JL4 Pai Gow Poker: Setting Two Hands and What Wins
In Pai Gow Poker you get seven cards and set them into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand.
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Pai Gow Poker feels confusing the first time because you play two hands from one deal. The fix is a simple split: seven cards become a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand, and the high hand must be the stronger of the two. This page shows how to set the hands and what each result means in the family of Filipino card games and their hand rules.
Pai Gow Poker: how the deal works
- You and the banker each get seven cards from a 52-card deck plus one joker.
- You split your seven cards into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand.
- You confirm the split, and the banker sets a pair of hands the same way.
- Your high hand is compared with the banker’s high hand, and your low hand with the banker’s low hand.
Setting the two hands
The five-card hand uses ordinary poker rankings. The two-card hand can only be a pair or a high card.
| Hand | Cards | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| High hand | 5 | Straight, flush, full house and so on, ranked as in poker |
| Low hand | 2 | A pair, or the highest card |
The rule that matters most: the high hand must outrank the low hand. A pair of kings in the two-card hand needs a five-card hand that beats a pair of kings, such as two pairs or better. A split that breaks this rule is a foul and loses.
The joker
The joker has a limited role, and the table spells it out.
| Use | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Counts as an ace | Yes |
| Completes a straight | Yes |
| Completes a flush or straight flush | Yes |
| Counts as any other card | No |
Win, split or lose
| Your two hands vs the banker’s | Result |
|---|---|
| Both beat the banker’s | You win |
| One beats, one loses | Push, stake returned |
| Both lose | You lose |
Ties go to the banker in the standard game. Open the game’s info screen to read how your version treats them and any commission on wins.
Where to go next
- If you play Pusoy Dos, the five-card combinations here will look familiar. Read them in our Pusoy Dos rules.
- For a game with no hands to set at all, see the roulette payout chart.
- In the JL4 lobby, search the Cards tab by name for Pai Gow Poker.
You must be 21 or older to play.
FAQ
What is the golden rule of Pai Gow Poker hand setting?
The five-card high hand must outrank the two-card low hand. If it does not, the hand is a foul and loses. Check your split before you confirm it.
What does the joker do in Pai Gow Poker?
The joker is limited. It counts as an ace, or as a card that completes a straight, a flush or a straight flush in the high hand. It cannot be any other card.
What happens when I win one hand and lose the other?
That is a push, sometimes called a split, and your stake is returned. You win only when both of your hands beat the banker's, and you lose when both lose.
Where can I find Pai Gow at JL4?
Search the Cards tab in the lobby menu by the game's name, Pai Gow Poker. Open the game's info screen to read how that version handles ties and commission.