The rules for how to play Pai Gow poker are quite similar to straight poker as far as the winning hands are concerned. The game play is different. As you know now that Pai Gow is played with 53 cards—the standard 52 card deck and one joker. It makes for five-of-a-kind possibility in Pai Gow poker.

One difference in the game of Pai Gow poker game is that all the seven cards are used to make out the winnings. In Pai Gow, the dealer plays against other players.

To start the game, each player takes over a stake. Seven cards are dealt with face down to each player. After deal gets done, each casino gambling player not including the dealer picks up the cards. He arranges them in a five-card and a two-card hand.

The Pai Gow Poker hand rankings are 5 Aces (including joker), Royal Flush, Straight Flush, 4 of a Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three Of A Kind, Two Pair, One Pair and High Card.

Playing Pai Gow Poker

Each player gets seven cards each dealt to him or her. The players make the best five card and two card poker hands to contend with the two hands of dealer.

The five-card hand should be strong compared to the two card hand. When both hands of a player beat the dealer's respective hands, he, or she is declared a winner.