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Pai Gow Poker combines the elements of the ancient Chinese
game of Pai Gow and the American game of poker. It is played
with a traditional deck of 52 playing cards, plus one joker.
The joker can be used only as an ace, or to complete a straight,
or a flush.
Each player at the table is dealt seven cards, which the
player arranges to make two hands - a two-card hand and a
five-card hand. Rankings are based on basic poker ratings.
Thus, the highest two-card hand would be two aces, and the
highest five-card hand is a Royal Flush.
The five-card hand must be higher than the two-card hand
(for example, if the two-card hand is a pair of sevens, the
five-card hand must contain at least a pair of eights or higher).
The object of the game is for both of the player's two hands
to rank higher than both of the Banker's two hands. Should
one hand rank exactly the same as the Banker's hand, this
is a tie and the Banker wins all tie hands.
If the player wins one hand, but loses the other, this is
considered a "push" and no money exchanges hands.
Winning hands are paid even money, less a five percent commission.
Losing hands lose the money wagered.
The dealer shuffles the cards and deals seven hands of seven
cards each, face down in front of the dealer's tray. The dealer
checks that exactly four cards are left over, then places
those cards in the discard holder.
A dice cup containing three dice is shaken by the Banker
to determine who receives the first hand. Before the dice
are uncovered, all bets must be in the betting circle. In
Pai Gow Poker, the Banker's position is always 1,8 or 15.
The dealer counts from the Banker's position. The cards will
then be placed by the dealer in front of each player-including
the dealer-in a clockwise rotation from the starting ping
indicated by the dice.
Each player arranges his cards into the two hands mentioned
above. The house dealer does not look at the cards until all
players and player/Banker have set their hands in the designated
space face down. The house dealer then turns his cards over
and sets his hand in front of the tray face up. The player/Banker's
hand is compared to the house dealer's hand first.
Winning hands are left lying face up next to the betting
circle. For losing hands, the wager is picked up by the dealer
and the cards are placed in the discard holder. Losing wagers
are set in the center of the layout. If the player wins one
hand and loses the other, this is considered a push and no
money exchanges hands.
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