It’s no understatement to declare Pai Gow as one of the most difficult casino games for new players to get a handle on. In order to enjoy Pai Gow, you must prepare yourself to absorb a ton of knowledge regarding the traditional scoring system, optimal strategy for setting your hand, and the unique vernacular used by players and dealers. Nonetheless, playing Pai Gow represents a gaming experience unlike any other, and from an odds standpoint, the low house edge makes the game a tremendous value. And indeed, there are many unfortunate superstitions in place which brand non-Asian players as unlucky. In fact, pai gow is loosely translated to make nine, as the object in both Pai Gow and baccarat is to approach a total closest to nine.īecause of the game’s status as a cultural pursuit, non-Asians can often be intimidated by the prospect of playing Pai Gow. Pai Gow is an ancient Chinese gambling game that serves as an ancestor for both modern dominoes and baccarat. The game they’re playing uses tiles that resemble dominoes, and almost always the player base will be of predominantly Asian descent. In nearly every casino in the country you can find a few tables surrounded by frantic players calling out and celebrating in a foreign language.
