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What is Face Up Pai Gow Poker?

Face Up Pai Gow Poker is a variation of the famous table game where the dealer plays with his or her hand fully exposed. Obviously, with players getting such a massive advantage by seeing the dealer’s hand, there is also a tradeoff.

Unfortunately, if the best five-card hand a dealer can make is an ace-high, the game is automatically pushed. So, you won’t win as many games as you thought you would.

However, there is more to face up pai gow poker than just being able to see the dealer’s hand and more games ending in pushes.

If you would like to find out more about Face Up Pai Gow Poker, keep reading. Below we have a quick look at the rules of the game and how it differs from standard Pai Gow Poker. So, read on and find out why you should give this exciting game a try.

face up pai gow poker

Face Up Pai Gow Poker Rules

Face Up Pai Gow Poker makes use of most standard pai gow poker rules, including:

  • A 53-card deck is used (so the joker is included).
  • The joker card acts as a wild. So, it can be used to finish straights and flushes or as an Ace in your two-card hand.
  • You will be dealt seven cards with which you need to make two hands – a five-card hand and a two-card hand.
  • Standard poker hands are used. The highest hand ranking you can get in your two-card hand is a pair.
  • Your five-card hand must be stronger than your two-card hand. Meaning you cannot have a pair in your two-card hand and a high-card in your five-card hand.
  • If both your hands are better than the dealer’s hand, then you win the game. However, if only one of your hands is better than the dealer’s hands, then the game is pushed. If the game ends in a tie (you and the dealer both have the same hands), the dealer wins.

Differences Between Face Up Pai Gow Poker and Regular Pai Gow Poker

Here are the differences between regular pai gow poker and the Face Up version:

  • The dealer’s cards are dealt face up.
  • You don’t have to pay commission to the house.
  • If the dealer has a hand featuring an ace-high, then the game is pushed.

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