Pai Gow rules question!

**steadman** · 21st July 2006, 02:21 PM

Hi guys,

I've been playing some Pai Gow poker on Littlewoods and have just noticed that my 6 high straight was beaten by a dealers 5 high straight (using joker). I've searched the rules on the site to no avail - does using a joker make your straight stronger?

Thanks.

S.

**RobRival** · 21st July 2006, 04:25 PM

Hello,

A straight A-2-3-4-5 is known as a "wheel" and in PaiGow (as well as some other poker games) it's the second highest straight and does indeed beat a straight such as 2-3-4-5-6. In PaiGow a joker can be wild to form a straight, but its presence does not necessarily mean it'll beat yours (eg, 5-6-7-8-joker is the same as 5-6-7-8-9).

The Wizard gives you all you need to know about PaiGow http://wizardofodds.com/paigowpoker

Cheers

Rob

**chuchu59** · 21st July 2006, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by CocoaRob

Hello,

A straight A-2-3-4-5 is known as a "wheel" and in PaiGow (as well as some other poker games) it's the second highest straight and does indeed beat a straight such as 2-3-4-5-6. In PaiGow a joker can be wild to form a straight, but its presence does not necessarily mean it'll beat yours (eg, 5-6-7-8-joker is the same as 5-6-7-8-9).

The Wizard gives you all you need to know about PaiGow http://wizardofodds.com/paigowpoker

Cheers

Rob

No, you will be beaten because a push is deemed a loss for the player. However, thanks for the enlightenment on A-5 beating 2-6. I thought the reverse was true as in Texas Hold'em.

You guys should try the real paigow(tiles). Much more interesting and does require some skill. The cracking sound of the tiles ensures an active environment.

**spearmaster** · 21st July 2006, 06:31 PM

Chuchu - I think CocoaRob is just illustrating that the joker serves as a 9 in that example, rather than that being a dealer vs player hand.

The reason A-2-3-4-5 beats 2-3-4-5-6 is because the Ace is always counted as the highest card in Pai Gow Poker. In all other forms of poker, the Ace is counted as low in A-2-3-4-5 and high in A-K-Q-J-10.

When A-2-3-4-5 meets A-K-Q-J-10, the A-K is the higher hand because of the second highest card in the hand.

In Big 2 (if you can call that poker), the Deuce (two) is the highest card - but still counts as just a 2 in a straight if I am not mistaken.

**The Watchdog** · 22nd July 2006, 01:23 AM

A-2-3-4-5 is the second biggest straight..

Its the only rule that changes in pai gow poker comparing it to other types of poker.

Is like in 3 card. In 3 card poker there is another exception, a straight is higher than a flush. So in this game another rule changes due to the odds of certain hands happening... Same thing with the discussed straight in this thread

**nelvitt** · 22nd July 2006, 02:56 AM

I actually didn't know that A-2-3-4-5 was the second highest straight in pai gow. I was surprised when the dealer took my money, since I'm use to Texas Hold Em rules.

**The Watchdog** · 22nd July 2006, 03:36 AM

Check the casino policies for 2 pairs.

Here in Costa Rica on land based casinos, I believe the rule is that if the house has 9s and a lower pair than 9s, they stay in the back.

Pair of 10s with any other pair are splitted.

Or it has to do something if the house has Jack Ace... so if the pair is low, it both pairs will stay in the back and the Jack Ace up front. Depending on the ranking of the pairs they will be splitted.

Pai Gow rules may vary a lot from casino to casino.