Many casinos are aware of the recognition of poker. Unfortunately, poker is a game played against other players and not the home, so the casinos have little involvement in regular poker, other than to charge a rake (a portion of each pot) for the use of the dealer and also the table. To combine the aspects of poker with those of typical table games played against the home, casinos have invented a range of poker variations which are played like traditional table games, player vs. the casino.

One particular variation is Pai Gow. In Pai Gow Poker, after each player puts up a wager of their choosing they're dealt seven cards. Your objective is to make your best five-card and two-card poker hand. As a rule, your five card hand must be stronger than your two card hand. If you're dealt A, A, 9, 8, 7, 3, 3, you could not split your hands into 9, 8, 7, 3, 3 and AA. You might split them into a, A, 9, 8, 7 and 3, 3, or possibly a, A, 3, 3, 7 and 9, 8. As long as your five-card hand beats the two-card hand, you can arrange them however you like. If you're not sure the optimal way to set your hand, you may ask the dealer to help you. There is one joker in the deck, which may be used in your hand to complete a straight or a flush, or being an Ace. The joker just isn't wild, you cannot use it to pair any card in your hand other than the Ace.

As soon as you have set your hand, the dealer also sets his hand. If both of your hands beat both of the dealer hands, you win an amount equal to your initial bet. If both of the dealers' hands beat both of yours, you lose your bet. If one hand wins as well as the other loses, see it here's a tie and no one wins. The house gets its edge by charging a five percent commission on winning bets.

In Pai Gow additionally you possess the option of being the "Banker". If you decide to be the Banker, you put up a sum of money to cover (or "Bank") all the bets on the table (in the event the amount you put up isn't enough, the home will pick up in which you left off). In the event you are the Banker, you play against all Players. Your five percent commission is calculated after all wins and losses are tabulated. Being the Banker affords an extremely slight edge because if your hands "copy" (are exactly the exact same) a Player's hand, you win.

Pai Gow is definitely an interesting variation of poker and one you might consider if you like poker but are looking for a more traditional casino game than regular poker, or just one that provides an added dimension to the game. You may find Pai Gow at certain online casino sites as well as in any live casino.