Pai Gow Glossary
Below you'll find a breakdown of the most common terms used in both live and online Pai Gow games.
Banker - The banker is the player's opponent in a Pai Gow poker game.
Co-banking - And option that is available in some casinos (not all), where the player and the house are 50/50 partners as the bank.
Copies - Another name for a tie. When the player's and the banker's hand have the same value, the hand is won by the banker.
Dragon Hand - A hand dealt to an empty seat at the table. In some casinos a player may be allowed to pick up the dragon hand and play it as his/her own.
Flush - A hand with all five cards in the same suit, i.e., spades, hearts, clubs or diamonds. All suits have the same value.
Four-of-a-kind - A hand that contains four cards of the same value.
Full House - Three cards of the same value plus two of another (same) value.
Hand Behind - The name given to the five-card hand in Pai Gow, as it is placed behind the smaller two-card hand.
Hand in Front - The name of the two-card hand placed in front of the five-card hand.
High Card - If no player has a poker hand with a pair or better, the highest card, or sequence of cards, will determine the winner.
High Hand - Same as "Hand Behind," see above.
House Way - A predetermined strategy used by the dealers when they set their hands.
Joker - A card that works as a "wild card" in Pai Gow. It can be used to complete a straight, a flush, or a straight flush. If it can't be used this way, it is automatically used as an ace.
Low Hand - Same as "Hand in Front," see above.
Pair - A hand with two cards of the same value.
Royal Flush - The highest hand in poker. A-K-Q-J-T of the same suit, i.e., spades, diamonds, hearts or clubs.
Straight - A hand with five sequential cards, i.e., 9-8-7-6-5, regardless of suit.
Straight Flush - A hand with five sequential cards of the same suit, i.e., 9-8-7-6-5, all hearts.
Three-of-a-kind - A hand with three cards of the same value.
Two Pair - A hand with two pairs (cards of the same value).
Wild Card - Another name for the Joker, see above.
