In this poker variant, players play against the house instead of each other.Īt some casinos, players can play as the banker (house), and the role rotates around the table. As shown in the picture above, the game is played on an oval-shaped table like blackjack. The game is played with a standard deck of 53 cards, 52 cards, plus a Joker(more on this later). Although it may sound weird and confusing, if you are well familiar with poker hand rankings, you will learn the game by the end of this article because it is played at an easy, relaxing pace! This article will discuss the gameplay, rules, odds, and some strategies to play and win Pai Gow Poker. The name comes from its Chinese roots, where players played the game using dominoes instead of cards. Pai Gow, pronounced as pie now, is a combination of Seven-Card Stud Poker and a Chinese dominos game. What Is Pai Gow Poker, Rules & Strategies