Pai Gow

(Double Hand Poker)

The Object of the Game:

The game is played with a standard Deck of 52 cards and one Joker. The Joker may be used as an Ace or to complete a straight or a flush. The game is dealt on a poker-style table to seven players (positions). Backline wagering (players standing behind) is allowed.

To win both of your hands, the front and back, must rank higher than the player/banker’s hands. If both the player/banker’s hands rank higher than the player’s two hands, the player/banker wins.

If only one of their hands ranks higher it is a push. This means neither side wins and each player keeps their bet. If either of the hands are identical (called a copy), the player/banker wins all copies.

The player/banker may only receive action on the amount wagered to the extent that money covers. The payoff starts with the action button and once the player/banker’s wager is gone the hand is over. It is possible to hold a losing or winning hand and receive no action or partial action.

How to Play

The house dealer controls the shuffling and dealing of the cards, orderliness of the game and the house collections for each hand.

The dealer button denotes which one of the seven players is the player/banker for each hand.

Each player may bank twice and the button rotates clockwise. A player may decline or accept the player/banker position.

All players play their hand against the player/banker’s hand only.

The house dealer will deal 7 hands (piles). Each hand contains 7 cards, all face down.

The player/banker selects one of the 7 piles as the first hand to be delivered. The dealer will place an action button on the selected hand.

The dice cup, containing 3 dice, will be shaken by the player/banker to determine which seated player (position) receives the first action hand. The player/banker is always counted as numbers 1, 8, 15.

The dealer will deal each player (position) a hand consisting of 7 cards.

The player/banker’s hand will be kept face down in front of the house dealer.

The players set their hands.

Out of the seven cards you make two hands, one 2-card hand and one 5-card hand. The 5-card hand (the back hand) must rank higher than the 2-card hand (the front hand).

The player will place the hand face down with the 2-card hand in front and the 5-card hand in back.

After all players have set their hand, the house dealer will open the player/banker’s hand.

The player/banker will determine which way the hand will be set.

Any player may ask for their hand to be set The House Way.

The Deck Consists Of 4 Suits

The suits are of equal value. Each suit has 13 cards.
Ranking from highest to lowest are:

1. Royal Flush
2. Straight Flush
3. Four of a Kind
4. Flush
5. Straight
6. Three of a Kind
7. Two Pair
8. One Pair
9. High Card

Rancho’s Club Casino provides house dealers for all games but does not participate in the actual play of the game and has no interest in the outcome of play. No player ever plays against or makes a wager against Rancho’s Club Casino.