Pai Gow Tiles is an age-old Chinese game. Its creation was inspired by the attempt to bring the ancient dominoes game back to casino floors. The table game is played using Chinese dominoes tiles and features some elements of poker, making it more suited to today’s modern casino patrons. As a result, it requires both luck and strategy to win.
Today’s guide explains Pai Gow Tiles, its rules, how to play it, and some tips for success.
Pai Gow Tiles: Conquer the Grid Piling Up Poker Tips and Tricks
The Pai Gow definition is straightforward. It is an ancient Chinese game played between 2 to 8 players using 32 domino tiles that form 16 permissible pairs. Being one of the best online casino games, the objective remains the same: to create the best hand possible using the dominoes dealt to you and beat the banker, who, in most cases, is the dealer.
Players are given 4 dominoes, from which they have to make a high hand (using 2 dominoes) and a low hand (using 2 dominoes). The winner is determined by comparing player hands with a Pai Gow Tiles ranking similar to the poker hand ranking.
Like most online table games, you must place a bet before being dealt domino. If your two hands beat the banker’s two hands, you’ll win the round and get paid by the bank. The game is a push if you win only one of the banker’s hands. If you lose both hands, it’s a loss.
Rules Explained: How to Play Pai Gow Tiles
To kick off gameplay, players place their bets in the betting square. Once done, the dealer or banker announces “no more bets” and shuffles the 32 tiles. This is then stacked into 8 piles of 4 tiles each.
The first player is determined by placing three dice into the Pai Gow shaker and shaking it three times. Once the dice are revealed, their total indicates who begins the game. The dealer, who also serves as the banker, then deals four tiles to each player, starting from the first pile of the eight prearranged stacks.
Following the Pai Gow rules, the tiles are dealt counterclockwise. Each player then picks up their tiles, sets them into high and low hands in pairs, and arranges face down in two distinct ways. Once you set it down, you can’t pick up the tiles again.
If a player doesn’t want to set the tiles given, the dealer can do so if the house rules permit. Once everyone settles, the dealer sets his tiles. He then reveals each player’s hands counterclockwise and compares their high and low tiles to determine who wins, pushes, and loses.
While there are other Pai Gow games or variants, if you are playing with cards, the same Pai Gow poker rules apply. Let’s look at the rules that apply to Pai Gow Tiles.
Pai Gow Tiles Rules
There are a few rules you must understand when playing Pai Gow Tiles. The first thing to know is the hand-ranking rules.
Hand Ranking Rules
Pai Gow Tiles uses a unique hand-ranking system to determine the outcome of each round. Understanding Pai Gow meaning involves recognizing that the domino tiles feature red and white pips, but these colors are irrelevant; only the count on each tile matters.
The game features twenty hand rankings divided into pairs, wongs, gongs, and single ranks. The highest ranking is the Supreme pair, consisting of six(2-4) and three(1-2) tiles. Following this are the matched pairs from the 2nd to the 12th hand.
The unmatched pairs rank from the 13th to the 16th hands. Wongs are ranked 17th and 18th, while gongs are the 19th and 20th hands. Lastly, the single-rank hands total 17 in number.
Tile Value Rules
Your goal is to set up the most valuable tile. To do this, you must understand how tiles are valued.
Pairs
Once you have a pair, your hand is valued based on their rankings. Understand that the lower the pair’s ranking number, the higher its value.
Non-pairs
When you have non-paired tiles, you must add their pips to determine their hand value. The higher the number of pips on non-pairs, the higher their value.
Once a non-pair adds up to more than 9, only the second digit counts as its value. For example, if you add up two tiles to give you 14, the value of that hand will be a 4.
Pai Gow Joker Rules
In Pai Gow tiles, the joker adds an interesting twist to the game. Unlike traditional Pai Gow where no jokers are used, the joker in Pai Gow tiles can often act as a wild card, providing flexibility in forming strong hands. Understanding the Pai Gow joker rules is crucial for strategizing effectively, as the joker’s role can vary depending on the specific house rules or variant of the game you are playing. Familiarize yourself with these rules before joining a game, as they can significantly impact your gameplay and strategy.
Banker Rules in Pai Gow Tiles
Pai Gow Tiles is a versatile game with slight variations. While most Pai Gow Tiles played at casinos make the dealer the banker, some rotate the banker among the players. In this choice from our casino games, the dealer offers the banker title to any player, starting from the player on the dealer’s far right.
However, to be the banker, the player must have wagered in previous hands and be able to cover all the bets made by the other players. If they lose their bet, it goes to the player, who is a banker. In this instance, the dealer only collects a commission for every bet played in that round.
Tips for Success in Pai Gow Tiles
Here are some tips you need to know to be successful once you understand the rules for Pai Gow.
Digest the Rules of the Game
First, you need to understand the rules of the game. Pai Gow rules can be confusing, especially if you’re new to the game. Learning how to set the tiles and which set up the most winning strategy can go a long way.
Master the Tile Rankings
Keep practicing Pai Gow tiles online to help memorize the various hand rankings. This is necessary to play the game at a high level.
Search for Pairs
Always look for pairs first in every game. In doing this, remember to look out for the supreme and mixed pairs. These are equally precious hands. You could also play the highest-ranking hands as a low hand to improve your odds of getting a win or a push rather than a loss.
Utilize Guides
Study more about how to play Pai Gow tiles using casino guides. This will help you find more structural ways to win a game. Imagine losing a round and later discovering you could have won with better hand arrangements.
Pile Up Your Fun
What does Pai Gow mean? It is a Chinese game played using tiles to create the best hand possible. However, it requires you to study it and, most of all, practice more often. Enjoy Pai Gow games online using the Slots Paradise bonus, up to $2,500.
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Pai Gow Tiles – FAQs
How many players can participate in Pai Gow Tiles?
Pai Gow Tiles can be played with 2 to 8 players, each competing against the banker.
How are the hands ranked in Pai Gow Tiles?
Hands in Pai Gow Tiles are ranked similarly to poker hands, with the goal being to form the highest possible two hands (high and low) from four dealt dominoes.
What happens if you win only one hand in Pai Gow Tiles?
If you win one hand and lose the other against the banker, the game results in a push, meaning your bet is returned.