1. Is Pai Gow Poker difficult to learn?

Contrary to Pai Gow, the traditional Chinese game from which this game is derived, Pai Gow Poker is based on a familiar scenario. Notably, Pai Gow Poker uses a regular deck of cards (and not dominos) and the game is played according to standard Poker hands. Both of these game attributes make it easy for you to learn this great union between Chinese and American card cultures.

2. What is the most common mistake made in Pai Gow Poker?

The most common mistake is for players to assume they will win based solely on a strong five-card hand. Do not deny your two-hand-card the opportunity to become a pair. The basic strategy for arranging your hand is: the highest two-card hand that is less than your five-card hand. So remember, don't make the mistake of thinking that the hand with more cards is more important than the smaller hand.

3. Are Pai Gow Poker games over quickly?

Actually, you can play Pai Gow Poker for quite a while without having to wager extraordinary amounts of money. Players frequently tie in this fairly slow paced game, allowing you to get a good sense of the game you are playing, and to improve your skills each game, without having to experience the whirlwind effect that some other games offer.

4. Where can I play Pai Gow Poker?

Pai Gow Poker became popular in the United States during the mid-1980s. Since then it has made its way to several different media. You can play in casinos as a card game, on video and now, of course, online.

pai gow poker history

Pai Gow Poker History

History of Pai Gow Poker lies in the fascinating ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow. The original game of Pai Gow was played by the Chinese with tiles that were similar to dominoes. These tiles, or dominoes, were separated into groups by the Pai Gow dealer and then a roll of the dice determined which set of tiles belonged to which player. In the 1800's different versions of the Pai Gow game existed in China. As other games, Pai Gow is believed to have been brought into the United States in the 1800's, by Chinese immigrants who arrived to work in mines and on the railways. In Califonia, this chinese game changed its name from Pai Gow to Pai Gow Poker to get around gambling laws.