Gambling terms, explained straight

Poker

Pai gow poker

Pai gow poker is a casino card game in which a player splits seven dealt cards into two hands — a five-card hand and a two-card hand — and must beat the banker's matching hands on both to win the bet.

Deck
52 cards plus one joker1
Players
Up to six players plus a dealer1
Hands
Five-card back hand and two-card front hand1
Commission
5% vigorish on winning bets2

Key points

  • The five-card hand must outrank the two-card hand; if it does not, the player loses the bet.1
  • A seven-card hand with no pair is called a pai gow.1
  • The joker can be used as an ace or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush.1
  • The game is also known as double-hand poker.1

How to play pai gow poker

  1. Each player and the banker receive seven cards.1
  2. Arrange the seven cards into a five-card back hand and a two-card front hand. The back hand must rank higher than the front hand.1
  3. Compare both hands against the banker's corresponding hands. To win, both of your hands must beat the banker's hands.1
  4. If one hand wins and the other loses, the bet is a push (tie). If both lose, you lose the bet.1
  5. Winning bets are paid 1:1 minus a 5% commission (vigorish).2

Pai gow poker strategy

The core strategy in pai gow poker is setting your two hands correctly. The five-card hand must always outrank the two-card hand, or you forfeit the bet.1

A common rule is to play the highest possible two-card hand (usually a pair) while keeping the five-card hand as strong as possible. When you have no pair, place the highest card in the two-card hand.1

Because the house edge is low (around 1.5–2.5% depending on the rules and commission), the game is slow-paced and popular among casual players. The joker adds flexibility: use it to complete a straight or flush when possible.1

Common questions

What is the house edge in pai gow poker?

The house edge in pai gow poker is typically around 1.5–2.5%, depending on the specific rules and the 5% commission on winning bets.12

How do you play pai gow poker?

Each player and the banker receive seven cards. You arrange them into a five-card back hand and a two-card front hand, with the back hand ranking higher. Both hands must beat the banker's corresponding hands to win the bet.1

Is pai gow poker a good game?

Pai gow poker is a slow-paced, low-variance game with a relatively low house edge, making it popular among casual players who enjoy a social experience without large swings.1

How to deal pai gow poker?

The dealer shuffles a 52-card deck plus one joker, then deals seven cards to each player and to the banker. Players set their hands, and the dealer reveals and compares the banker's hands against each player's hands.1

Where this term is used

Poker Pai gow poker odds Explains the probabilities and mathematical outcomes of pai gow poker. Poker Pai gow poker betting Covers the betting rules and options in pai gow poker. Poker Pai gow poker joker rules Details how the joker is used in hand formation and ranking. Poker Face up pai gow poker rules Describes the variant where all cards are dealt face up. Poker Full house poker Defines the full house hand ranking in poker. Poker Gto poker Explains game theory optimal strategy in poker.

Sources

  1. Pai gow poker en.wikipedia.org Provides the definition, rules, deck composition, hand setting, and joker usage for pai gow poker.
  2. Vigorish - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Supports the 5% commission (vigorish) on winning bets.

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.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.