Pai Gow poker is somewhat different from normal poker, though the desired hands remain almost the same. Pai Gow poker is played with 53 cards, which is the standard 52 cards used in poker plus one joker, which can be used as an ace, or to compete a straight, flush or straight flush.

In Pai Gow poker the player receives 7 cards to divide into one five-card hand and one two-card hand. A two-card hand can be either a pair or two single cards. The player then must make a five card hand with the seven cards which scores higher than the two-card hand.

If your five-card hand beats the dealer's five-card hand and your two-card hand beats the dealer's two-card hand, you win the hand.

If the dealer's five-card hand beats your five-card hand and the dealer's two-card hand beats your two-card hand, the dealer wins the hand.

If you and the dealer each win one hand, the result is a push, and you receive your original bet back.

If you fail to set your cards so that the five-card hand outscores the two-card hand, you foul and the dealer wins by default.

No Pairs: If your hand contains seven odd cards then play the second and third highest ranked cards in the low hand and the other cards in the high hand.

One Pair: Set the pair in the high hand and your next two highest ranked cards as low hand.

Three Pair: Play your highest ranking pair in the low hand.

3 Of a Kind: With three aces or kings, split them, playing the ace (or king) in your low hand and the pair in the high hand. For all other 3 of a kind, play them in the high hand.

Straight and Flushes: Play them in the high hand.

Full House: Play the high pair as low hand and the 3 of a kind in the high hand.

4 of a kind: Always split your faced aces, kings, and queens. Play one pair in low hand, and the other in the high hand. With four Js through 7s, play them as 4 of a kind in the high hand only if you have at least a queen to use in low hand, otherwise split the 4 of a kind. With four 2s through 6s, play them in your high hand.

5 Aces: Split the aces with one pair in the low hand and three aces in your high hand.