Many casinos are aware of the popularity of poker. Unfortunately, poker is a game played against other players and not the home, so the casinos have little involvement in regular poker, other than to charge a rake (a portion of each pot) for the use of the dealer as well as the table. To combine the aspects of poker with those of typical table games played against the house, casinos have invented a number of poker variations which are played like traditional table games, player vs. the casino.

One such variation is Pai Gow. In Pai Gow Poker, after each player puts up a wager of their choosing they’re dealt seven cards. Your objective is to make your best online casino gambling five-card and two-card poker hand. As a rule, your five card hand must be stronger than your two card hand. In case you are dealt A, A, 9, 8, 7, 3, 3, you might not split your hands into 9, 8, 7, 3, 3 and AA. You may split them into a, A, 9, 8, 7 and 3, 3, or perhaps a, A, 3, 3, 7 and 9, 8. As long as your five-card hand beats the two-card hand, you may arrange them however you like. In the event that you are not sure the optimal way to set your hand, you may ask the dealer to help you. There is one joker in the deck, which may be employed in your hand to complete a straight or possibly a flush, or as an Ace. The joker is not wild, you can’t use it to pair any card in your hand other than the Ace.

When you have set your hand, the dealer also sets his hand. If both of your hands beat both of the dealer hands, you win an amount equal to your initial bet. If both of the dealers’ hands beat both of yours, you lose your bet. If one hand wins and also the other loses, it’s a tie and no-one wins. The house gets its edge by charging a five percent commission on winning bets.

In Pai Gow you also possess the option of being the “Banker”. If you choose to be the Banker, you put up a sum of money to cover (or “Bank”) all the bets on the table (should the amount you put up just isn’t enough, the home will pick up where you left off). In the event that you are the Banker, you play against all Players. Your five percent commission is calculated after all wins and losses are tabulated. Being the Banker affords a really slight edge because if your hands “copy” (are exactly the exact same) a Player’s hand, you win.

Pai Gow is an interesting variation of poker and one you could consider if you like poker but are searching for a more traditional casino game than regular poker, or simply one that provides an added dimension to the game. You may find Pai Gow at certain online casino sites as well as in any live casino.