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Pai Gow Tiles - Game Rules Explained (Part 1 of 3)

[00:00:12] Michael Shackleford: Hello, I'm Michael Shackleford, often referred to as the Wizard of Odds . Joining me today is my friend Heather Ferris, who contributes her video skills to this project and happens to be my favorite Pai Gow dealer not just in Las Vegas, but across the globe – Tess.

[00:00:28]   Tess Dunn:  Hi.

[00:00:29] Michael: This is the first of a three-part video series covering Pai Gow.

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First, a word about the name:

The game we're discussing is known as Pai Gow. It's important to distinguish this from Pai Gow Poker, which is played with cards. Please refrain from calling Pai Gow Poker simply Pai Gow because that nickname can be misleading—my personal pet peeve in the casino industry. Additionally, I want to point out that we are not actually using a Pai Gow table for this tutorial.

My friends at Galaxy Gaming They graciously allowed us to record in their studio for this video, but unfortunately, they lack a Pai Gow table, so we'll be demonstrating on this Dueling for Dollars table instead.

It doesn't really matter

... In terms of betting in Pai Gow, the structure is straightforward; you only make a single bet. There’s typically no opportunity to raise your stake, just one initial wager. This is one of the few uncomplicated aspects of the game, so take note. As mentioned, this is the first segment of a three-part series. side betting In this initial part —we will explore the game's rules.

  • In the second part —the strategies will be our focus.
  • In the final part —we will delve into some advanced concepts aimed at seasoned players.
  • . A total of 32 tiles are organized into 16 pairs. Most pairs appear identical, while some do not.

Let's jump right into the rules , shall we, Heather?

[00:01:44]   Heather Ferris:  Definitely.

[00:01:46]   Michael:  Pai Gow is played with 32 tiles This particular set is known as the mixed eight pair; take note of how one tile shows six and two, while the counterpart displays five and three. Nevertheless, each tile belongs to a pair, and understanding the ranking of these pairs is crucial for mastering the game.

For example :

When you first sit down at a table, feel free to ask the dealer for guidance on playing any given hand. However, I believe you'll find it lacking in enjoyment if you don’t grasp the game’s rules. Knowing the hand rankings is essential for effective gameplay.

You can always :

Unlike traditional playing cards, there is no straightforward way to memorize the order of the pairs. Although there are techniques you can employ to aid your memory, ultimately, the sequence must be committed to memory. Let me point out a few patterns in the order of the pairs that might help.

The highest pair is known as Gee Joon.

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These two tiles function as semi-wilds, each capable of being valued at either three or six points. They are the only wild tiles in this game. An easy way to remember them is that both tiles feature numbers which are powers of two—1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and so forth.

Once again, these tiles hold special significance as they can represent three or six points.

This tile set is referred to as the team pair or 'heaven pair' in English, which consists of 12 dots. The next category is known as the day pair, consisting of two dots. Following that is what I term the high eight pair, high four pair, high ten pair, and the high six pair.

Next, the second highest pair

The low four pair ranks lower because this tile is higher in value. There's the unique 11 pair, the low ten pair, the high seven pair, the low six pair, the distinctive nine pair, the low eight pair, the low seven pair, and finally, the exclusive five pair. Additionally, the team pair and the day pair stand out as special tiles which I will clarify further, but keep in mind that all unique pairs are ranked the highest.

Next, you might want to take note...

... you will see that if one tile is entirely red, the following pair also appears entirely red, and after that, we have the high four pair. I lack a memorable trick for that, as it seems a bit out of sequence. Following those, we have pairs that are completely white, including the 10, six, four, and 11. You can track them in an ordered manner, with one exception at the 11.

So, the progression goes 10, then drops down to six, then four, yet suddenly jumps back up to 11. As for the reason behind that, I couldn't tell you. Next are three sets featuring tiles that are half red and half white: 10, seven, and six, which conveniently run from the most dots to the least.

For example :

These pairs, while adding up to the same score, are distinct from one another. For instance, the nine pair is made up of one tile with a six and a three, and the other with a five and a four. Additionally, we have the mixed eight pair, mixed seven pair, and mixed five pair. And that's the summary.

Then come your mixed pairs

Tess, have you got any additional tips for memorizing?

[00:06:24] Tess: I like how you've laid it out. Once you reach the all-white pair, and subsequently encounter the 11, which seems a bit misplaced, you might think of it as the start of another descent: 11, 10, seven, six—moving from high to low and then onto the mixed pairs.

Anything you help players with?

[00:06:42] Tess: Continuing the descent: nine, eight, seven, five.

[00:06:41]   Michael:  Yes, I like that.

[00:06:47] Michael: Yes, most of it does follow a descending order. Here's another example of that descent.

[00:06:53] Michael: And this one here, followed by that one. Additionally, there’s a quick alternative mnemonic based on the creation story. This pair represents God , marking the highest rank.

[00:06:52]   Tess:  Yes.

... In the story, God created the heavens, which these tiles resemble with their multitude of dots. Following that, God created Earth, with each dot potentially symbolizing the Earth. Then came man. As for how this six fits in, I'm not entirely certain.

The first thing…

Man was gifted animals to provide sustenance, and I associate this with a goose; the shape here reminds me of its head, while this part signifies its feathers. Finally, God created flowers to enhance the Earth’s beauty, and these tiles resemble flowers.

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Then God:

God then provided man with attire or gowns, depicted here as a robe that flares out at the waist. Subsequently, God provided benches for relaxation, represented by these pairs of twos, symbolizing the legs of a bench.

God also granted man a hatchet to facilitate building, although I'm not entirely convinced this resembles a hatchet; perhaps this part symbolizes the handle, and this portion represents flying wood chips.

Then

As man progressed, he desired not only houses but ones that included separate rooms. Thus these tiles represent partitions that could create distinct areas within a home.

Once a home had rooms, it made sense for man to have a family to inhabit them.

This tile represents God’s first child , depicted with long legs—this image signifies legs and this part his head. In all honesty, I’ve forgotten how the six fits into this narrative, but it represents God’s second child. Then follows the military, which in Pai Gow ranks beneath civilians.

This is the origin of mixed pairs . You can remember that the mixed pairs rank lower, with higher pairs denoting a superior rank.

Tess, do you have anything else to contribute to that narrative?

[00:09:34] Tess: No, I think you've encapsulated it very well, Mike. Well done.

[00:09:37] Michael: Thank you! Have you heard this particular allegory before?

[00:09:41] Michael: Alright, it seems we're all learning together.

[00:09:39]   Tess:  I have not, yes.

Let me outline the fundamental structure of the game, which shares similarities with Pai Gow Poker. Each participant, along with the dealer, is dealt four tiles and must organize them into a two-tile high hand and a two-tile low hand. The player's high tile pair will be compared with the dealer's high hand, while the low hands will be similarly compared.

[00:09:42]   Tess:  Yes, we are, today.

[00:09:46]   Michael:   Before I go further..

The intricate part of the rules lies in understanding the hierarchy of all possible hands.

I've already mentioned the superior pairs. Just below these are the Wongs . Recall that the two and the 12 tiles are special. To classify as a Wong, either the two or 12 must be paired with a nine tile. Both combinations qualify as Wongs.

Two or 12 combined with a nine. Do you know , Tess, why this rule exists in the game?

Just remember:

[00:10:59] Tess: No, Mike, I don't know. This game holds many mysteries, and some things you just have to accept as part of its design.

[00:11:14] Michael: My role isn't to question it. Alright then. Just beneath Wongs lies a concept known as a Gong . A Gong is either the two or the 12 tile combined with any tile worth eight points. The specific type—low or high—doesn't matter; it merely needs to be an eight-value tile. This is considered a Gong.

Changing the two eights' positions doesn't affect their classification. As long as a two or a 12 tile (the special ones) is present along with an eight-value tile, it qualifies as a Gong. Yet again, the origin of this rule is quite the enigma from centuries ago.

I could…

Regardless, these concepts, Wongs and Gongs , are essential. You cannot disregard them as they can transform a hand from poor to advantageous. The same applies to the dealer's side as well.

[00:12:15] Michael: Yes. If you can't make a pair, Wong, or Gong, your situation resembles that in Baccarat, where the objective is simply to count the dots. If your total exceeds nine, you only need to examine the final digit.

[00:12:14]   Tess:  Yes, it does.

For instance, if your total from a seven and a six is 13, it would equate to three points since you subtract ten. If your count includes a ten and a nine, totaling 19, after removing ten, you'd remain with nine points. Just beneath a Gong, the ranking is determined based on the total points.

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Pai Gow Tiles - Video Series Part 1: Understanding the Rules

[00:00:12] Michael Shackleford: Hello, I'm Mike Shackleford, widely recognized as the Wizard of Odds . Today, I have with me my colleague Heather Ferris. Not only is she contributing as the videographer of this session, but she is also my most esteemed Pai Gow dealer worldwide, Tess. Pai Gow Poker [00:00:29] Michael: We're kicking off with the first segment of a trilogy focused on Pai Gow.

The game we're discussing is called Pai Gow. It’s important to distinguish that Pai Gow Poker refers specifically to the card version of the game. Please don't confuse Pai Gow Poker with just Pai Gow, as that's a common misconception in the gambling world. I should also clarify that we’re not actually on a Pai Gow table at the moment.

This studio was generous enough to allow me to film here, but they lack a Pai Gow table, so we’re utilizing a Dueling for Dollars setup instead.

gee_joon

For example, if you had this situation

In Pai Gow, the betting structure is straightforward as it involves placing a single wager. There's typically no raising involved; it's only one bet. That's one of the few simple aspects of the game, but be warned, there's much more complexity involved. As mentioned, this is the first video in a three-part series.

Why?  I don't know. Do you know, Tess?

In this initial video - we will explore the foundational rules.

In the second video - strategies will be our focus.

[00:16:46] Tess:  It will remain a mystery.

For the third video - we'll dive into some more advanced concepts for seasoned players.

The game features 32 tiles grouped into 16 pairs. While many of these pairs appear identical, some are distinctly different.

Take the mixed eight pair, for example. One tile has six and two dots, while the other has five and three. Every tile is part of a unique pair, and understanding the arrangement of these pairs is crucial for gameplay.

When you're at the table, don't hesitate to ask the dealer for guidance on a specific hand. However, I must stress that it will not be enjoyable unless you have a solid grasp of the game's rules. It's essential to know the hierarchy of hands to play effectively.

Unlike standard playing cards, there isn't a simple mnemonic device to help you remember the order of the pairs. You can employ various techniques to aid in memorization, but largely, it requires committed memorization. Let me share some patterns to help you recognize the order of the pairs.

The top pair is known as Gee Joon

There is some story

These specific tiles are semi-wild, meaning they can represent either three or six points. They are the only wild tiles featured in this game. I remember their special significance because both are made up of numbers that represent powers of two (one, two, four, eight, 16, 32, etc.). Mahjong These tiles are indeed unique as they can be valued at either three or six points.

[00:18:50] Heather:  Okay. Cool.

The next pair is referred to as the team pair, which translates to 'heaven pair' in English, consisting of a total of 12 dots. Following this is what I call the day pair, characterized by two dots. Next are various high pairs including high eight, high four, high ten, and high six pairs.

The low four pair ranks lower because it is overshadowed by a higher-ranking pair. Additionally, there's the only 11 pair, the low ten pair, the high seven pair, low six pair, only nine pair, low eight pair, lower seven pair, and lastly, the only five pair. Remember, both the team pair and day pair are classified as special pairs, which I'll elaborate on later; they're among the highest-ranking pairs.

Check out ruwix.com One thing to keep in mind…

If you observe that one pair is entirely red, then you have an all-red pair that follows it, leading into the high four pair. I don't have a trick for memorizing this specific sequence; it just feels random to me, but that’s how it’s organized. Following them are all-white pairs, including the 10, six, four, and 11 pairs. They tend to follow a descending order except for the 11.

Pai Gow Tiles - Part 3 of 3 - Q & A