How to Play Pair Gow Poker
Game Objective:
The objective of Paigow Poker is for both of a player's two hands (denoted the highest and second highest hands) to rank higher than both of the dealer's two hands. The player receives seven cards and makes two traditional poker hands - one of five cards (the highest hand), another of two (the second highest hand). The rankings of the two hands are based on a basic poker ranking. Thus, the highest two-card hand is two Aces and the highest five-card hand is five Aces (four Aces and a Joker). The players two hands are compared with the dealers two hands and the payoff is determined. To win, a player needs to win with both the highest hand and the second highest hand against the Dealer's hands.
Game Rules:
The dealer deals the player seven cards face-up and himself seven cards face-down. After the player has his seven cards, he must form two hands. The second highest hand must contain two cards and the highest hand five cards. The formation of the dealers highest and second highest hands is dictated by the house rules (which may differ slightly depending on the casino). The dealer's cards are then compared with the player's cards.
The Joker can be used only as an Ace or as a card to complete a straight, a flush, a straight flush or a royal flush for any of the hands. The player's highest hand is compared to the dealer's highest hand. The player's second highest hand is compared to the dealer's second highest hand. The result is determined as follows:
- If the player's second highest hand and highest hands both beat those of the dealer, the player wins and is paid even money less 5% commission (example, if a player bets $100, and both his hands are greater than the dealer's hands, he will win $95). A message is displayed- 'Highest hand wins, second highest hand wins, player wins'.
- If the player's second highest hand and highest hand are lower than the dealer's then the player loses the bet.
- If the player wins any one of the hands (highest hand or second highest hand), but loses the other, the bet is a push and the bet is returned to the player. A message is displayed for the result.
- If both the players and dealers hands are identical (i.e. when there is an exact match between hands, which is called a copy), the player loses his bet. A message displaying the result will appear.
- If the player wins any one of the hands and the second hand results in a tie, the bet is a push and will be returned to the player.
- If the player loses any one of the hands and the second hand results in a tie, he loses his bet.
- If the highest hand set by the player is lower in strength than his second highest hand, the bet is termed 'Foul' and the player loses his bet.
Hand Comparison:
Highest hand - For the highest hand, five Aces (4 Aces and a Joker) would be the highest. Among the straights, a straight with A, K, Q, J, 10 would be the highest, with A, 2, 3, 4, 5 being the second highest. If both the hands have the same ranking, the higher hand is that with the higher cards. For example, three Kings would rank higher than three Jacks. In case of the same ranking, then the highest card(s) not being held in common determines the winner. For example, two Jacks with an Ace high beats two Jacks with a King high. The suit order of the cards is not taken into account when deciding on the winning cards. If a Joker is used in a winning combination, then the Joker will act as the highest card (e.g. Joker, 6, 5, 4, 3, rather than 6,5,4,3, Joker, where Joker will substitute as a 7 and not as a 2).
Second highest hand - In case of the second highest hand, the highest would be a pair of Aces. If both the hands have the same ranking, the winner is the one holding the higher cards. For example, a pair of Kings is higher than a pair of Queens. In case of the same ranking, then the highest card(s) not being held in common determines the winner. The suit order of the cards is not taken into account while deciding on the winning cards.
[source: Party Casino]