Face Up Pai-Gow


Rules of Play

A Dealer button will be offered to all eligible Designated Player at the table. Face Up Pai Gow Poker has no commission, the Designated Player’s hand is played face up, and is played with a standard 52 plastic card deck and a single Joker, for a total of 53 cards. The Joker may be used as any type of card to complete a Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush. Otherwise, it may only be used as an Ace.

  1. If the Designated Player has an Ace-High hand “Pai Gow,” then the hand will automatically result in a push (tie). The player must set their hand if they have a bonus.
  2. The Top Hand consists of two cards and is often referred to as the “low” hand. The Bottom Hand consists of five cards and is often referred to as the “high” hand. Bottom Hand must be higher than the Top Hand. If Top Hand is higher, the hand will be fouled, resulting in loss of base bet wager.
  3. An Action Button will signify the starting point for ALL action. Action is defined as the first spot to receive cards, the first player cards are pushed too, and the first hand to be compared against the Designated Player’s hand. The placement of the Action Button will be determined when the game opens by high carding. The action button will rotate clockwise per hand.
  4. The Designated Player’s hand will be set according to the House Way.
  5. Each player shall set their hands by arranging the seven cards into a two card (low) hand and a five card (high) hand.
  6. Players are allowed to play multiple consecutive betting spots in the blind and will have these hands set according to the House Way. The house reserves the right to limit players to one betting spot. When playing multiple hands, a player may only handle the first set of cards pushed towards them.
  7. Once the player’s hands are set, each player’s hand is exposed, in turn, and compared to the Designated Player’s hands to determine the winners, losers, or tie hands.
  8. Players are not allowed to touch their cards until they are pushed towards them by the Dealer.
  9. One Player to a hand. A player may not seek advice as to the play of their hand.
  10. All payouts will be paid by the Designated Player, with a $50,000 maximum aggregate per individual hand.

Betting Face Up Pai-Gow

  1. Players must place a wager on the Base bet. The Ace High and Fortune wagers are optional. All bets are placed before the hand begins.
  2. The Base bet is paid EVEN money if a player wins the top and bottom hands. If the Designated Player loses the top and bottom hands, player loses the wager. If a player and Designated Player split, the wager is a push.
  3. If the Designated Player and player have the exact same hand on top or bottom, that is a “copy”. The player must win the other hand in order to push. If the Designated Player has a win and a copy, then the player will push their Base bet.
  4. The Ace High Bet shall win if the Designated Player has an Ace High Pai Gow and the player has placed a wager on the Ace High Bonus wager circle.
  5. The Fortune Bonus is paid odds if the player’s hand is Straight or higher and the player has placed a wager on the Fortune Bonus circle. Bonus payouts are posted on the table.

Face Up Pai-Gow House Way

  1. No Pair: The second and third high cards will be placed in the Low hand; the highest and all remaining cards will be placed in the High Hand.
  2. One Pair: Use the highest two single cards in the Low Hand; place the pair and all remaining cards in the High Hand.
  3. Two Pairs: If high pair is Aces, Kings, Queens – always split. If high pair is Jacks, 10’s, 9’s, - split unless Ace in front. If high pair is 8’s, 7’s, 6’s – split unless King in front. If high pair is 5’s, 4’s, 3’s – split unless Queen in front.
  4. Three Pairs: Put highest pair in front.
  5. Three of a Kind: If Aces – always split. If Kings and below – never split. If two sets of three of a kind – split highest set.
  6. Straight, Flush, Straight Flush with no pair - Always play the complete hand. With one pair – always play the complete hand. With two pairs – play according to two pairs strategy. With Three of a Kind – play complete hand in back, pair in front. If Straight, Flush, and/or Straight Flush – put the two highest cards in front that will leave any complete hand behind.
  7. Full House: Put the highest permissible pair in front.
  8. Four of a Kind: If Aces, Kings, Queens – always split. If Jacks, 10’s, 9’s – split unless King in front. If 8’s, 7’s, 6’s – split unless Queen in front. If 5’s and below – never split. If 4 of a kind with a pair – play complete hand behind.
  9. Five Aces: Put pair of Aces in Front.

Face Up Pai Gow Poker Hand Rankings (In order of highest to lowest)

  1. 7 Card Straight Flush (No Joker): A hand that consists of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking that does not utilize a joker. An ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, and 8 is the highest ranked 7 card Straight Flush (No Joker) hand and a 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked 7 Card Straight Flush (No Joker) hand.
  2. Royal Flush + Royal Match: A hand that consists of ace, king, queen, jack, and 10 suited and king and queen suited.
  3. 7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker): A hand that consists of seven cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking that utilizes a joker. An ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, and 8 is the highest ranked 7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker) hand, with one of those cards being substituted with a joker, and a 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked 7 Card Straight Flush (With Joker) hand, with one of those cards being substituted for a joker.
  4. Five Aces: A hand that consists of five cards containing all aces
  5. Royal Flush: A hand that consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of the same suit.
  6. Straight Flush: A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit in consecutive ranking. A king, queen, jack, 10, and 9 is the highest ranked Straight Flush and a 5, 4, 3, 2, and ace is the lowest ranked Straight Flush.
  7. Four of a Kind: A hand that consists of four cards of the same rank. Four aces is the highest ranked Four of a Kind and four 2’s is the lowest ranked Four of a Kind
  8. Full House: A hand that consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair. Three aces and two kings is the highest ranked Full House and three 2’s and two 3’s is the lowest ranked Full House
  9. Flush: A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, but that are not in consecutive ranking. An ace, king, queen, jack and 9 is the highest ranked Flush and a 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 is the lowest ranked Flush.
  10. Straight: A hand that consists of five cards that are in consecutive ranking, but that are not the same suit. An ace, king, queen, jack and 10 is the highest ranked Straight and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and ace is the lowest ranked Straight.
  11. Three of a Kind: A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. Three aces is the highest ranked Three of a Kind and three 2’s is the lowest ranked Three of a Kind.
  12. Two Pairs: A hand that consists of two pairs. Two aces and Two kings is the highest ranked Two Pairs and two 3’s and two 2’s is the lowest ranked Two Pairs
  13. One Pair: A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two aces is the highest ranked Pair and two 2’s is the lowest ranked Pair.
  14. High Card: A hand that consists of five cards that do not make any of the hands listed above. An ace, king, queen, jack, and 9 is the highest ranked High Card hand and 7, 5, 4, 3, and 2 is the lowest ranked High Card hand.

Pay Scale

Ace High Bonus

  • Dealer Ace High PG no joker 7 to 1
  • Dealer Ace High PG w joker 10 to 1
  • Dealer + Player Ace High PG 25 to 1

Fortune Bonus Bet Pay Table

  • 7 Card Natural Straight Flush 5000 to 1
  • Royal Flush 2000 to 1
  • 7 Card Straight Flush W/ Joker 1000 to 1
  • Five Aces 400 to 1
  • Royal Flush 150 to 1
  • Straight Flush 50 to 1
  • 4 of a Kind 25 to 1
  • Full House 5 to 1
  • Flush 4 to 1
  • 3 of a Kind 3 to 1
  • Straight 2 to 1

Last Updated 11/9/2023 – Please see host for current rules and listing. The rules listed at the host will always be the most current and up to date version of these rules.