Pai gow (tiles) is likely the most ancient game found in casinos. The term translates to 'create nine.' In fact, the scoring system, which only considers the digit in the one's place as in baccarat, was probably inspired by the pai gow game.
Among the various games offered at casinos, it's widely recognized that pai gow poses the greatest challenge for newcomers to grasp. Before engaging in this game, it's essential to familiarize oneself with the hierarchy of 16 different pairs of tiles. For those unfamiliar with Chinese culture, this ranking can appear random, making it hard to recall. Nevertheless, there's a fascinating legend associated with the game, and learning about it can significantly enhance one's comprehension of the tile pairings.
On December 30, 2011, I encountered a friendly Caucasian man named Colonel Rob Patton while playing pai gow at the Paris casino in Las Vegas. He shared that he had been playing the game for around 25 years, which caught me off guard. Back when I started playing in 2001, it was quite rare to see another non-Asian player at the table. Nowadays, I estimate that non-Asians constitute about 20% of the players.
In the mid-1980s, I would have been astounded to spot any non-Asian individuals participating. Early accounts suggest that the few Caucasian players present were likely mathematicians, such as Michael Musante, John M. Gwynn Jr., or Bill Zender. Even today, Caucasian players can sometimes feel a bit out of place at pai gow tables. There remains a prevailing notion that non-Asian participants may bring bad luck, particularly in places like Macau and Australia.
Rob mentioned that learning the game proved to be a challenge due to Asian dealers often lacking the ability or willingness to explain the rules in English. However, he eventually found a helpful Caucasian dealer at Caesars in Lake Tahoe. In an effort to clarify the ranking of tiles, the dealer recounted the Chinese myth surrounding the universe's creation to aid Rob's understanding. Here it is:
Part 1 - The Supreme Pair
Supreme Creator (Gee Joon) : The ancient Chinese term referring to the Supreme Creator, who existed before anything else.
Part 2 - The Civilian Pairs
Heaven (Teen) : Initially, the Creator formed the stars to occupy the emptiness of space.
Earth (Day) : Then he made the earth.
Man (Yun) : Next, he created humans to inhabit the earth.
Goose (Gor) : Following that, he designed geese to provide sustenance for man.
Plum flower (Mooy) : Afterward, he made flowers to enhance the planet's beauty.
Long (Chong) : Subsequently, he created long garments for humans to wear.
Board (Bon) : Then, he fashioned boards to construct benches for people to sit on.
Hatchet (Foo) : Then he crafted hatchets for humans to use in chopping wood.
Partition (Ping) : As families grew, partitions were made to divide the living spaces within their homes.
Long Leg Seven (Tit) : The seventh child born to man had notably long legs.
Big Head Six (Look) : The sixth child was characterized by having a larger head.
Part 3 - The Military Pairs
Finally, we arrive at the mixed pairs, which symbolize the military. The rank is determined by the number of dots present, with more dots indicating a higher status.
Nine (Gow)
Eight (Bot)
Seven (Chit)
Five (Ng)
Rank of the 2-4 Gee Tile
Certain casino rulebooks state that the valuation of the 2-4 tile is higher than that of the two fives, while others position it at the lowest rank along with the 1-2 tile. In my own interpretation of the rules, I consider it to be the lowest rank. So, what accounts for this inconsistency? As noted by John Gwynn, who references Michael Musante in his article \"A Detailed Study of Pai Gow,\" (page 308), published in Finding the Edge , there exists an informal understanding that the 2-4 tile is rated slightly above the five-point tiles (1-4 and 2-3), except in situations where it is valued as three points, in which case it ties for last place with the 1-2 tile. This adjustment in rank is only relevant when the Gee tile is combined with any of the five-point tiles (1-4 or 2-3). In such cases, it counts as three points, subsequently placing it lower than the five-point tile. Therefore, both Gee tiles should effectively be recognized as last in ranking.
If we accept that Gwynn and Musante are accurate—as I highly regard their expertise—I would argue that the rules at the Venetian are flawed, suggesting the 2-4 tile is consistently scored above the five-point tiles. However, this wouldn't apply unless the banker possesses the 1-2 tile and a five-point tile, whilst the player has the 2-4 and the other five-point tile. Based on the rulebook, the Venetian would classify this as a victory for the player. Nonetheless, both hands should be on equal footing, resulting in a win for the banker. The odds of this scenario occurring are 1 in 107,880.
Chinese Dice
Lastly, Rob brought up a question that has intrigued me for many years: Why are the one and four spots on the dice used in various Chinese games, including pai gow, pai gow poker, baccarat, and sic bo, marked in red while all other numbers appear in black? His explanation follows.
The design of each tile in the Chinese domino set reflects the result of rolling two six-sided dice. Consequently, there are 21 distinct configurations (6+5+4+3+2+1).
Maintaining the same color scheme as traditional Chinese dice, any half domino featuring 1 or 4 dots displays red markings (for instance, the 4-5 tile showcases four red spots and five white ones). The sole exception is the pair of 6-6 tiles. Half of the dots on the 6-6 tile are highlighted in red to distinguish them as the highest-ranked Civilian tiles. In the game of Pai Gow, the color of the dots holds no significance in gameplay; it merely serves to adhere to traditional aesthetics.
The Chinese tradition of painting the 4-spot red is said to have started when an Emperor playing sugoroku (Japanese Backgammon) with his queen was at risk of losing and urgently needed fours to secure victory. He exclaimed, rolled the dice, and they yielded the desired result. Overjoyed, he commanded that all fours be painted red henceforth.
The Emperor in question is believed to be Lo Ling Wong, who ruled as Chong Tsung (AD 684 - 701) during the Tang dynasty. The authenticity of this tale remains uncertain, and there are suggestions that the practice of red fours may have originated from dice brought in from India, where red fours are also customary. The reason for the prominence of the one spot being larger and red is still unknown. It has been posited that the stark contrast of black and white dots could be considered unlucky, with red symbolizing good fortune in Chinese culture. Another theory posits that it helps to balance the dice, offsetting the indented six spots.
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