What is Pai Gow Poker? Pai Gow Poker is actually a mix of the traditional Chinese game of Pai Gow with the characteristic American poker. The standard 53-card deck, with a joker is used to play Pai Gow Poker. To calculate the rank of the hand, the joker is valued as an Ace. You can also fill the missing card value with a joker to complete any straight or flush.

The literal translation of Pai Gow means to “make nine”. An easy and uncomplicated poker game, Pai Gow Poker does not involve too much money. This traditional Chinese game has now become the craze of casino players in cities such as California and Nevada.

The earlier famous Chinese games in vogue were the yu-p’u and yeh-tza. These casino games are said to be similar to what is now called the modern poker dice. If you are an ardent poker fan, chances are you will love playing this game. A word of caution – players are not allowed to touch their cards or even talk about them after it has been cut. Initially, a player might find it complicated but once you get the hang of it, it is very simple. This article focuses on the rules and gives you some tips on how to play and win.

The game is played on a one-to-one basis and can have multiple players. The player (or players) competes with the banker. The game is a slow one and can drag on for a couple of hours. It is certainly less exciting than other fast-paced casino games. The plus point is that you can play for quite long with a moderate sum of money.