Sam Torosian, the owner of the Bell Card Club in Los Angeles, invented Pai Gow Poker in 1985. Despite having a name similar to the Chinese domino game, the concept of Pai Gow Poker was acquired by its inventor from a Filipino card game called “Pusoy.” Thus, it is important to remember that Pai Gow Poker and the classic Chinese Poker game (except for the name) are not related.
Pai Gow Poker is a simplified version of “Pusoy”. This card game is designed for fast-play. Evidently, by the reduction of the number of cards from 13 to 7 for each player. In addition, the number of hands has also been reduced from 3 to 2. These alterations made Pai Gow Poker one of the easiest and fastest card games in casinos.
- Pai-Gow Poker is a variation of Pai-Gow tiles,using a 53 card deck in place of the domino looking tiles. It was invented in 1985 by Sam Torosian, who received some bad legal advice and never patented his game.
- Sam Torosian, owner of the Bell Card Club in Los Angeles, invented the game of Pai Gow Poker in 1985. The idea for the game came to Torosian after being told about the game Pusoy by an elderly Filipino customer.
- View phone numbers, addresses, public records, background check reports and possible arrest records for Samuel Torosian. Whitepages people search is the most trusted directory. Background Checks.
With that said, Pai Gow Poker quickly evolved to become a popular Vegas casino game in the 80s. Which, over time, has spread to the rest of the world. Today, Pai Gow Poker is still one of the most popular games in casinos worldwide. Nevertheless, if you want to learn or have a hands-on experience with the game without going to the casino, then, Pai Gow Poker online is the perfect game for you. Learn the basic rules of the game along with other features and tips in the game overview below.
Pai Gow Poker How To Play
Unlike most casino games, Donutman Software’s Pai Gow Poker does not have extra features. This means that players can jump into action instantly with just a click of a button. Moreover, the modesty of the game’s design allows the player to focus on the main game itself, which is best for novice players.
High Definition Graphics
Pai Gow Poker online may not have the glitz and glam of other casino games but it does not mean that the game has poor quality. In fact, Pai Gow Poker comes with a high definition graphics engine that results in a seamless gameplay experience. Right off the bat, a full table setup will unfold that comes complete with all the necessary details. It includes the total money, total bet, and bonus bet. In addition, there are two buttons for changing bets and the start button, which in this case is the “deal” button.
Moreover, situated on the upper right-hand corner is the main menu, which houses the player’s statistics and the bonus paytable. Plus, also the detailed instruction on how-to-play manual, and the main options menu. To sum up everything, Donutman Software’s Pai Gow Poker is a modest and highly immersive minimalist version of the iconic card game.
Winning Tips
Pai Gow Poker online may be easy to learn, but it is definitely quite challenging to master. Like most casino games, beating the banker or the house requires a strategic approach and focus. With that said, check out some of the tips from some of the best Pai Gow Poker players and experts around the world.
When in Rome…
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do”. It is the perfect saying that describes the first strategy. For those, however, who are not familiar with the quote, it simply states the importance of adapting thyself to the customs and behavior of the populace. In the case of Pai Gow Poker, it is important to observe strategies of the dealer and adapt it as your own. In other words, always think like the dealer in handling your cards.
Splitting the Two Pairs
Another strategy is to know when to split your two-pairs. Having the basic knowledge on when to separate this hand will give you a much-needed edge in the game. With that said, here are some instances where you must not split your two pairs;
Nov 4, 2014 - Pai Gow Poker was created and introduced by Sam Torosian and Fred Wolf. It is played on a table set for six players, plus the dealer. Each player tries to shoot down the banker, who may be the casino dealer or one of the other participants at the board.
1. When your hand includes a pair of seven (or greater) and does not have an Ace.
2. When your hand includes a pair of jacks (or better) and six or pairs that are better than an ace.
3. A pair of Aces along with any pair of cards is included in your deck.
Other than that, it is important to spit your two pairs with the highest-ranking card on the back and the lower ranking card upfront.
Sam Torosian
The Power of Three
Knowing how to handle your three-of-a-kind is also important in Pai Gow Poker. It is important to take note that you must always keep all three cards together. Unless, you need to deal with the three aces, to which it is advisable that you should put two aces at the back and one at the front.
In some cases, players receive two three-of-a-kind in a single round. When this happens, it is highly recommended to play the lowest three-of-a-kind in the five-card slots. The higher three-of-a-kind, on the other hand, requires splitting to play a pair in the front hand and the other on the backhand.
Pai Gow Poker is a fast-paced game that is easy to learn and challenging to master. For the most part, the game requires a little bit of luck paired with a solid strategic approach. Check out the game today by simply clicking on the “Play Now” button on your screen.
Game Features
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Pai Gow Poker Guide
We’re giving you the lowdown on Pai Gow Poker, hands-down one of the most popular real money table games and Ignition Casino. Played all around the world, this is a game of skill and guts, which is why it’s perfect for Ignition’s players.
What Is Pai Gow Poker?
Pai Gow is actually an ancient Chinese game of dominos – 32 to be exact – which later got appropriated for poker. It’s no cake walk either, but that doesn’t mean the poker version is difficult. Actually, it’s pretty easy. You just have to learn the fundamentals.
Thanks to Sam Torosian, owner of the California Bell Club cardroom, we now have a simplified version of pai gow uses playing cards instead of dominoes.
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow Poker uses the standard 52-card deck, plus a Joker. It’s you against The Dealer; after you place your bet, you each receive seven cards – yours are face-up, the Dealer’s are face-down. Your task is to split your seven cards into two hands, one with five cards and the other with two cards. Your five-card hand must rank higher than your two-card hand.
Sam Torosian
Once you’ve decided how to split your cards, the Dealer’s cards are flipped over and arranged, then the hands are compared. If both your hands are better, you win even money minus a 5% commission. If both the Dealer’s hands are better, you lose the wager. If one is higher and one is lower, the hand is a push and your bet is returned. Any tied hands go to the Dealer.
As with all table games at the casino, Pai Gow Poker comes with a house edge attached. That edge depends primarily on two things: Your skill at the game, and the method the Dealer uses to complete their two hands. This method is known as the “house way,” and you’ll need to tailor your Pai Gow Poker strategy accordingly. If you’re playing at a live casino, the house edge is also affected by whether you are the Banker or not. But as a rough guide, you can expect the house to have an edge of between 2.5% and 2.7% when you use at least a simplified strategy playing online.
While it’s always nice to find a big made hand in your seven Pai Gow Poker cards, you’ll be dealt a Pair or worse a shade more than half the time. Here are the chances of getting dealt each possible rank:
Five Aces 0.000732%
Straight or Royal Flush 0.137%
Four of a Kind 0.199%
Full House 2.72%
Flush 4.00%
Straight 7.29%
Three of a Kind 4.85%
Two Pair 23.1%
One Pair 41.7%
High Card 16.1%
The Rules
Them’s the rules: the standard hand rankings for poker apply, except for one twist. The second-best Straight you can make in Pai Gow Poker is the wheel (Five-Four-Three-Deuce-Ace), which is the lowest Straight possible in regular poker. Your two-card hand is either a Pair or High Card. And the Joker in this game is a “semi-wild” card that can be used to complete a Straight, Flush, Straight Flush or royal Flush; otherwise, the Joker is considered an Ace.
There are more rules to learn if you want to play Pai Gow Poker live. This is a banking game, meaning the player has the option of betting against other players, or even the Dealer. Players will take turns around the table acting as the Banker, although in most cases, they’ll decline the option and the turn will get passed around the table until it lands with the Dealer. You won’t have to worry about any of this at Ignition Casino – there are no other players at the table, and you’re always betting on yourself.
Optimal Strategy
Deciding how to split your seven cards is where Pai Gow Poker strategy comes in. Like Blackjack, this game has been “solved” by computers, and if you play an optimal strategy, you can narrow the house edge down as low as possible. However, the optimal strategy for Pai Gow Poker is more difficult to learn than it is for blackjack. A simpler, near-optimal strategy that’s easier to remember will get you most of the way there.
Whether you’re working with a simplified or an advanced Pai Gow Poker strategy, you’ll be separating your hands into 20 categories, depending on the seven cards you’ve been dealt. These categories are then listed in order of hand strength; you’ll choose the highest rank that applies to your cards, and follow the recommended instructions. It’s the same approach that you’d use to play Video Poker as optimally as possible.
The 20 categories for your Pai Gow Poker strategy are further divided into two sections: One, cards which complete a Straight, Flush, Straight Flush or royal Flush; and two, those which do not. The first section is relatively easy to handle, since you already have a made five-card hand at your disposal – remember, your five-card (high) hand has to be stronger than your two-card (low) hand. Here’s a simplified Pai Gow Poker strategy for this section.
1. Four of a Kind: Play the highest Pair possible in your low hand while maintaining your Straight/Flush.
2. Three of a Kind and a Pair: If you have a Pair of Sevens or better, put them in your low hand if you can maintain your Straight/Flush. If not, settle for putting Three of a Kind in your high hand.
3. Three of a Kind: Play your best kickers for the low hand while maintaining your Straight/Flush.
4. Three Pair: Play the highest of your Pairs in your low hand while maintaining your Straight/Flush.
5. Two Pair: This one’s a little tricky. Depending on the strength of each Pair, and what kickers are left over, you might want to put your better Pair in your low hand. Definitely do this if the face value of the two Pairs adds up to at least 17; for example, Kings and Fours (13+4) or Nines and Eights (9+8). Splitting your Pairs is less advised as their face value drops.
6. One Pair: Play the best low hand you can while maintaining your Straight/Flush – unless you have Queens through Nines, in which case play Ace-King in your low hand if possible.
7. No Pair: Play the best low hand you can while maintaining your Straight/Flush.
Working with cards that cannot make a Straight/Flush in Pai Gow Poker requires a few extra steps, because now you might have cards that fall into additional categories. Here’s what to do with your seven cards in these situations:
8. Five of a Kind and a Pair: Put two Aces in the low hand, and leave a Full House in the high hand.
9. Five of a Kind: Put two Aces in the low hand and leave a Set of Aces in the high hand.
10. Four of a Kind and Three of a Kind: If your Quads are at least two ranks higher than your set, split your Quads and put two of those cards in your low hand, leaving a Full House in your high hand. Otherwise, split your set.
11. Four of a Kind and a Pair: Put the Pair in your low hand.
12. Four of a Kind: This category requires a little more savvy. If you have Queens or better, split them up and put a Pair in your low hand. If you have Fours or worse, keep your Quads together in your high hand. Everything in between will depend on the strength of the kicker you can put in your low hand.
13. Three of a Kind and Three of a Kind: Split your higher-ranking set and put two of those cards in your low hand.
14. Three of a Kind and Two Pair: Put the higher Pair in your low hand.
15. Three of a Kind and One Pair: Put the Pair in your low hand.
16. Three of a Kind: Put the two highest kickers in your low hand, unless you have three Aces, in which case use an Ace and your highest kicker.
17. Three Pair: Put the highest Pair in your low hand.
18. Two Pair: Follow the same strategy as when you have seven cards that can make a Straight/Flush.
19. One Pair: Put your best two kickers in your low hand.
20. No Pair: Put your second- and third-best kickers in your low hand.
Even as a simplified strategy, this is quite a lot to absorb for newer Pai Gow Poker newbies. But most of these steps are pretty intuitive, and most of the time, you’ll be dealt seven cards that fall into one of these easier categories. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at following the strategy; then, if you choose, you can start on a more complex strategy by adding in some of the exceptions to these rules. For example, if you have seven cards that make a Straight/Flush and include both Three of a Kind and One Pair, and you have three Sevens and two Aces, you’ll only put the Aces in your low hand if your two kickers are Six-Five or worse.