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• By Hnayr on 6/14/2018
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Pai Gow Poker Drinking Game

• Players: 6+
• Type: Social
• Drink: Any
• Consumption:
• Year: -Today
• Genre:
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Summary

Pai Gow - but with cards. A Western iteration of the traditional dominoes game, this poker form sets the stakes and the table for social betting fun with a competitive edge.

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Equipment

• Deck of Cards
• Single Joker
• Betting Chips
• Large Table
• Drinks of choice

Setup

Gather round, sit down and get comfy with that Jameson and Coke. Much like traditional versions of the game, Pai Gow Poker is best played with players at an angle to one another or in a convenient table circle (no peeking!). Designate a dealer first of all, who'll serve the deck in seven face-down piles of seven cards each, and then get ready to play.

Rules

Put simply, the aim of Pai Gow Poker is, like many card games, to beat the dealer to the pot. Of their seven dealt cards, each player will be asked to make two separate hands each round: one five-card poker hand, and one two-card hand. These plays are then matched up against the dealer and a win, push or draw for the player comes about as a result (more on that later.) For now, let's walk through a game of social, slightly drunken Pai Gow simple step by simple step. Goodbye, ol' Texas Hold 'Em. Your friendship group will be pros at this fresh new take in no time.

Chips Up: The Betting Stage

All bets take place before the game begins in a round of Pai Gow - and usually have a minimum - so whether you're playing for coins, notes, a Kopparberg Mixed Fruit or honor, everyone will have at least some risk come their turn on the table. Rather than betting against other players, however, in Pai Gow, the group is working together to bet against the dealer (or banker). Say you place the minimum bet: your two hands will be compared against that of the dealer, and, if both win, you cash out. If only one wins, however, you get a push. That is, your bet carries over to the next round and nobody loses anything. It's basically a kind of a tie.

When everyone's bet, the round official can begin.

Dealer's Turn

Take your single 52-card deck, slide in a joker and get dealin'; seven piles of seven turned face down and one discard pile of the remaining four. In a regular game of Pai Gow, there should be six players and one dealer, the perfect balance for the deck but, if you can't quite make the numbers, then you'll have to discard the extra sets. No problemo. The game goes on regardless.

Make a Hand, Take in Turns

Decide as a group the order of turns. Clockwise from the dealer one through seven? Anti-clockwise? At random? As everyone's effectively on the same team, it doesn't matter too much. Once you've found a system that works, take a moment and begin to arrange your hands. Some knowledge of poker is required here, so newbies, get to Google if needed. Your two-card play can be a pair or simply junk, and your five-card could be anything from a three of a kind to a royal flush - luck decides. Sound confusing? No worries! Pai Gow Rules and practice are available all across the internet, with Betway Casino even offering rounds of the game online.

The Skill of the Game

Pai Gow is more than just a game of chance, however. There's skill and strategy in how you form the combination of hands. A strong pair could guarantee you a push for example but weaken your five. A strong five could likewise leave your pair in the dust. Think and play carefully, then cross those fingers. Remember - to actually win, you have to beat the dealer on both counts, not just the one.

The other big rule is the split between your two hands. Your five card play, as unfortunate as the rule is, must be classed as higher than your pair. That is, if you've got a two pair as your two-card play, the other five cards must outrank it in order for that round to be a legal set. It's a little complicated but entirely necessary. If you happen to mess up, that means a round forfeit and saying goodbye to your bet, no matter how big and small. So, be careful and don't lose to beer goggles!

The house edge in Pai Gow is relatively low compared to other iterations of poker. At the end of the day, the dealer/banker is in the same boat as the rest of you with their two hands, so don't be afraid to take risks when you need to. A sip of the dirty pint as punishment isn't the end of the world if things turn sour, after all. It's part of the fun!

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Wild Cards

Remember that joker from a while back? In Pai Gow, it's an especially useful card, and you have about a one in seven chance of getting it in your hand. The joker can: substitute for any card to complete a straight, substitute for any suit to complete a flush and, otherwise, is seen as a good ol' ace. If you have no joker available, don't worry, it's not integral to the game. It just makes those higher runs and five-card hands a little more likely.

The Winner

So, it's your turn, and you're up against the dealer. A win on both hands usually means a flat double of your bet, and a loss on both means - well, exactly that. A loss. As said above, if you go even against the house then a push takes place. Super simple.

Drinking, Sinking and Fun

Pai Gow is a fun and interesting take on the poker genre. If that's something you and your friend group are into, definitely sit down and have a play. The drinks can come before, during, or even after. Heck, they can be part of the bets! It's entirely up to you. Do remember to drink responsibly, however, and sip some water here or there. A morning Alka-Seltzer may or may not be required.

As always, please remember to drink responsibly! This alcohol drinking game is not meant to lead to you becoming sick due to over-consumption of alcohol. Need a sober ride? Save $5.00 by riding w/ Lyft! If you enjoyed it, please leave feedback in the comments & let us know how we can make it better!

Tags

• Pai Gow Poker Drinking Game
• Card
• Social