Pai Gow Poker is a popular casino game that originated in China. The game is played with a standard deck of 52 cards and a joker. The objective of the game is to create two poker hands, one with five cards and the other with two cards, which will beat the dealer’s two hands. In this article, we will discuss the anatomy of a Pai Gow Poker hand and provide a step-by-step guide on how to analyze them.
Understanding Pai Gow Poker Hands
In Pai Gow Poker, a hand consists of seven cards that are arranged into two separate hands. The five-card hand is known as the high hand or the big hand, while the two-card hand is known as the low hand or the small hand. The high hand must be stronger than the low hand. The strength of the hand is determined using traditional poker rankings, with the exception that the A-2-3-4-5 straight is considered the second-highest straight.
One of the key features of Pai Gow Poker is that the game uses a joker, which can be used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush. The joker is considered an Ace, except when it is used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush, where it is treated as the highest-ranking card. The joker can also be used to form a five-of-a-kind hand, which is the highest-ranking hand in the game.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Analyzing Them
Analyzing a Pai Gow Poker hand involves making two separate hands that are stronger than the dealer’s two hands. The first step is to look at the seven cards and determine which two cards will make up the low hand. The low hand must be weaker than the high hand, so it is important to choose the two lowest-ranking cards.
The next step is to look at the remaining five cards and determine the best possible five-card hand. This will involve looking at the traditional poker rankings and using the joker to complete any potential straights, flushes, or straight flushes. Once the high hand and the low hand have been created, they are compared to the dealer’s hands to determine the winner.
In conclusion, Pai Gow Poker is a game that requires players to create two separate hands that are stronger than the dealer’s two hands. Understanding the anatomy of a Pai Gow Poker hand involves knowing the traditional poker rankings and the use of the joker. Analyzing a hand requires creating a strong high hand and a weaker low hand, and then comparing them to the dealer’s hands to determine the winner. With these skills, players can increase their chances of winning at Pai Gow Poker.