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The Basics of Pia Gow
Poker for Beginning
Players
Pia Gow Poker is the
American version of the
popular Asian tile game,
Pia Gow. This gamed is
played on the casino
floor with a 52-card
deck and a single joker.
The joker can only be
used as an ace or to
complete a straight,
flush or straight flush.
The Table:
The Pia Gow
table allows for 6
players and the dealer.
On the table, there is a
single circle where a
player makes his bet.
There are also two boxed
areas labeled "high" and
"2nd highest" or a
variation of this.
Two Betting
Options:
A
player may either choose
to play against the bank
or as the bank. When the
player decides to play
as the bank, this player
is acting as the house
and all other players at
the table are playing
against this player. In
order for a player to
act as the bank, the
house (casino) must have
been the bank for the
prior hand and the
player must have enough
money to pay all the
other bettors.
Playing Against
the Bank:
Once all the bets are
placed, the dealer will
deal each player 7
cards. From these cards
the player must make the
best 5-card hand and 2nd
best 2-card hand that he
can. For example, if the
player is dealt A, 3, 5,
7, 6, 5, Q, that players
best hand would be a
pair of 5s (5, 5, 7, 6,
3) and 2nd best hand
would be A, Q. At any
point if the player is
unsure how to bet, he
may ask the dealer and
the dealer will show you
how the casino plays the
hand.
In order to
win, the player must bet
the bank with both of
his hands. If one hand
wins and the other
loses, the hand is
considered a push, and
the player keeps his
bet. If the player loses
both hands, the bank
wins and player forfeits
the bet.
The
same rules apply if the
player is playing as the
bank. This player would
win against, tie or lose
to all of the other
players.
Pia Gow Poker Notes:
The house
wins all ties on either
the 2-card or 5-card
hand. So if the player
has a 2 card hand and
the casino has the same,
the casino wins the 2
card hand the 5 card
hand would determine if
the player ties or
loses.
When the
player wins, that player
is paid 95% of his
original bet. So if he
wagered $20, he wins
$19.50. Because the
player would lose all
$20 if he had lost the
hand, this $0.50 adds to
the casinos edge.
The term "Pia Gow"
means that a pair or
better cannot be made
with a 7-card hand.
Players may often say "Pia
Gow" when hoping that
the dealer has nothing.
Pia Gow has the same
hand ranks that are used
in poker.
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