What Is Pai Gow Poker? Rules, Hands, and Odds

Pai Gow poker is a casino card game built around a seven-card deal that players split into two hands. One hand uses five cards, the other uses two; both must beat the dealer to win. Pushes happen often, which shapes the pace and the math.

The format explains why sessions move steadily, why commissions appear on winning bets, and why house procedures matter more than flashy side options when results are counted.

Pai Gow poker blends elements of traditional poker with a fixed casino process. Each betting spot receives seven cards from a 53-card deck. A single joker appears, used as an ace or to complete a straight or flush. Players split their cards into two hands, place the higher-ranked five-card hand in front, then set a lower two-card hand behind it. The dealer sets hands using a posted method, often called the house way.

Outcomes hinge on comparisons. Both player hands must outrank the dealer’s corresponding hands for a win. One win and one loss produce a push; two losses drop the wager. Winning outcomes pay 1-to-1 less a standard 5% commission.

Measured basics:

These mechanics explain why ties appear frequently and why the game’s rhythm differs from faster table formats.

Pai Gow rules focus on hand setting and comparisons rather than betting choices. After cards are dealt, players arrange their two hands and place them face down or face up, depending on house procedure. A hand set incorrectly becomes a foul and loses automatically, even if the cards would have beaten the dealer.

Common table rules appear consistently across U.S. casinos and regulated cardrooms.

These rules explain why careful hand setting matters more than speed or side wagers.

Learning how to play Pai Gow begins once the wager lands inside the betting circle. The dealer shuffles the 53-card deck and delivers seven cards to each active spot and to the dealer. After reviewing the cards, the player splits them into a five-card hand and a two-card hand, placing the stronger hand forward.

The dealer sets a two-hand combination using the house way. Both player hands are then compared directly against the dealer’s corresponding hands. Winning both comparisons results in a paid wager, minus commission. Losing both comparisons drops the bet.

Mixed outcomes lead to a push, which returns the original stake. That push-heavy flow shapes how long sessions last and why the game attracts players looking for measured decision-making rather than rapid swings.

Pai Gow poker hands follow standard poker rankings, with one twist: each deal creates two separate hands that must be ranked correctly. The five-card hand uses full poker rankings from high card through royal flush. The two-card hand ranks pairs above high cards, with aces counting high. A correct split places the stronger value in the five-card hand every time.

The joker changes hand value in limited ways. It counts as an ace or completes a straight or flush; it cannot create five of a kind or act freely as a wild. That restriction shapes many common splits and explains why conservative settings appear in house-way charts.

Common split patterns players see

Misplacing even one card can foul the hand, which makes this step the most important decision point.

Different Pai Gow formats share the same core logic but change payouts, decks, or side options. The table below compares major versions found in U.S. casinos and regulated cardrooms, using posted rules and pay tables.

Reading the table shows how side wagers introduce higher bonuses and payouts while the base wager keeps the same comparison logic. Commission-free versions trade that fee for qualification rules or altered pay tables, which changes the math without changing the hand-setting discipline.

Pai Gow poker produces a steady stream of pushes, and the math explains why. The base wager carries a commonly cited house edge of 2.84% under standard rules. Two mechanics drive that figure. First, the dealer wins any comparison that ties, often called the copy rule. Second, winning outcomes pay 1-to-1 minus a 5% commission, which trims returns even when both hands beat the dealer.

Three measurable points help frame expectations:

Side wagers change volatility and payout ceilings, though the base comparison logic stays fixed. That distinction matters when comparing table options.

Nevada regulators expanded Pai Gow offerings during 2025 after successful casino trials. A five-card variant moved from test status to broader approval, following floor use at a major Las Vegas Strip property earlier in the year.

The version removes the joker, deals five cards, and requires a split into a three-card high hand and a two-card low hand under dealer qualification rules.

Coverage from July 2025 noted that casinos favored the format because outcomes resolve faster, and the main wager pays 1-to-1 when the dealer qualifies. Insurance wagers settled based on the dealer’s low-hand high card, with payout steps posted on the felt and capped by house limits.

The approval shows how regulators rely on live floor results, hold rates, and payout performance data.

Most losses tied to mistakes come from hand setting, not card quality. Fouled hands lose automatically, which turns avoidable errors into immediate outcomes. Banker options and side wagers draw attention, yet they do not change the core comparisons that decide the base bet.

A short checklist covers the issues seen most often:

Treating these steps as part of each round reduces unforced errors.

Pai Gow poker centers on one decision: setting a correct five-card high and two-card low hand under the posted rules. Push frequency, the copy rule, and commission handling drive results more than side-bet marketing.

Before playing, verify the table’s commission method, copy rule, joker use, and any banking option so the game’s math matches expectations.

Responsible play: Call 1-800-522-4700 for help.