Many casinos are aware of the popularity of poker. Unfortunately, poker is a game played against other players and not the home, so the casinos have little involvement in regular poker, other than to charge a rake (a portion of each pot) for the use of the dealer and the table. To combine the aspects of poker with those of typical table games played against the home, casinos have invented a number of poker variations which are played like traditional table games, player vs. the casino.
One such variation is Pai Gow. In Pai Gow Poker, after each player puts up a wager of their choosing they may be dealt seven cards. Your objective is to make your very best five-card and two-card poker hand. As a rule, your five card hand has to be stronger than your two card hand. In the event you are dealt A, A, 9, 8, 7, 3, 3, you may not split your hands into 9, 8, 7, 3, 3 and AA. You could split them into a, A, 9, 8, 7 and 3, 3, or a, A, 3, 3, 7 and 9, 8. As long as your five-card hand beats the two-card hand, you may arrange them however you like. In case you are not sure the optimal way to set your hand, you may ask the dealer to help you. There is one joker in the deck, which is often used in your hand to complete a straight or a flush, or as an Ace. The joker is not wild, you're not able to use it to pair any card within your hand other than the Ace.
When you have set your hand, the dealer also sets his hand. If both of your hands beat both of the dealer hands, you win an amount equal to your initial bet. If both of the dealers' hands beat both of yours, you lose your bet. If one hand wins as well as the other loses, it's really a tie and nobody wins. The house gets its edge by charging a five percent commission on winning bets.
In Pai Gow additionally you have the choice of being the "Banker". If you decide to be the Banker, you put up a amount of money to cover (or "Bank") all of the bets on the table (if the amount you put up is not enough, the house will pick up in which you left off). If you are the Banker, you play against all Players. Your five percent commission is calculated after all wins and losses are tabulated. Being the Banker affords a very slight edge because if your hands "copy" (are exactly the same) a Player's hand, you win.
Pai Gow is definitely an interesting variation of poker and one you could consider if you like poker but are trying to find a more traditional casino game than regular poker, or just one that provides an added dimension to the game. You can find Pai Gow at certain good online gamble casino sites as well as in any live casino.
One such variation is Pai Gow. In Pai Gow Poker, after each player puts up a wager of their choosing they may be dealt seven cards. Your objective is to make your very best five-card and two-card poker hand. As a rule, your five card hand has to be stronger than your two card hand. In the event you are dealt A, A, 9, 8, 7, 3, 3, you may not split your hands into 9, 8, 7, 3, 3 and AA. You could split them into a, A, 9, 8, 7 and 3, 3, or a, A, 3, 3, 7 and 9, 8. As long as your five-card hand beats the two-card hand, you may arrange them however you like. In case you are not sure the optimal way to set your hand, you may ask the dealer to help you. There is one joker in the deck, which is often used in your hand to complete a straight or a flush, or as an Ace. The joker is not wild, you're not able to use it to pair any card within your hand other than the Ace.
When you have set your hand, the dealer also sets his hand. If both of your hands beat both of the dealer hands, you win an amount equal to your initial bet. If both of the dealers' hands beat both of yours, you lose your bet. If one hand wins as well as the other loses, it's really a tie and nobody wins. The house gets its edge by charging a five percent commission on winning bets.
In Pai Gow additionally you have the choice of being the "Banker". If you decide to be the Banker, you put up a amount of money to cover (or "Bank") all of the bets on the table (if the amount you put up is not enough, the house will pick up in which you left off). If you are the Banker, you play against all Players. Your five percent commission is calculated after all wins and losses are tabulated. Being the Banker affords a very slight edge because if your hands "copy" (are exactly the same) a Player's hand, you win.
Pai Gow is definitely an interesting variation of poker and one you could consider if you like poker but are trying to find a more traditional casino game than regular poker, or just one that provides an added dimension to the game. You can find Pai Gow at certain good online gamble casino sites as well as in any live casino.