Fortune Pai Gow Poker adds a bonus bet element to the traditional game of Pai Gow Poker played in California Cardrooms. Each player competes against the player/dealer to make the best possible hand. In Fortune Pai Gow Poker, a player can place an optional Fortune Bonus Bet. A player that wagers at least $5 on the Fortune Bonus Bet qualifies for an Envy Bonus prize. To get the Pai Gow Poker both huge give and the lower hand should be more prominent than that of the vendor. Normally it is just a push (when one card massacres while one other loses) or maybe a decrease (the two arms lose, or one hand lose and one different ties).
Pai Gow Poker basics
5 cards and 2 cards
The rules of Pai Gow Poker are relatively simple: each player receives seven cards and splits them into two separate hands - a hand of five cards, called 'the back', and a hand of two cards, called 'the front'.
Pai Gow Poker Free
NB The five card hand must always rank higher than the two.
Win both hands
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See all Pai Gow bonuses »If both hands beat the dealer's hands, the player wins even money or 1:1 for their bet (though the bank takes a 5% commission from your winnings). If both hands lose, the dealer takes the bet. If you win only one of the two hands, the round finishes in a tie and your bet is returned to you.
Winning both hands in Pai Gow Poker is not as easy as it may seem. Quite often, you'll have to compromise one hand in order not to lose, rather than to win (this is explained fully in our page on Pai Gow Poker Strategy). As a result, you should consider the game as an evens chance bet, suited to lower-risk players who enjoy turning a steady profit without risking too much.
Compared to, for example, Baccarat , Roulette, or the insanely exciting Sic Bo, it can be a little slow for high rolling, high-risk gamblers, who often prefer the following variation:
Winning both hands in Pai Gow Poker is not as easy as it may seem. Quite often, you'll have to compromise one hand in order not to lose, rather than to win (this is explained fully in our page on Pai Gow Poker Strategy). As a result, you should consider the game as an evens chance bet, suited to lower-risk players who enjoy turning a steady profit without risking too much.
Compared to, for example, Baccarat , Roulette, or the insanely exciting Sic Bo, it can be a little slow for high rolling, high-risk gamblers, who often prefer the following variation:
Bonus / Fortune Pai Gow Poker
Bonus Pai Gow Poker (sometimes called Fortune Pai Gow) is played in exactly the same way as normal Pai Gow Poker, except that you're given a bonus payout of up to 8000 times your bet if you place a bonus bet and your seven cards hand contains a winning combination - regardless of how you set the front and back. The winning combinations and bonus payouts are given in our Pai Gow Poker Odds table.
The reasons that Bonus / Fortune Pai Gow is more suited to higher-risk players are:
a) you're betting twice as much per game (the bet and the bonus bet) and
b) in the event of a tie, the bonus bet is not returned to you.
But if, for example, your seven cards contained four of a kind, you would receive a bonus payment of 25 times your bonus bet, regardless of your winnings in the 'normal' play.
Chinese poker scoring rules. The odds against getting these hands are larger than the payouts, giving a consequently higher house edge, but the possible payouts suit those who enjoy taking more of a risk.
The reasons that Bonus / Fortune Pai Gow is more suited to higher-risk players are:
a) you're betting twice as much per game (the bet and the bonus bet) and
b) in the event of a tie, the bonus bet is not returned to you.
But if, for example, your seven cards contained four of a kind, you would receive a bonus payment of 25 times your bonus bet, regardless of your winnings in the 'normal' play.
Chinese poker scoring rules. The odds against getting these hands are larger than the payouts, giving a consequently higher house edge, but the possible payouts suit those who enjoy taking more of a risk.
Pai Gow Poker terms explained
The back - 5 card hand
![Pai Gow Poker Bonuses Pai Gow Poker Bonuses](https://www.gamblers.casino/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/maxresdefault.jpg)
The Five card hand is ranked according to standard poker rules. If you're not sure about these standard rankings, or just need a reference point, click on our Poker Hand Rankings page.
The front - 2 card hand
The two card hand has to rank lower than the five card hand. Again, standard poker rules apply: a pair of Aces is the highest pair, a pair of 2s the lowest. If the hand is not a pair, it is ranked as a high, named after the highest card i.e. J9 is a jack high. If two 'high' hands have the same highest card, the next highest card is used to determine the winner e.g. if both players have Ace high, one player with AQ and the other with A9, the player with AQ wins.
Joker Card
The joker can be used to complete a flush, straight or straight flush, or can act as a single Ace.
Pai Gow Poker Fortune Bonus Payouts
House Way
The House Way is the set of rules that a traditional casino would instruct its dealers to use when setting their hands. In land based casinos, knowledge of this would form the basis of a winning strategy (see our Pai Gow Strategy page). Some online casinos offer a 'house way' button. By pressing this, your cards will automatically be set for you using the same rules the dealer/casino uses. Obviously, this negates the edge you may achieve by setting hands manually.
On This Page
Pai Gow Poker Bonus Odds
Introduction
'Fortune' is a side bet in Pai Gow Poker that pays based on the value of the player's seven cards. It doesn't not matter how the player sets his hand. In addition, if another player has a four of a kind or better the player making the Fortune bet will get an 'Envy Bonus.' At every table I have seen there is a $5 minimum and the Envy Bonus is a fixed amount.
Following are pay tables that I am aware of, based on the player's own hand. Wins are on a 'to one' basis.
Fortune Pay TablesExpand
Hand | Pay Table | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
Natural 7 Card S/F | 5,000 to 1 | 8,000 to 1 | 5,000 to 1 | 2,500 to 1 | 5,000 to 1 | 5,000 to 1 | 8000 to 1 | 1000 to 1 |
Royal Flush + R/M | 1,000 to 1 | 2,000 to 1 | 2,000 to 1 | 1,000 to 1 | 2,000 to 1 | 1,000 to 1 | 2000 to 1 | 750 to 1 |
Wild 7 Card S/F | 750 to 1 | 1,000 to 1 | 1,000 to 1 | 750 to 1 | 1,000 to 1 | 500 to 1 | 1000 to 1 | 500 to 1 |
5 Aces | 250 to 1 | 400 to 1 | 400 to 1 | 250 to 1 | 400 to 1 | 300 to 1 | 400 to 1 | 250 to 1 |
Royal Flush | 100 to 1 | 150 to 1 | 150 to 1 | 125 to 1 | 150 to 1 | 110 to 1 | 100 to 1 | 150 to 1 |
Straight Flush | 50 to 1 | 50 to 1 | 50 to 1 | 50 to 1 | 50 to 1 | 45 to 1 | 30 to 1 | 50 to 1 |
4 of a Kind | 20 to 1 | 25 to 1 | 25 to 1 | 25 to 1 | 25 to 1 | 25 to 1 | 20 to 1 | 25 to 1 |
Full House | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 | 5 to 1 |
Flush | 4 to 1 | 4 to 1 | 4 to 1 | 4 to 1 | 4 to 1 | 4 to 1 | 4 to 1 | 4 to 1 |
3 of a Kind | 3 to 1 | 3 to 1 | 3 to 1 | 3 to 1 | 3 to 1 | 3 to 1 | 3 to 1 | 3 to 1 |
Straight | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 | 2 to 1 |
Three Pair | Push | Loss | Loss | Loss | Loss | Loss | Loss | 1 to 1 |
The next table shows the Envy Bonus for each paytable.
Fortune Envy BonusesExpand
Hand | Pay Table | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
Natural 7 Card S/F | $1000 | $5000 | $3000 | $1000 | $2500 | $2500 | $5000 | $500 |
Royal Flush + R/M | $250 | $1000 | $1000 | $750 | $500 | $500 | $1000 | $250 |
Wild 7 Card S/F | $100 | $500 | $500 | $250 | $250 | $250 | $500 | $150 |
5 Aces | $50 | $250 | $250 | $100 | $150 | $150 | $250 | $100 |
Royal Flush | $25 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $55 | $55 | $50 | $50 |
Straight Flush | $10 | $20 | $20 | $20 | $25 | $25 | $20 | $20 |
4 of a Kind | $5 | $5 | $5 | $5 | $6 | $6 | $5 | $5 |
The next table shows the number of combinations, probability, and contribution to the return for each hand, under pay table 2, which I believe to be the most popular. The lower left cell shows a house edge of 7.77% before considering the Envy Bonus.
Pay Table 2 -- Return Table
Hand | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Natural seven-card straight flush | 8,000 | 32 | 0.00000021 | 0.00166079 |
Royal Flush + R/M | 2,000 | 72 | 0.00000047 | 0.00093420 |
Wild seven-card straight flush | 1,000 | 196 | 0.00000127 | 0.00127155 |
Five Aces | 400 | 1,128 | 0.00000732 | 0.00292715 |
Royal Flush | 150 | 26,020 | 0.00016880 | 0.02532063 |
Straight flush | 50 | 184,644 | 0.00119787 | 0.05989370 |
Four of a Kind | 25 | 307,472 | 0.00199472 | 0.04986795 |
Full house | 5 | 4,188,528 | 0.02717299 | 0.13586494 |
Flush | 4 | 6,172,088 | 0.04004129 | 0.16016517 |
Three of a kind | 3 | 7,672,500 | 0.04977518 | 0.14932555 |
Straight | 2 | 11,034,204 | 0.07158417 | 0.14316833 |
Three pair | -1 | 2,862,000 | 0.01856717 | -0.01856717 |
All other | -1 | 121,694,196 | 0.78948855 | -0.78948855 |
Total | 0 | 154,143,080 | 1.00000000 | -0.07765575 |
The next table shows the return table for the Envy Bonus under pay table 2, based on a $5 bet. The lower right cell shows that each additional player at the table is worth 0.93%, based on a $5 bet. If the player bets more than $5 the value of the Envy Bonus equals 0.04634162/b, where b is the amount bet.
Envy Return Table -- Paytable 2
Hand | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Natural seven-card straight flush | $5,000 | 32 | 0.00000021 | 0.00020760 |
Royal Flush + R/M | $1,000 | 72 | 0.00000047 | 0.00009342 |
Wild seven-card straight flush | $500 | 196 | 0.00000127 | 0.00012715 |
Five Aces | $250 | 1,128 | 0.00000732 | 0.00036589 |
Royal Flush | $50 | 26,020 | 0.00016880 | 0.00168804 |
Straight flush | $20 | 184,644 | 0.00119787 | 0.00479150 |
Four of a Kind | $5 | 307,472 | 0.00199472 | 0.00199472 |
Total | 519,564 | 0.00337066 | 0.00926832 |
Free online black widow slots. The next table shows the contribution for each hand under all seven pay tables, before considering the Envy Bonus.
Fortune Pai Gow Poker Return — Expected ReturnsExpand
Hand | Pay Table | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
7 Card Straight Flush | 0.001038 | 0.001661 | 0.001038 | 0.000519 | 0.001038 | 0.001038 | 0.001661 | 0.000208 |
Royal Flush + Royal Match | 0.000467 | 0.000934 | 0.000934 | 0.000467 | 0.000934 | 0.000467 | 0.000934 | 0.00035 |
7 Card Straight Flush with Joker | 0.000954 | 0.001272 | 0.001272 | 0.000954 | 0.001272 | 0.000636 | 0.001272 | 0.000636 |
5 Aces | 0.001829 | 0.002927 | 0.002927 | 0.001829 | 0.002927 | 0.002195 | 0.002927 | 0.001829 |
Royal Flush | 0.01688 | 0.025321 | 0.025321 | 0.021101 | 0.025321 | 0.018568 | 0.01688 | 0.025321 |
Straight Flush | 0.059894 | 0.059894 | 0.059894 | 0.059894 | 0.059894 | 0.053904 | 0.035936 | 0.059894 |
4 of a Kind | 0.039894 | 0.049868 | 0.049868 | 0.049868 | 0.049868 | 0.049868 | 0.039894 | 0.049868 |
Full House | 0.135865 | 0.135865 | 0.135865 | 0.135865 | 0.135865 | 0.135865 | 0.135865 | 0.135865 |
Flush | 0.160165 | 0.160165 | 0.160165 | 0.160165 | 0.160165 | 0.160165 | 0.160165 | 0.160165 |
3 of a Kind | 0.149326 | 0.149326 | 0.149326 | 0.149326 | 0.149326 | 0.149326 | 0.149326 | 0.149326 |
Straight | 0.143168 | 0.143168 | 0.143168 | 0.143168 | 0.143168 | 0.143168 | 0.143168 | 0.143168 |
Three Pair | 0 | -0.018567 | -0.018567 | -0.018567 | -0.018567 | -0.018567 | -0.018567 | 0.018567 |
All Other | -0.789489 | -0.789489 | -0.789489 | -0.789489 | -0.789489 | -0.789489 | -0.789489 | -0.789489 |
Total | -0.080008 | -0.077656 | -0.078279 | -0.0849 | -0.078279 | -0.092855 | -0.120027 | -0.044292 |
The next table shows the return table for the Envy Bonus, based on a $5 bet. The bottom row shows how much the house edge is reduced for each other player at the table.
Fortune Pai Gow Poker Envy Bonus — Expected ReturnsExpand
Hand | Pay Table | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
7 Card Straight Flush | 0.000042 | 0.000208 | 0.000125 | 0.000042 | 0.000104 | 0.000104 | 0.000208 | 0.000021 |
Royal Flush + Royal Match | 0.000023 | 0.000093 | 0.000093 | 0.00007 | 0.000047 | 0.000047 | 0.000093 | 0.000023 |
7 Card Straight Flush with Joker | 0.000025 | 0.000127 | 0.000127 | 0.000064 | 0.000064 | 0.000064 | 0.000127 | 0.000038 |
5 Aces | 0.000073 | 0.000366 | 0.000366 | 0.000146 | 0.00022 | 0.00022 | 0.000366 | 0.000146 |
Royal Flush | 0.000844 | 0.001688 | 0.001688 | 0.001688 | 0.001857 | 0.001857 | 0.001688 | 0.001688 |
Straight Flush | 0.002396 | 0.004791 | 0.004791 | 0.004791 | 0.005989 | 0.005989 | 0.004791 | 0.004791 |
4 of a Kind | 0.001995 | 0.001995 | 0.001995 | 0.001995 | 0.002394 | 0.002394 | 0.001995 | 0.001995 |
Total | 0.005398 | 0.009268 | 0.009185 | 0.008796 | 0.010674 | 0.010674 | 0.009268 | 0.008703 |
The next table shows the house edge for each pay table by total players (including yourself).
Fortune Bet Overall House EdgeExpand
Total Players | Pay Table | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
6 | 5.30% | 3.13% | 3.24% | 4.09% | 2.49% | 3.95% | 7.37% | 0.08% |
5 | 5.84% | 4.06% | 4.15% | 4.97% | 3.56% | 5.02% | 8.30% | 0.95% |
4 | 6.38% | 4.99% | 5.07% | 5.85% | 4.63% | 6.08% | 9.22% | 1.82% |
3 | 6.92% | 5.91% | 5.99% | 6.73% | 5.69% | 7.15% | 10.15% | 2.69% |
2 | 7.46% | 6.84% | 6.91% | 7.61% | 6.76% | 8.22% | 11.08% | 3.56% |
1 | 8.00% | 7.77% | 7.83% | 8.49% | 7.83% | 9.29% | 12.00% | 4.43% |
Fortune Pai Gow Poker Progressive -- Version 1
I have an unconfirmed report that the following pay table is offered in Washington State. The bet amount is $1, nd there is no Envy Bonus. The following return table shows the return from the fixed wins only is 48.45%. For every $10,000 in the meter, the return will go up by 0.76%. The break-even meter (when there is no house edge) is $679,171.90
Fortune Pai Gow Poker House Edge
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
7 Card Straight Flush | 100% of meter | 32 | 0.00000021 | 0 |
Royal Flush + Royal Match | 50% of meter | 72 | 0.00000047 | 0 |
7 Card Straight Flush with Joker | 25% of meter | 196 | 0.00000127 | 0 |
5 Aces | 2500 | 1128 | 0.00000732 | 0.01829469 |
Royal Flush | 200 | 26020 | 0.0001688 | 0.03376084 |
Straight Flush | 100 | 184644 | 0.00119787 | 0.11978741 |
4 of a Kind | 75 | 307472 | 0.00199472 | 0.14960386 |
Full House | 6 | 4188528 | 0.02717299 | 0.16303793 |
All Other | 0 | 149434988 | 0.96945635 | 0 |
Total | 154143080 | 1 | 0.48448473 |
Fortune Pai Gow Poker Progressive - Version 2
This is a $1 progressive jackpot bet I have seen at the Wynn, Rampart, Golden Nugget, and Suncoast casinos. Wins are paid on a 'for one' basis, in other words the player doesn't get his bet back if he wins. The return column shows the return for only fixed wins. In other words, not including the top two awards, the player can expect to get back 46.27% of his money back.
Fortune Pai Gow Poker House Edge
Event | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seven-card straight flush | Jackpot | 228 | 0.000001 | ? |
Five aces | 10% of jackpot | 1,128 | 0.000007 | ? |
Royal flush | $500 | 26,092 | 0.000169 | 0.084636 |
Straight flush | $100 | 184,644 | 0.001198 | 0.119787 |
Four of a kind | $75 | 307,472 | 0.001995 | 0.149604 |
Full house | $4 | 4,188,528 | 0.027173 | 0.108692 |
Loser | $0 | 149,434,988 | 0.969456 | 0.000000 |
Total | 154,143,080 | 1.000000 | 0.462719 |
The value of the jackpot is 2.21% for each $10,000 in the meter. The break-even meter (where there house edge is exactly zero) is $243,011.06. I have yet to see a jackpot get anywhere near this high.
Internal Links
- Pai gow poker — main page.
- Side bets — Lots of other side bets seen in pai gow poker.
My Pai Gow Poker Offerings
Pai Gow Poker Coverage
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Written by:Michael Shackleford