beginning of the round and also the bonuses that are offered by the casino.

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Pai Gow Variations

Pai gow is also known to have a few variations. These include pai gow poker, which is a variant of the game that uses playing cards instead of tiles, and is commonly found at brick and mortar casinos. Furthermore, there is also a variant of pai gow called High Pai Gow, which offers players the opportunity to increase their winnings with a second bet.

In this variant, the players first bet is preserved while an additional bet is placed and compared to the hand of the dealer after the normal game has been played. If the player's hand matches that of the dealer then the player will double their winnings.

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Strategy for Pai Gow

Players can employ a few strategies to enhance their chances of winning when playing pai gow. Players should always remember to never split pairs that are higher than 8, as this gives the player a better chance at making a stronger two-card hand.

Since the return to player (RTP) of pai gow is rather low compared to other online casino games, players should always make sure to bet responsibly and play with a bankroll that they can afford to lose. Additionally, players should also educate themselves about the odds of the game, as this will help them make better decisions when it comes to when to fold or when to bet.

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Conclusion

Pai Gow is a game of skill and strategy where players must use the seven cards they have been dealt to create two hands of poker that are stronger than the dealer’s. There are variations of the game including pai gow poker and High Pai Gow, and players can also use strategies to increase their chances of success. Players should always remember to bet responsibly and play with a bankroll they can afford to lose. However, with the right combination of luck and skill, Pai Gow can be a fun and rewarding experience.

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