free online pai gow poker

Pai Gow Poker is a relatively laid-back version of poker in which the player has to divide his hand into two smaller hands made up of two and five cards respectively and try to beat the dealer's hands. Knowledge of poker is essential since the ranking of hands is the foundation on which the whole game is built. There is a specific and detailed Pai Gow Poker strategy, which will ensure that you are making the best and smartest moves under the circumstances depending on your cards. But there are also tips for Pai Gow Poker, which can guarantee a more pleasurable and entertaining time at the table.First of all, the most important tip than anyone can offer when it comes to Pai Gow Poker (or any casino game) is to proceed with caution. The first step, therefore, is understanding the game before actually playing. Understanding the game means learning the Pai Gow Poker rules and looking over the strategy tables - the former is your map and the latter is your compass; don't leave home (or sit down at your computer) without them. Take advantage of free online Pai Gow Poker games to really get familiar with the ins and outs of Pai Gow Poker. Get to know the betting scenarios and the odds of the game.
Knowing how to budget yourself is also an important tip. Before you place your first bet, decide how much you're willing to risk and don't increase that amount no matter what. Don't get swept away by victory or become desperate if you lose. Keep your wits about you in either case and keep track of your winnings, too.
Watch Your Back (and Your Front) When You Play Pai Gow PokerThe most important aspect of Pai Gow Poker to remember is not to neglect the 2-card hand (the front hand). It is tempting to put all your good eggs in one basket and to build up the back hand, but that's not the way to go. Don't forget either hand - take your time and find a way to build hands with good chances of winning both hands. More important, never forget that the back hand (the 5-card hand) must be stronger than the front hand (the 2-card hand). Tattoo that basic rule in your memory or write it down and paste it to your computer screen but whatever you do, don't forget it. Back is stronger than front.
Each combination of dealt cards (full house, 3 of a kind, 2 pairs, etc.) has a place all its own in the Pai Gow Poker basic strategy. With a combination of common sense and the accepted strategy, the moves for these combinations will become second nature. The point is, though, that common sense is an important asset to bring to the table. Don't underestimate the power of your own wisdom. If in the pressure of the moment, the basic strategy eludes you, just think for a few seconds - always remembering the basic rules of the game - and the most logical move will probably come to mind. Once you know the game and it starts making sense to you, you can trust yourself. That is the true way to master Pai Gow Poker.
Don't Forget the "Bonus" in Bonus Pai Gow PokerBonus Pai Gow Poker is actually two online poker games in one. The first is the high-hand-low-hand game. The second game involves a bonus bet. Many players forget about the bonus bet, which is a shame.
When you win Pai Gow Poker with a regular bet, you win even money minus the 5 percent house commission. So if, for example, you bet $10, and your high hand and low hand beat both of the dealer's hands, you win $9.50 in addition to your original $10. Of course, winning is winning; you won't complain about almost doubling your money. But if you want to do better than that, you will find that the big real money jackpots are in the bonus game. When you play Bonus Pai Gow Poker, your bonus bet is independent of your regular Pai Gow Poker bet; it can be a bet of the same amount or higher or lower. In the bonus game, your seven cards are looked upon as a single seven-card poker hand. Most importantly, your bonus game is not played against the dealer. You win or lose your bonus bet based on an objective measure of the quality of your hand. If you have a five-card straight, you get a payout of 2-to-1 on your bonus bet (with no commission taken out), regardless of what the dealer has. Three-of-a-kind pays out 3-to-1; a five-card flush pays 4-to-1. The payouts keep getting higher and higher for a full house, four-of-a-kind, a straight flush, all the way up to a phenomenal 8,000-to-1 payout for a seven-card straight flush. That means that, with a modest $3 bonus bet and a seven-card straight flush, you could have an extra $24,000 in your bank account. This potential real-money jackpot is not something you want to overlook.