Dealer Open Pai Gow

Introduction

Dealer Open Pai Gow is pai gow poker This is a variant where the dealer's hand is fully visible, sharing similarities with other games. Face Up Pai Gow Poker However, it utilizes a distinct approach to gain a house advantage.

Rules

Here are the complete rules. If you're already familiar with conventional Pai Gow poker, feel free to skip ahead to the section titled \"Differences between Dealer Open Pai Gow and traditional Pai Gow Poker.\"

1. A 53-card deck is utilized, which includes the standard 52 cards plus a joker.
2. The joker acts as a semi-wild card, allowing it to substitute for an ace or to help complete a straight, flush, straight flush, or royal flush.
3. Typical poker hand rankings apply, with one peculiar exception: the A2345 straight, commonly referred to as 'the wheel,' is ranked as the second-highest straight. Some casinos have abandoned this unconventional rule, but many still uphold it.
4. The game begins with the player placing a bet. Additionally, the player has the option to make a side bet called Push Ace High.
5. The dealer distributes seven cards to both the player and themselves.
6. There is no player banking.
7. The dealer's cards are shown face up. Utilizing specified rules known as the 'house way,' the dealer organizes their cards into a five-card High Hand and a two-card Low Hand, ensuring that the High Hand holds a higher value than the Low Hand.
8. If the dealer's hand contains at least two jacks, the dealer automatically secures a win.
9. In the absence of two jacks, the player arranges their seven cards into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand. Similar to the dealer's setup, the High Hand must possess a higher poker value than the Low Hand.
10. The five-card hand is evaluated based on standard poker ranking rules. In the two-card hand, the only viable poker hand is a pair or no pair, with the highest-ranking card determining the hand's value.
11. Once the player has organized their hand, the hands of the player and dealer are juxtaposed. The higher-ranked hands win in each case. Should there be a tie, such as both two-card hands being ace/king, the dealer is declared the winner.
12. If the player triumphs in both hand comparisons, they win even money on their bet without any commission. If they win one and lose one, the bet results in a push. If the player loses or ties both hands, they forfeit their wager.
13. The optional side bet Jacks Beat will result in a win if the dealer has two or more jacks. The payout for this bet is contingent on the player's hand, with further details provided below.
14. Another optional side bet, Chan Chu, rewards based on the strength of the player's hand, with additional information following.

Contrasts between Dealer Open Pai Gow and classic Pai Gow Poker.

• Dealer cards dealt face up.
• No 5% commission.
• If the dealer has two or more jacks, they achieve an automatic victory.
• No player banking

Comparative analysis between Dealer Open Pai Gow and Face Up Pai Gow Poker.

The two games establish their house edge differently, while the fundamental mechanics remain alike.

• In Dealer Open Pai Gow, having two dealer jacks results in an immediate loss for the player.
• In Face Up Pai Gow Poker, a dealer hand with an ace-high pai gow leads to an automatic push.

Analysis

AGS, the providers of Dealer Open Pai Gow, graciously shared their GLI math report for this page. For the base game, it indicates a house edge of 1.82%. While it doesn’t delve into specifics, the section regarding the Jacks Beat bet reveals that the dealer is likely to secure a winning hand of two jacks or more with a probability of 7.98%.

In comparison, the house edge in Face Up Pai Gow Poker is 1.81%.

Chan Chu

The Chan Chu side bet follows a winning hand order much like the Fortune bet in both conventional pai gow poker and Face Up Pai Gow Poker, although the payout table differs. The analysis here is based on the payout table at Binion's in Las Vegas from December 16, 2022, indicating a house edge of 8.00% before factoring in the envy bonus.

A player qualifies for envy bonuses if they place a bet of at least $5 on Chan Chu; the additional players contribute a value of 2.7¢.

The subsequent table demonstrates the overall house edge, including the value of envy bonuses, which varies based on the number of other players listed on the left and the bet amounts on Chan Chu displayed across the top.

Jacks Beat

The next table outlines the possible results of the Jacks Beat bet according to data collected at Binion's in Las Vegas in December 2022. This bet pays out if the dealer draws at least two jacks, with the lower right corner reflecting a house edge of 8.84%.

House Way

The following details the house rules employed by GLI to arrive at the 1.82% house edge. This house way appears quite sensible; while many casinos prefer more complex rules, I find this method equally effective due to its simplicity.

The terms 'front' and 'back' refer to the two-card hand and the five-card hand, respectively. The dealer sets their hands based on the highest five-card hand possible:

• Five Aces: If possible, place two Kings in front; otherwise, set two Aces in front. - For a Royal Flush: Refer to the ‘Complete Hand’ rule.
• Four of a Kind: Arrange based on the rank of the Four of a Kind:
  • Aces: If the hand includes a pair of Sevens or higher, set that pair in front. If not, place two Aces in front.
  • Jacks to Kings: If the hand has a pair of Tens or higher, put that pair in front. Otherwise, display two of the Four of a Kind in front.
  • Sevens to Tens: If there is a pair, place it in front. If one Ace is present, show the two highest singletons in front. Otherwise, display two of the Four of a Kind in front.
  • Two to Sixes: If a pair exists, position the pair in front. If not, show the two highest singletons up front.
• Full House: With two Three of a Kinds, place the highest possible pair in front and keep the Three of a Kind in back. If there’s a Three of a Kind and two Pairs, set the highest pair in front and the remaining hand can be a Full House or Two Pair in back. For a pair of Twos and a singleton King or stronger, display the two highest singletons in front. Otherwise, set the pair in front with the Three of a Kind at the back.
• Flush: See the ‘Complete Hand’ rule.
• Straight: Refer to the ‘Complete Hand’ rule.
• Three of a Kind: If three Aces are in the hand, set one Ace and the highest singleton in front. Otherwise, position the two highest singletons in front.
• Two Pair: If there are three Pairs present, show the highest one in front. However, if both pairs are Sevens or greater and no singleton Aces are involved, place the lower pair in front. If the hand contains Jacks or higher over Sixes or better, with an Ace as a singleton, set the lower pair in front. For Aces as the high pair, display the low pair in front. Otherwise, put the two highest singletons upfront.
• Pair: Place the two highest singletons in front.
• High Card: Display the second and third highest singletons upfront.
• Complete Hand (Straight, Flush, Straight Flush, or Royal Flush): If a hand contains a Four of a Kind, adhere to the Four of a Kind rule. In the case of a Full House, apply the Full House rule. For Two Pair hands with Jacks or better over Sixes or if they comprise Two Pair with one or more Aces, follow the Two Pair rule. Otherwise, configure the best front hand that permits a royal flush, straight flush, straight, or flush to be set in back. When multiple configurations exist, adhere to the priority of the first qualified rule:
  • Select the best front hand, King-high or better, allowing for any Straight or Flush to be formed in back.
  • Configure the strongest front hand that enables a Royal Flush in back.
  • Formulate the best front hand, Jack-high or better, suitable for any Straight or Flush in back.
  • Arrange the highest front hand possible so that a Straight Flush can be established in back.
  • Establish the highest front hand capable of allowing a Straight or Flush to be set in back.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank AGS The distributors of this game generously shared their mathematical report with me.

Written by: Michael Shackleford