PAI GOWS POKER

When a player acts as the banker, all other player hands are compared to the banker's hand and not to the dealer's. The player acting as banker gets to shake the dice cup and is counted as position one for determining who will be dealt the first card. When a player banks, the dealer will wager an amount equal to the player's bet on the preceding hand. The banker has the option, however, to request that the dealer wager a lesser amount or not wager during that round of play. Also, when a player banks, all losing wagers are immediately collected and placed in the center of the table. The dealer will use these gaming chips to pay off winning wagers. If there are not enough chips, the banker must make up the difference. Likewise, all chips left after the round is completed are given to the banker after the dealer collects the 5 percent commission based upon the amount left.

A word of caution should another player act as banker: Be very careful not to expose your hand since the banker would have a distinct advantage if he knew what your hand is prior to setting his or her hand.

As a general rule, a player who bets as the banker has a slight edge over the rest of the players because in the event that both hands are copy hands, the banker wins.

Another option available to the player who acts as banker is to request that the casino cover 50 percent of the wagers made during a round of play (so called co-banking). When a player acting as banker requests co-banking, then the banker cards must be set according to established house rules from the two hands.

A casino may, at its discretion, allow a player to wager on two adjacent betting areas. If a player wagers different amounts on two adjacent hands, the player must rank and set the hand with the larger wager before he or she is allowed to rank and set the other hand.

Another unique rule is that a player may surrender his wager after the hands of the dealer have been set. The player must announce his intention to surrender prior to the dealer exposing either of the two hands of the player. When a player surrenders, he will automatically lose the wager. Note: When a player surrenders, the entire bet is lost, not 50 percent of the bet.

Then why surrender at all? Because traditionally in pai gow, it is considered preferable to surrender rather than endure the humiliation of the dealer exposing a player's poor hand.

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