Pai Gow Tiles

Pai Gow is an ancient Chinese game of chance. The game is played with a set of 32 domino tiles, three dice, and a dice shaker. The object of the game is to beat the dealer’s hand. The game is usually playes at a slow pace, with about 30 hands per hour.

Rules of the game

The game begins when the dealer shuffles the tiles and arranges them into 8 stacks of 4 tiles each.

The players then make their bets in a box in front of their seats. After betting is finished, the dealer rolls the dice to determine who gets the first stack of dominoes. Once the dice are reveled, the bets cannot be changed. Counting starts from the dealer and goes around the table. If the dice total 3, the second position to the right of the dealer gets the first stack of dominoes. The dealer continues to deal the stacks counter-clockwise. Each player gets a stack of 4 tiles. Only 6 players are allowed to play and one stack is voided.

Each domino and pair of dominoes have a ranking. The ranking of dominoes and pairs follows no particular logic and is difficult to memorize. Still, the players must arrange the tiles to create the two strongest possible pairs. The players than lay the dominoes facedown, with the higher pair of tiles arranged horizontally and the lower pair arranged vertically.

Once all players have set their tiles, the dealer will examine and revel his hands. The dealer must set his hand in a predetermined way known as the “House Way”. Then, each player in turn compares his hands against the dealer’s hands.

If the player wins both hands, the payout is even money less 5% commission. If a player loses both hands, he forfeits his bet. If a player wins one hand and losses the other, than the bet is a “push” or a “tie” and the player gets his bet back. If a player and dealer both have the same total, then the highest ranking domino determines who wins the hand (every domino has a ranking, similar to the ranking sequence in cards). If there is still a tie, the hand goes to the dealer.

Click here for a casinos in London where Pai Gow Tiles is played.