Pai gow loosely translates to "make nine" and was the basis for games like Chemin de Fer and Baccarat. Out of the seven cards dealt to them, players make their best five-card and two-card poker hands to compete with the dealer’s two hands. The five-card hand must be stronger than the two-card hand. A winner is declared when both of his hands beat the dealer’s respective hands.
Split your seven cards into two poker hands. The five-card hand must be stronger than the two-card hand (If your cards are 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, jack, king and king, you would place your pair of kings in the five-card hand, leaving the jack and 10 as your best two-card hand.)
Place your two hands on the table in their designated areas. The dealer will instruct you, if necessary.
Wait for the dealer to separate the cards to see if you’ve won. The winning cards beat both the dealer’s five-card and two-card hands. Winning only one hand results in a tie.
A majority of Pai Gow hands end up in ties and no money is exchanged.
Eastside Cannery now offers "No Commission Fortune Pai-Gow." There is no commission charged on any winning bet. Instead, all players will push, regardless of their hand, if the dealer has a Queen High Pai-Gow.
If you're unsure or confused on setting a hand, ask the dealer. He or she will help by showing you the way the house would play your hand.
Pai Gow Ranking Hands (Lowest to Highest)
- One Pair
- Two Pair
- Three of a Kind
- Straight (A, K, Q, J, 10 - Highest | A, 2, 3, 4, 5 - Lowest)
- Flush
- Full House
- Four of a Kind
- Straight Flush
- Royal Flush
- Five of a Kind (4 Aces & a Joker
- Seven Card Straight Flush
