BASICS
OBJECT OF THE GAME
To win your bet having both of your hands rank higher than both of the designated Player/Dealer. Hands are played and ranked as traditional Poker hands.
THE DECK
Pai Gow Poker is played with a total of 53 cards consisting of 52 cards and the joker. There are two different versions of Pai Gow Poker. First is when the joker is wild. Second is when the joker may be used only as an Ace or to complete a Straight or Flush. In the first version, if the two-card hand (front) consists of a “joker”, it will automatically play as a “pair”.
HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED
• One of the seven (7) players becomes the designated Player/Dealer. The remaining players will each play their hands against the Player/Dealer’s hand. The Player/Dealer is the only opponent. The Player/Dealer is determined in a new game by starting at seat #1, continuing clockwise. Each player in turn has the opportunity to become the Player/Dealer. As the Player/Dealer, you have the option to be the Player/Dealer for two consecutive hands. You may play one hand and pass the Player/Dealer option, or you may pass the option completely. Once the Player/Dealer has been established, the House Supervisor shuffles the cards. The House Supervisor will cut and complete the deal of seven (7) piles of seven (7) cards face down in front of him.
• The designated Player/Dealer selects one of the seven (7) piles. An “action” button is placed on the selected pile. This pile will be the first hand distributed and the first hand to receive action from the Player/Dealer, continuing clockwise. • Wagers are placed in the small numbered circles. The amount you wager may not be altered once the play of the hand begins. As a player, you must bet at least the table minimum. However, there is no maximum limit for the Player/Dealer position.
• At this time, a time collection is taken for each wager before every hand begins. A dice cup containing three (3) dice is given to the Player/Dealer to shake. The sum of the dice determines where to place the first pile or “action” hand. Each position is counted whether it has a wager on it or not, starting with the Player/Dealer as I, 8, or 15.
• The House Supervisor distributes the hands starting with the “action hand.” The Player/Dealer button is placed on the “dealer’s” cards, which will be opened only after all players have “set” their hands.
• The players set their hands by making a two (2) card hand and a five (5) card hand. The five (5) card hand must not rank lower than the two (2) card hand. They will then lay both hands face down distinctly separate next to their wager. When the House Supervisor sees that all players cards are down, he will announce “all hands are set,” at which time the players may not touch their cards for the remainder of the hand.
• The House Supervisor will then reveal the Player/Dealer’s cards and arrange the two hands the way the Player/Dealer wants them to be set.
• The House Supervisor will get a confirmation from the Player/Dealer, then proceed to open the action hand. The hands are then compared in turn to the Player/Dealer’s hand.
• In order for the player to win, both the two (2) and five (5) card hands of the player must rank higher than both hands of the Player/Dealer. If only one of the hands ranks higher, it is a “push” and neither side wins. If one hand is identical in rank to the Player/Dealer’s hand, that is a “copy” and the Player/Dealer wins all “copy hands”. If both hands rank lower than both of the Player/Dealer’s hands, the player loses to the Player/Dealer.
• When all hands are declared wins or losses, the Player/Dealer can only receive action on the amount he wagered, i.e., if the Player/Dealer wagers $100.00 and loses $50.00 to the action hand and wins $50.00 from the next hand, he cannot win or lose any more money. No other wagers, win or lose, can be paid. • Any wager that had no opportunity to receive action will get a “free collection” button to pay the time collection. This button must be used on the very next hand by the same player.
• When all transactions are completed, then the hand is over. The House Supervisor shuffles and starts the procedure again, by determining the Player/Dealer’s position.
Every seat has multiple numbers of betting circles. When there is betting circle(s) not wagered, the other player(s) has the right to wager on it and become the backline player of that seat. The seat counter-clockwise first to the Player/Dealer will receive a “NO PLAY” button on the seat, and the seat will not be dealt a hand. The player may be the backline player and be involved in the game.
TRADITIONAL POKER RANKING HANDS
1. 5 of-a-kind
2. Royal Flush
3. Straight Flush
4. Four of a Kind 1
5. Full House
6. Flush (Joker’s Wild only)
7. Straight
8. Three of a Kind
9. Two Pair
10. One Pair
11. High Card (Ace High)
RULES
2. Time collection is taken in advance for each bet. You must have a full minimum bet after paying collections.
3. Each table has a spread limit defining the minimum and maximum amounts that may be wagered in each spot.
4. You must bet at least the table minimum. Less than minimum bets will receive action, but will not be tolerated.
5. Any amount over the maximum table limit will receive no action.
6. There is NO MAXIMUM on Player/Dealer wagers.
7. ’Kum-Kum” bets will be paid off and/or collected as one bet.
8. Players who choose to bet ‘’Kum-Kum’’ must each wager at least the minimum bet permitted at the table.
9. Players who bet ‘’Kum-Kum’’ do so at their own risk. The House will not hold up action or be responsible for settling disputes that arise from ‘’Kum-Kum” bets.
10. All action goes clockwise, starting with the action button.
11. All cash will be changed to chips. All bets will be paid off in chips.
12. The player who controls the seat is the only active player for that position, but the player with the most money in action will handle the cards.
13. A maximum of five backline bets, eleven for $25 minimum or higher limit, are allowed on each non Player/Dealer spot. A sixth/twelfth backline bet will receive no action.
14. The active player cannot refuse backline bets. He may not prohibit any player from wagering on that spot if he is not wagering on it. Once a player has wagered on this spot, that player is allowed to wager or backline there until the Player/Dealer position is moved to the next player.
15. Backline players may participate in the play of the hand. If the active player and backline player(s) disagree over the play of the hand, the player with the largest wager in action makes the final decision. When the largest wagers are equal amounts and these players do not agree, the active player makes the decision.
16.When the backline player(s) wishes to make a decision on the hand and has the largest bet in action, he must verbally declare his intent to the House Supervisor to stop the action before the active player acts.
17.In the Player/Dealer position, the largest wagering action makes the final decision on any disagreement on the play of the hand.
18. Only the active Player/Dealer may designate any person to shake the dice except a Bicycle Casino employee on duty. Each player may not shake the dice more than two times consecutively, four times for $25 minimum or higher limit.
19. Once the House Supervisor has released the dice and announced ‘’no more bets’’ and open the dice cup, at that time no one may change his wager. Penalty: Possible forfeiture of wager to the extent that money covers. You may be barred from play.
20. The Player/Dealer’s hand will not be opened until all hands have been set, with the exception of a ‘’House Way’’ hand. (See rule #35).
21. All players must put the entire wager in the spot before the dice are released by the House Supervisor. Only money in the spot plays. Stating ‘’money covers’’ or other call bets is NOT acceptable.
22. Any active player is entitled to ask the House Supervisor the amount of the Player/Dealer’s wager, to the extent that it affects the play of his hand.
23. No side bets or proposition bets are allowed.
24. The active player has the first option of being the Player/Dealer on his spot. If there was no wager the previous hand, no one may be the Player/Dealer on that spot. (Except for the seat with NO-PLAY button.)
25. Any player involved in the first deal has the right to take the second deal if the active player passes the second deal.
26. Any attempts to switch, pass, and/or hold out cards will cause a hand to be foul and the forfeiture of that wager to the extent that money covers. Any player (s) found guilty of such actions will be barred and may be subject to prosecution.
27. Any player removing a losing bet may be barred and/or subject to prosecution.
28. A player who removes a winning wager from the betting circle may be paid the minimum bet (to the extent that money covers), if the correct amount of the wager cannot be determine
29. A player has a foul hand if:
(b) The player does not have exactly two cards in the front hand, or
(c) The player does not have exactly five cards in the back-hand.
31. A player may see one hand only, regardless of the number of hands on which he has wagered.
32. The joker is used as the highest unmatched card in a Flush, except when it is used to complete a Straight Flush.
33. A boxed or exposed card on the deal will be replaced after the deal is finished by the first of the remaining four cards. Any dispute in regards to the dice’s total or delivery of the hands must be acknowledged before the House Supervisor closes the dice cup.
34. A misdeal will be declared if
(b) if two or more cards are boxed or exposed.
(c) a froeign card appears in the deck.
36. No wager can be removed until all hands are opened.
37. Any “House Way” hand improperly set by the House Supervisor will be reset by Management.
38. The House Supervisor cannot allow the Player/Dealer to set his hand foul. If the House Supervisor mistakenly allows a foul hand to be played, it will be reset according to the ‘’House Way’’ by Management and play will continue.
39. The Player/Dealer’s hand is not set until he has signified his final decision in an obvious manner to the House Supervisor.
40. If it is discovered that the House Supervisor did not show all options to the Player/Dealer, the hand will be reset according to the ‘’House Way’’ before the third hand is exposed.
41. New set-ups may be requested after one hour, except in $25 minimum or higher limit.
42. Prior ot the deck being cut, Player/Dealer may ask the House Supervisor for an extra shuffle.
43. Only the Player/Dealer may request a change of deck.
44. When two identical cards are turned up, a misdeal will be declared.
45. A hand that has been misread by the House Supervisor will play at true value if it can be retrieved intact.
46. The Player is responsible for protecting their own hand and wager.
47. Management reserves the right to make decisions which are in the interest of the game. Therefore, under special circumstances, a decision may be rendered that is contrary to the strict and technical interpretation of these rules.
Please contact the welcome center for more details.