Pai-Gow Poker ----------------- Copyright 1991, David Becker The basic rules for Pai Gow Poker are simple. You are dealt seven cards from which you must choose two poker hands. The first hand (front hand) must be two cards and the second (back hand) must be five cards. Basic poker rules apply but the two card hand MUST be smaller then the five card hand. A pair would be the highest two card hand. If you don't have a pair then you would rank high cards. The back hand (five card) is ranked: Royal flush Straight flush Four of a kind Full house Flush Straight Three of a kind Two pair High card In order to win at Pai-Gow you must beat both of your opponents hands. Your two card hand must beat their two card hand and your five card hand must beat their five card hand. Anything else is a tie! Playing against the computer ------------------------------------------------------- Make sure you have not selected terminal (no checkmark next to 'terminal mode' in the drop down menu). Click on 'deal a new hand' under the 'game' menu and you will be dealt seven cards face up. The computer is also dealt seven cards even though you can't see them yet. Compile your front hand by clicking any two cards. Your front hand will appear in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. Continue selecting the next five cards to complete your back hand. The computer has also been thinking about its cards and will now display them to you at the top of the screen. Your hand is automatically analyzed and compared to the computers and the outcome is shown at the top of the screen. The hand rankings are also shown to the right of each players cards. Points are calculated and displayed in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. One point for every round won. When you are ready, click on 'deal next hand' or hit the right mouse button to play the next round. Scores can be reset to zero by clicking on the 'zero all scores' menu under the 'options' heading. Playing over the modem ------------------------------------------------------ Click on 'terminal mode' under the 'modem' menu to activate the communications mode. In order to play over the phone line with another friend you must decide who is going to be the 'sending' computer and who is going to be the 'receiving' computer. Click one of these two options on the menu and a check mark will appear next to it. You can set your baud rate from the drop down menu (I recommend 1200 baud to reduce possible line noise interference). The baud rate option also asks you to choose tone or pulse dialing (touch tone is the default as is 1200 baud). Choose 'dial a number' from the menu and enter the number to dial. The answering computer should set the auto answer mode on their modem by clicking this drop down menu (the AA light on the modem will illuminate). After you hear the modems connect you can enter the terminal screen and chat back and forth before you play. If any player enters the terminal screen at any point during the game, the other players computer will also automatically enter its terminal screen (wait a second or two after the initial phone connection is made). To deal a round, click 'deal a new hand' from the menu. Your opponent will also be asked to also click on 'deal a new hand' (you can click the right mouse button as a shortcut). When both players have requested a new hand, you will then be dealt the cards. After both players have finished choosing their hands, the card information will be sent over the phone lines and you will be able to see who won! Play as many hands as you want. If you've had enought then enter the terminal screen screen and concede to your opponent! It is the responsibility of the 'sending' player to allow enough time between hands for the other player to view cards and possibly decide to say something. The 'sending' computer can zero scores for both players by clicking under the 'options' menu. If you experience line noise and the system seems to 'hang' then the 'sending' player can request a 'game reset' by hitting UNDO or clicking under the 'options' menu (depending upon where you are). The system reset clears only the hand that hung you up. You should then be able to deal the hand again. Keeping track of players scores ------------------------------------------------------ You may wish to keep a running count of points so you can resume play the next time you connect with a friend! Simply choose 'Recall player score' from the drop down menu and type in the name of the friend you are playing for the first time. Hit return and the computer will create a new player on the disk. When you have finished playing Pai-Gow, you should save the scores to disk under the same name. Whenever you play your friend, simply choose the existing name from the item selector and the previous scores will be loaded so that you can continue the game! Pointers ------------------------------------------------------ * press F1 while in the terminal screen to change duplex (half is the default) * Pai-Gow may not hang up the phone when you exit, always turn off the modem * after changing baud rates you may have to enter the terminal screen and type AT to confirm * if your front hand (two cards) is higher then your back hand you will lose! No second chances! * click the RIGHT mouse button if you make mistake while choosing your cards. You can choose them again! * You don't have to dial from the drop down menu, use the terminal screen! David Becker GEnie mail to D.Becker8