Many casinos are aware of the popularity 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 utilization of the dealer as well as the table. To combine the elements of poker with those of typical table games played against the home, casinos have invented a number of poker variations that 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 may be 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 may split them into a knockout post, A, 9, 8, 7 and 3, 3, or 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. In case you are not sure the optimal way to set your hand, you can ask the dealer to help you. There is just one joker within the deck, which is often employed in your hand to complete a straight or a flush, or as being an Ace. The joker isn't wild, you can't use it to pair any card in your hand other than the Ace.

Once 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, it's a tie and no one wins. The home gets its edge by charging a five percent commission on winning bets.

In Pai Gow you also have 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 of the bets on the table (if the amount you put up is not enough, the home will pick up the place you left off). In case 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 same) a Player's hand, you win.

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