Let’s become versed in some alternate forms of poker other than Texas holdem, seven card stud, 5 card draw and omaha eight-or-better. Yes, double-hand poker. Now you might be thinking that pai gow sounds a little Chinese; yes you are correct, this game is a blending of the Chinese game pai gow and our very own us poker
Certainly this isn’t one of the most acclaimed styles of poker but still broadly played. It can be played by up to 7 players. It’s played with one deck of 52 cards, with a joker. Interestingly, the Joker can be used only as an ace, or to complete a straight, a flush, straight flush, or a royal flush. The important element here to always remember is apart from the normal ranking of hands we’ve one more winning hand which is "Five Aces" (four Aces and the Joker). Astonishingly, five aces defeats every other hand yes, even a royal flush. Every player is dealt 7 cards. These cards are arranged to create 2 hands; a two card hand and a five card hand. The 5 card hand has to be stronger or be equal to the 2 card hand.
After setting up the 2 hands, the cards are placed on the poker table face down. Once down, you are no longer allowed to switch them. The croupier will turn over their cards and arrange their hands. Each players hand is played against the dealer’s hands. If the player wins 1 hand and loses the other, this is referred to as "push" and absolutely no money is lost or won. If dealer wins both hands then the individual gives up their bet the opposite is correct if the player wins both hands. Now if the hand is a tie, the croupier wins all. After the hand is played, the very next player clock-wise becomes the croupier and the next hand is dealt.