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Quick answer: In pai gow poker you get seven cards and split them into two poker hands: a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand. Your high hand must rank higher than your low hand. If both of your hands beat the dealer’s, you win (usually even money minus a 5% commission). If one wins and one loses, it’s a push and you get your stake back. If both lose, or both tie, you lose. It’s a slow, low-volatility game with a house edge of roughly 2.5% to 3%, and many hands end in a push.
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Pai gow poker at a glance
| Deck | 52 cards plus one joker (53 cards) |
|---|---|
| Cards per player | 7 |
| Your hands | One 5-card high hand and one 2-card low hand |
| To win | Both your hands must beat the dealer’s |
| Payout | Even money, usually minus 5% commission |
| Ties | Go to the dealer (or banker) |
| House edge | About 2.5% to 3%, depending on rules |
| Invented | 1985, Bell Card Club, Los Angeles, by Sam Torosian |
18+. T&Cs apply. Check that online gambling is legal where you live.
How do you play pai gow poker?
- Place your bet. Some tables also offer an optional side bet.
- You and the dealer each receive seven cards.
- Split your cards into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand. The high hand must be stronger than the low hand, or your hand is “fouled” and usually loses.
- The dealer sets their cards using a fixed set of rules called the house way.
- Each of your hands is compared with the dealer’s matching hand. Win both and you are paid; win one and it’s a push; lose both and you lose your bet.
Hand rankings in pai gow poker
The five-card hand uses normal poker hand rankings, with two twists. First, in most casinos A-2-3-4-5 is the second-highest straight, just below A-K-Q-J-10 (some California and Michigan rooms treat it as the lowest straight). Second, the joker can complete a straight, a flush or a straight flush; otherwise it counts as an ace.
The two-card hand only counts pairs and high cards. The best possible low hand is a pair of aces. There are no straights or flushes in the low hand.
| Five-card hand (high to low) | What it means |
|---|---|
| Five aces (four aces plus the joker) | Highest hand in most rule sets, above a royal flush |
| Royal flush | A-K-Q-J-10 of one suit |
| Straight flush | Five cards in sequence, same suit |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of one rank |
| Full house | Three of a kind plus a pair |
| Flush | Five cards of one suit |
| Straight | Five cards in sequence |
| Three of a kind | Three cards of one rank |
| Two pair | Two different pairs |
| One pair | Two cards of one rank |
| High card | No combination |
How should you set your hands in pai gow poker?
Setting your hands well is the only real skill in the game. These simple rules are close to the house way most casinos use:
| Your seven cards | How to set them |
|---|---|
| No pair | Highest card in the high hand; the next two highest cards in the low hand. |
| One pair | Pair in the high hand; the next two highest cards in the low hand. |
| Two pair | Usually split them: the higher pair in the high hand, the lower pair in the low hand. With two small pairs and an ace, many players keep both pairs together and play the ace in the low hand. |
| Three pair | Put the highest pair in the low hand and the other two pairs in the high hand. |
| Three of a kind | Keep it in the high hand. With three aces, put one ace in the low hand. |
| Straight or flush | Keep the five-card hand, but choose the version that leaves you the strongest two cards for the low hand. If a pair would make a better low hand, consider breaking it. |
| Full house | Usually split it: the three of a kind in the high hand and the pair in the low hand. |
| Four of a kind | Low ranks: keep together. High ranks: often split into two pairs, depending on your other cards. |
Online and many land-based tables have a “house way” button that sets your hand for you using the casino’s rules. It is a sensible default if you are unsure.
Why so many hands push
Because you need to win both hands, a split result is very common: about four hands in ten end in a push, according to Wizard of Odds’ figures for a player who uses the house way. That makes pai gow poker one of the slowest-paced games in the casino. Your money lasts a long time, which is why it is popular with players who want a relaxed session.
Where does pai gow poker’s 2.7% house edge come from?
We worked this out from Wizard of Odds’ outcome figures for a player who sets hands the house way while the dealer banks. You win 29.12% of hands, push 40.50% and lose 30.38%. Here is what that means for a £100 bet:
| Result | Working | Average per £100 bet |
|---|---|---|
| Win (paid even money minus 5%) | 29.12% × £95 | +£27.66 |
| Push | 40.50% × £0 | £0 |
| Loss | 30.38% × £100 | −£30.38 |
| Net | £27.66 − £30.38 | −£2.72 (a 2.72% house edge) |
The 2.72% has two parts:
- The commission: 5% of the 29.12% of hands you win, which is about 1.46%.
- Ties going to the dealer: you lose 30.38% of hands but win only 29.12%. That gap of about 1.27% comes mainly from copies being paid to the dealer.
Setting your hands better than the house way trims the total to about 2.5%. In money terms, 30 hands at £10 (£300 staked) cost about £300 × 2.72% = £8 on average.
House edge, commission and banking
- House edge: about 2.5% to 3% for a player using good strategy, depending on rules. Part of the edge comes from the dealer winning tied hands, and part from the 5% commission.
- Commission: most casinos take 5% of winning bets. Some California card rooms charge a flat fee per hand instead.
- Banking: some land-based tables let a player act as the banker. Because the banker wins ties, banking can lower your edge, but you must be able to cover the other players’ bets.
- Face-up and no-commission versions: variants such as Face-Up Pai Gow change the rules and the edge; read the game rules first.
For comparison, see our list of casino games with the lowest house edge.
Pai gow poker side bets
Side bets such as Fortune Pai Gow pay out on strong seven-card hands, sometimes with a progressive jackpot. They are fun, but they carry a much higher house edge than the main game. If you play them, keep the stake small.
Pai gow poker tips
- Use the house way when you are unsure: it is designed to set hands well.
- Never foul your hand: the high hand must always beat the low hand.
- Skip side bets if your goal is the lowest house edge.
- Play slowly and enjoy the pushes: they protect your bankroll.
- Set a budget and a time limit before you start. Read our tips to lose less when gambling.
Where to play pai gow poker online
Pai gow poker is less common online than blackjack or baccarat, so availability varies by casino and country. Our top-rated casino, 1win (9.9/10), has a large table-game and live-dealer lobby and paid our crypto withdrawal in 15 minutes. Search its lobby for “pai gow” before you deposit. New players can use promo code Ultragambler. For more options, see our guide to online casino games.
How we checked this
- The 53-card deck, the joker rules, the A-2-3-4-5 straight ranking, ties going to the banker and the 5% commission: Wizard of Odds and Wikipedia.
- Five aces as a hand above a royal flush: Wikipedia and the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s rules of play, which list five aces on the paytable. Some guides say the joker can’t make five of a kind, so check your table’s rules.
- House edge of roughly 2.5% to 3%: Wizard of Odds (2.51% to 2.72%) and Las Vegas Advisor (2.72%).
- Invented in 1985 by Sam Torosian at the Bell Card Club: Wizard of Odds and Wikipedia.
- The win, push and loss shares come from Wizard of Odds alone. We could not find a second independent figure, so we name the source where we use them.
- Our maths: the split of the 2.72% house edge into commission and ties, and the cost of 30 hands, are our own calculations from those shares.
Last checked: 13 October 2026, when we worked out where the house edge comes from ourselves and cross-checked the rest against at least two independent sources.
Pai gow poker FAQs
Is pai gow poker a good game for beginners?
Yes. You play against the dealer, not other players, and the house way can set your hand for you. The many pushes also make it a slow, forgiving game.
What happens if I tie the dealer?
Ties, also called copies, go to the dealer. If one of your hands ties and the other loses, you lose; if one ties and the other wins, it’s a push.
What is the best hand in pai gow poker?
In most rule sets it is five aces: four aces plus the joker, which ranks above a royal flush. The best two-card hand is a pair of aces.
Why is there a 5% commission?
The commission is how the casino makes money on winning bets in the standard game. Some variants remove it but change the rules to keep a house edge.
Is pai gow poker the same as pai gow?
No. Pai gow is a traditional Chinese game played with dominoes (tiles). Pai gow poker borrows the idea of splitting into two hands but uses playing cards.
What is a fouled hand?
A hand where your two-card low hand outranks your five-card high hand. Fouled hands are usually forfeited or reset by the dealer, depending on the casino.
Important: check your local laws before you play
Online gambling laws differ from country to country, and in some places it is restricted or not permitted at all. Check that online gambling is legal where you live and that the casino accepts players from your country. You must be 18 or older (or the legal gambling age in your country, if higher). Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
