How to Play Pai-Gow Poker

Poker Hand Rankings

5 of a Kind

As we go through this list, you’ll probably notice a few differences between Pai-Gow Poker and normal Poker rankings. The first being the 5 of a Kind, because you’d never see that at a normal poker table. Since Pai-Gow Poker uses a Joker Card, there is a small chance that the player will get four Aces and a Joker. And that is the first hand ranking we’ll add to our list.

This is the list of which hands beat what. 5 of a Kind is at the top, which means that it will beat all of these other hands.

Royal Flush

Next on the list, is the Royal Flush. A lot of people will recognize this because it is the highest ranking hand in Poker. A Royal Flush is an Ace, King, Queen, Jack and Ten, all of the same suit.

The only hand that can beat a Royal Flush is the 5 of a Kind; otherwise the Royal Flush beats all other rankings.

Straight Flush

A Royal Flush is considered the highest ranking Straight Flush and that’s the next ranking on our list. A Straight Flush will lose against a Royal Flush and higher but will win against a Four of a Kind or lower. A Straight Flush is when all five cards are in sequence and also have the same suit. For example, a 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of hearts.

4 of a Kind

A Four of a Kind is next on the list and this ranking consists of four cards of equal value. For example, a 9 of hearts, a 9 of diamonds, a 9 of clubs and a 9 of spades. The Four of a Kind will lose to a Straight Flush or higher, but it will win against a Full House or lower.

Full House

If you want the poker ranking for a Full House, then combine a three of a kind and a pair together. For example, a Full House would be a 7 of hearts, a 7 of diamonds and a 7 of spades along with a 9 of spades and a 9 of hearts. A Full House will lose against a Straight Flush or higher but it will win against a Flush or lower.

Flush

A Flush is next and this hand consists of 5 cards, all with the same suit, but in random order. For example, all diamonds… or all spades. A Flush will lose against a Full House or higher but will win against a Straight or lower.

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Straight

A Straight is when all of the cards are in sequence but they have different suits. For example, a 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. A Straight will lose against a Flush or higher but will win against a 3 of a Kind or lower. Here is another difference between Pai-Gow Poker and normal Poker. See, normally in Poker, the second highest straight is a King, Queen, Jack, ten and nine, but in Pai-Gow Poker, the second highest straight is an Ace, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

3 of a Kind

Next on the list is a Three of a Kind, and this is when you have 3 cards of equal value. For example, if you had three Jacks, or three 7’s. A Three of a Kind will lose against a Straight or higher and will win against a Two Pair or lower.

Two Pair

Two Pair is just how it sounds, you have two pairs. For example, if you have a pair of 5’s and a pair of 8’s then you’d have two pair. Two Pair will lose against a Three of a Kind or higher and it will win against a pair or lower.

Pair

A Pair are two cards of the same value. A Pair will lose against Two Pair or higher and it will win against high card.

High Card

High Card is any hand with no rank or value. So when referring to a High Card Hand, say the highest ranked card first, followed by the word “High”. For example, a Queen, 10, 9, 7, 5, 3, 2 all in a different suits would be a Queen-High Pai-Gow. Pai-Gow is just another way to describe a none ranking hand.

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