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In a classic example of East-meets-West, Pai Gow poker is one of the
most popular games in modern casinos across the world, although its
history is deeply steeped in ancient Chinese civilization and history.
Pai Gow’s predecessor, classic Chinese Pai Gow, was the first game to
be played with domino pieces thousands of years ago. The game has
changed and evolved through the years to develop into an incredibly
popular version of the game of poker that is enjoyed by millions of
gamblers online and off.
Today, while traditional Pai Gow is still played with dominoes in
China, the Pai Gow that is referred to in the gambling world is a form
of poker that is played with a deck of cards against the dealer.
Chinese Pai Gow
The original game of Pai Gow (which literally means ‘make nine’ in
Chinese) had the dealer separating tile-like dominoes into four equal
groups and rolling the dice to determine which player received which
group. Tiles were divided into military and civilian units, which
were represented by pictures. This original form of Pai Gow is
cryptic and largely symbolic, making it extremely difficult to learn –
especially by Westerners.
Classic Pai Gow was (and still is) a great favorite among Chinese
players, who take pride in the skill and concentration required for
this game.
Over the years, Pai Gow evolved into several versions, although each kept
the original name and referred to the original pictures. The peak of
Pai Gow’s evolution came between the 1800s and the late 20th
century where a variety of versions sprang up around the world. It
is believed that the original Pai Gow also influenced more popular
gambling table games such as blackjack.
Pai Gow Comes to America
It is not really known how the
game of Pai Gow reached the shores of America. It has been
speculated, however, that Chinese immigrants brought the knowledge of
the game with them when they traveled from their homeland to the
United States to work in the mines and railways in the 1800s. As
these immigrants assimilated with the rest of the population, the
game’s popularity spread to other segments.
Pai Gow Evolves
The biggest change in the
game of Pai Gow came when the traditional Chinese dominoes were
exchanged for playing cards, thus ushering in a new form of play. In
the late 1900s, Commerce casino owner Fred Wolf and his partner, Sam
Torosian invented what we now know as Pai Gow poker. Wolf’s
California casino gave the new game – also called double-handed poker
- excellent exposure and it soon became ahuge hit in the region. Soon,
casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City had gamblers clambering for the
game as its popularity spread like wildfire.
Unlike the traditional
game of Chinese Pai Gow, the card version is simple and
straightforward. It is based on a standard hand of poker, using a
53-card deck, with the extra card acting as a wild card. Players up
to six at a time) usually play around a blackjack table. Because of
the relative simplicity of the game, Pai Gow poker can be enjoyed by
gamblers at all levels – from beginners to professionals. It is a
slow paced game, giving players the opportunity to have their bankroll
last a longer time compared to other versions of poker, and also
allowing them to soak in the atmosphere of the game.
Pai Gow Goes Online
When the online casino industry burst onto the scene in the mid-1990s, it
was only natural that Pai Gow Poker would make the transition from
traditional casinos to cyberspace. Players were suddenly able to find
their favorite games on the internet, and were able to play from the
comfort of their own home, without the need to travel far and pay for
hotel accommodation. Today, it is possible to find Pai Gow at any
reputable online casino and it is a game that is enjoyed by millions
of players from around the globe. Thanks to the World Series of
Poker tournament and increased media coverage, poker has become
extremely popular over the past few years. It is no wonder, then,
that the popularity of Pai Gow poker is on the upswing.
Conclusion
Many critics accuse the modern gambling industry of stripping the beauty
and complexity from the classic game of Chinese Pai Gow and
transferring the name onto a deck of cards to create a popular version
of poker. It is hard to argue with the fact that Pai Gow poker does
not resemble the original game in its entirety, but, if the truth be
told, nobody would be able to enjoy the game of modern day Pai Gow
poker if it had not been for the original version. Many other modern
casino games owe their origins to ancient Chinese games and Pai Gow –
much loved by millions - is no exception.
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