The dream of many casino gamblers is to play Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, many individuals don’t have the means to make a trip to Nevada for a long weekend of gambling. However, there are several online casinos that simulate the experience of playing Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas. There are several important considerations for those who are able to play Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas as well.
Playing Live Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas
If you do plan to play Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the “house way.” The house way includes the rules that Las Vegas Pai Gow Poker dealers must follow when arranging their seven dealt cards into a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand. Many casinos that offer Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas, including the Flamingo Hilton, Golden Nugget, Four Queens, Texas Station and other Las Vegas casinos on the Strip have their own minor variations on the house way. However, the basic principles are always the same, and understanding the house way will allow you to create a hand with the best chance of winning while playing Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas.
The following is a common example of some of the rules used in the house way for Pai Gow Poker games at the Golden Nugget, a famous Las Vegas casino:
- No Pair – Highest card goes in the 5-card hand, 2nd and 3rd best cards make up the 2-card hand.
- One Pair – Pair goes in the 5-card hand, next best cards make up the 2-card hand.
- Three of a Kind – Always goes in the 5-card hand, unless the cards are A-A-A. In this case, two of the cards go to the 2-card hand.
- Full House – Split into Three of a Kind in the 5-card hand and a pair in the 2-card hand.
- Double Three of a Kind – Highest pair goes to the 2-card hand.
In most cases, straights, flushes and other hands that require five cards go in the 5-card hand.
Simulating Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas Online
Many of the best online casinos offer an experience that is remarkably similar to playing Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas. Look for Pai Gow Poker sites that offer high quality software, with realistic graphics and rich animations. Some sites offer cartoony graphics, which rarely provide the immersive experience you’d find playing Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas.
Some of the most cutting-edge online casino sites offer live dealer Pai Gow Poker games. This provides for an even more realistic experience, since they allow you to interact with a video stream of a real live Pai Gow Poker dealer. This is the closest you can come to playing Pai Gow Poker in Las Vegas without leaving the comfort of your own home.