The dealer deals out individuals hands of seven cards. The random generator (or a roll of dice) determines where the 1st hand is dealt. The rotation is always counter clockwise to determine the first spot. The cards are dealt out clockwise. The back (five-card) should be labeled as the high hand. The front (two-card) should be labeled the second highest hand.

If the back (five-card) hand does not beat the front (two-card) hand it is an automatic loser. The Banker wins all copy hands. Players winning both front and back hands win. Players winning only front or back hands push. Players losing both front and back hands lose.

Winning wagers are left intact and their seven-card hands placed in front of the winner's circle, face up. Push hands are determined and the cards will then be placed in the discard rack. Wagers are collected from non-winning hands and the cards are placed into the discard rack.

The dealer will always serve as the Bank for the first hand. After the first hand, the dealer will pass the marker (a.k.a. the Chung) from player to player, counterclockwise, offering each the Bank or passing it on to the next player. The dealer starts the game by rolling three dice. The total of the dice determines which player receives the first set of cards. Starting from the Bank, the dealer counts counterclockwise. The hands are dealt to the positions whether or not anyone is playing that position. The dealer always starts counting from the Bank. The Bank is always one, nine and seventeen. The dealer is not always the Bank.

After all the players have set their hands, the banker will expose (open) his cards, and arrange them into a high and low hand. The dealer will then open each player's hand, in turn, and compare each hand against the Bank's hand.

Upon opening and comparing each hand against the Bank's hand, the dealer will declare whether the player won (Jung), lost (Che) or tied (Jowl). To win, the player's high hand must be higher than the Bank's high hand, and the player's low hand must be higher than the Bank's low hand. If both of the player's hands are lower than the Bank's hand then the player loses. If the player's high hand is higher than the Bank's high hand, but his low hand is lower than the Bank's, or vice versa, it is a tie (push), and no money is lost or gained. The Banker wins all copy hands.

All losing bets are picked up immediately and placed in the center of the table. The losing hands are picked up at the same time and placed to the right of the dealer. All the hands that tied are also picked up and placed to the right of the dealer. The winning hands are left in their respective positions until all the other hands have been opened. The dealer then goes back and pays all the winning bets, picking up the cards as he pays. The House collects a 5% commission on all winning bets. The commission is taken from the payoff. The cards are then reshuffled, the next hand begins. Hand Rankings: There are four basic rules of play that will determine the way you should arrange your cards. These four rules will govern most of the hands you will receive.

Four Governing Rules Of Pai-Gow Poker

Rule 1: Pairs
Upon receiving your cards, the first thing you should look for are Pairs. The matched Pairs are easy to recognize, but the mixed Pairs are often overlooked. Therefore the player is advised to carefully scrutinize his cards.

Rule 2: Teen & Day
When you receive your cards and see that you do not have a pair, look for a teen (12) or a day (2). If you have a Teen or a Day, look for a seven, eight, or nine. The Teen and Day are the most powerful, high ranking cards in the game of Pai Gow. The Teen (12) with a seven makes the highest possible Nine. The Day (2) with a seven makes the second highest Nine. When using the Teen and Day with an eight it makes a Gong (high ten) and when using the Teen and Day with a nine it makes a Wong (high eleven).

Rule 3: Small Cards
When you receive your cards, and you see that you have neither a pair, nor Teen or Day with a seven, eight or nine, look for two small cards that equal seven, eight or nine.

Rule 4: Large with Small
When you receive your cards and see that you do not have a pair or a Teen or Day with a seven, eight or nine, or two small cards that equal seven, eight or nine, take the largest card and place it with the smallest card. Wild Dominos: The three and six dominos that make the "supreme" combinations (Jee Joon) are "wild dominos." The three can be used as a three or a six. The six can be used as a six or a three. For example, dominos six and four make zero; however, this six can be used as a three, which make seven a better combination.