Pai Gow is a fun Westernized version of an old Chinese dominos game. The basic game play is straightforward enough and it is popular in casinos because the relaxed atmosphere of the game gives players a chance to get to know each other.
Each of the seven players places a bet and are then dealt seven cards each. In addition to the 52 cards in the pack there is a joker that can be used either as an ace or to complete a straight or a flush. Players must form the cards into two hands, a five card hand and a two card hand. The hands themselves are almost exactly the same as those in poker. One player acts as banker although often the default is the dealer. Incidentally, seven hands are always dealt out even if there are less players at the table.
The object of the game is to beat both the banker’s five card hand and two card hand. If you only beat one of the banker’s hands then it is a tie, called a copy, and the banker wins the hand. In many online casino’s the casino is always the banker, but you should check this and always try to be banker if possible because of course it means you can win any copy hands.
The real strategy in Pai Gow is...