• The Origin of Pai Gow
• How to Start Playing
• The Rules of the Game

Today’s game will be Pai Gow Dominoes, a Chinese game.

Pai Gow Dominoes is a fascinating traditional Chinese gambling game played with a unique set of 32 dominoes. Unlike the Western version, this game is all about strategic hand-setting and is deeply rooted in Chinese culture.

§The Origin of Pai Gow

The origins of Pai Gow are ancient, believed to date back to the Song dynasty in China (960-1279 AD). The game’s name, “Pai Gow,” literally translates to “make nine,” which is the highest-value hand. The 32 tiles themselves are said to represent the 21 unique combinations of a pair of dice, along with ten additional tiles and a special pair called the “Gee Joon.” The design and ranking of the tiles are tied to Chinese folklore and social hierarchy, with certain pairs representing things like heaven, earth, and specific military figures.

The game became a popular pastime in Chinese communities and was later introduced to the United States by Chinese immigrants in the 19th and 20th centuries, eventually evolving into the casino game we know today.

§How to Start Playing

To begin playing Pai Gow Dominoes, you need a set of the 32 unique Chinese domino tiles and between two and eight players. One player must act as the Banker (or Dealer), and all other players are Players.

The goal is to defeat the Banker by creating two hands that are both of higher value than the Banker’s two hands.

§The Rules of the Game

§1. The Setup

• The 32 dominoes are shuffled face down.

• The dominoes are then stacked into eight piles of four tiles each.

• A set of three dice is rolled to determine who receives the first stack of tiles. The Banker counts around the table (including themselves) based on the dice total to decide who gets the first pile.

§2. Setting Your Hands

• Each player, including the Banker, receives one stack of four dominoes.

• The most crucial part of the game is for each player to arrange their four dominoes into two separate, two-tile hands: a high hand and a low hand.

• The Golden Rule: Your high hand must have a higher value than your low hand. If you fail to do this, your hand is considered a “Foul” and you automatically lose your bet.

§3. Hand Ranking and Scoring

Hand values are based on the sum of the pips (dots) on the two tiles, with the last digit of the sum being the score. For example:

• A hand with a total of 12 pips (like a 5 and a 7) has a score of 2.

• A hand with a total of 19 pips (like a 9 and a 10) has a score of 9.

Here is the general ranking from highest to lowest:

• Pairs: Any pair of identical tiles is the highest possible hand. There are 16 different pairs, and they are ranked from the highest (Double Nines) to the lowest (Mixed Nines).

• Wongs: A hand with a total of 11 (which counts as 1) but containing a specific tile (the Teen or Day tiles) is a “Wong” and ranks higher than a 9.

• Gongs: A hand with a total of 10 (which counts as 0) but containing a specific tile (the Gung tiles) is a “Gong” and ranks higher than a 9.

• The “Pai Gow” (9): A hand that totals 9. This is the highest score after pairs, Wongs, and Gongs.

• All Other Hands: Ranked by their total value from 8 down to 0.

There are also a couple of special tiles called “Gee Joon” that can act as either a 3 or a 6, depending on which value creates a better hand.

§4. The Confrontation

• Once all players have set their hands, they reveal them.

• The Banker then compares their high hand against each player’s high hand, and their low hand against each player’s low hand.

• Winning: If both of your hands are higher than the Banker’s hands, you win and are paid even money on your bet.

• Losing: If both of the Banker’s hands are higher than yours, you lose your bet.

• Push: If you win one hand and the Banker wins the other, it is a “push,” and no money changes hands.

• Ties (The “Copy” Rule): In the case of a tie, the Banker always wins. This is the house advantage.

To truly learn the game, it’s best to start by playing with an experienced player or using a free online simulator to get a feel for the unique tile values and strategic hand-setting.

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