Poker
Pai gow poker joker rules
The joker in pai gow poker is a bug card that can only fill a straight or flush in the five-card hand, and otherwise counts as an ace; in the two-card hand it is always an ace.
Key points
- The joker is a bug, not a wild card: it can only fill a straight or flush in the five-card hand, and otherwise acts as an ace.1
- In the two-card hand the joker is always an ace under standard rules, though some southern California casinos treat it as fully wild there.1
Where this term is used
Not the same as
- Pai gow poker odds — odds describe probabilities or payouts, while joker rules govern how a specific card is valued
Related terms
Poker
Pai gow poker
The full game that uses the joker as a bug in hand formation.
Poker
Face up pai gow poker rules
A variant where both hands are dealt face up, still using the joker bug rule.
Poker
Pai gow poker betting
Betting structures and options in pai gow poker, separate from card valuation rules.
Poker
Poker hold em rules
A different poker game that does not use a joker.
Poker
5 card poker rules
Standard five-card poker rules, which typically do not include a joker.
Poker
Poker betting rules
General poker betting rules that apply across many variants, not specific to pai gow.
Sources
- Pai gow poker en.wikipedia.org Defines the joker's role as a bug in pai gow poker, including the standard and California variant rules.
Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.