Asia Poker

Asia Poker is a casino game similar to Pai gow poker that is now popular in most Atlantic City, New Jersey casinos. Players are dealt seven cards and divide their cards into three hands: a four-card hand (High), a two-card hand (Medium) and a one-card hand (Low). The four-card hand must be equal or greater in poker ranking than the two-card hand and the two-card hand must be equal or greater than the one-card hand. After all players have set their hand, the dealer sets the house's hand according to the "house way" and then compares each player's hand to the house's hand. If the house wins at least two out of three hands, the player loses. If the player wins at least two or out of three hands the player wins. Unlike Pai gow poker, the casino does not charge a 5% vigorish for winning wagers. Rather, the house edge comes from winning all "copy hands" (a player's hand that is identical to the house's hand). Also, unlike Pai gow poker there are no ties in this game; the player either wins or loses. The House edge figures to be around 3% based on the probability of the player having a losing copy hand.

In Asia Poker a straight or flush can be played only in the four-card hand and they beat three-of-a-kind or worse. The best High hand is four-of-a-kind and the second best is a straight flush. The best Medium hand is two aces and the best Low hand is an ace.

Borgata Asia Poker House Way

REVISED 11/3/06 Low=one card Medium=two cardHigh=four card

2-6=Low 7-1O=Medium J,Q,K,A=High

*NO PAIR - Place the highest card in the high hand, second highest card in the medium hand, and third highest card in the low hand Place fourth highest card in the medium hand and the remaining cards in the high hand.
*ONE PAIR - Place the pair in the high hand, the highest and third highest cards in the medium hand and the second highest card in the low hand.Exception:
** High pair with one or no other high card, always split up the pair
** High pair with 2 additional high cards, keep the pair in The high hand.
*TWO PAIRS - Always split. Exception: - Pair of Aces or Kings with any other pair, play the other pair in the high hand and split Aces! Kings, one in the medium hand and one in the low hand, UNLESS you have another high card, then don’t split.
*THREE PAIRS - Always play the highest pair in the medium hand and two pairs in the high hand. Exception: - Three pairs when one of the pairs are Aces or Kings. Place one Ace/King in the medium and one in the low hand, unless you have another high card, then keep the pair together in the medium hand. - Any three high pairs, place second high pair in the high hand, lowest pair in the medium hand and split the high pair, place one in the low, UNLESS you have another high card place in low hand.
*THREE OF A KIND - Always play three of a kind in the high hand, highest and third single ranking card in the medium hand, second highest in the low hand. Exception: - Three Aces, Kings or Queens- place one in the high, medium and low hand. - Three Aces, Kings or Queens with one or two high cards -always play one pair in the high hand. - Three Jacks with one high card- place one Jack in the low hand. - Three Jacks without any high card - play one pair in the high hand and the third Jack in the medium hand
*THREE OF A KIND TWICE - Always play the lowest three of a kind in the high hand, and split up the highest three of a kind - play a pair in the medium hand and the final card in the low hand
*STRAIGHTS, FLUSHES, STRAIGHT FLUSHES, AND ROYAL FLUSH - If the hand contains one pair inside the straight or flush and you have 1 King or 1 Ace OR 2 additional high cards outside the straight or flush, play the straight or flush in the high hand Otherwise, play the pair in the high hand (Please note that we do not revert back to the one pair rule from this point) EXAMPLES: 1) Q, 10, 8, 3 hearts, K, 5 diamonds, 10 Clubs - play Q, 1O, 8, 3 hearts in high hand, the K, 5 in the medium hand, the 10 Clubs in low hand.2) 5, 6, 7, Joker, 2, 6, J .- play the pair of 6’s in the high hand, Joker, 7 in medium hand and J in low hand.- With no pair, play the straight or flush in the high hand unless the straight or flush contains 3 or 4 high cards; then use the NO PAIR rule. - If the hand contains both a straight and flush play the hand that will give you the best medium and low hand. - If the hand contains two pairs use the TWO PAIR rule. - If the hand contains three pairs use the THREE PAIR rule. - If the hand contains three of a kind use the THREE OF A KIND rule. - With one pair, two pairs, three pairs or three of a kind IN ADDITION to the straight or flush, keep the straight or flush in the high hand and a pair in the medium hand UNLESS YOU HAVE A PAIR OF ACES. With a pair of Aces, play the straight or flush in the high hand and split the pair of Aces; one in the medium hand and one in the low hand.
*FULL HOUSE - Always play three of a kind in the high hand, and a pair in the medium hand. Exception: - Three Aces, Kings or Queens. Play pair of Aces, Kings, Queens in the high hand and one Ace, King, Queen in the low hand. - Any three of a kind with a pair of Aces or Kings, then split the Aces/Kings, place one in the medium hand and one in low hand.
*FULL HOUSE WITH A PAIR - Always play three of a kind in the high hand, the low pair in the medium hand and one card of the high pair in the low hand. Exception: - Any high three of a kind with 2 medium/low pairs, play the two pairs in the high hand and split the three of a kind — a pair in the medium hand and the third card in the low hand.
*FOUR OF A KIND - Always split Exception - Low four of a kind with 2 high cards when one of them is Ace, then keep four of a kind in the high hand. - Four Aces or Kings - Play one pair in the high hand, one in the medium, and one in the low hand, unless you have another high card, then keep pair in the high and medium hand.
*FOUR OF A KIND WITH A PAIR - Play four of a kind in the high hand and pair in the medium hand. Exception: - Four Aces or Kings - Play three Aces/Kings in the high hand one Ace/ King in the low hand.
*FOUR OF A KIND WITH THREE OF A KIND - Play four of a kind in the high hand and pair in the medium hand. Exception: - Four Aces, Kings or Queens - Play other three of a kind in the high hand, split up the four of a kind — a pair in the medium hand and one in the low hand.
*FIVE ACES - Play a pair of Aces in the high hand, a pair of Aces in the medium hand, and one Ace in the low hand.

External links

* [http://www.freshpatents.com/Asia-poker-with-three-hands-per-player-dt20070215ptan20070035091.php Asia Poker Patent Application]
* [http://www.state.nj.us/casinos/actreg/reg/docs_proposed_regs/p070507-2.pdf New Jersey Casino Control Commission Asia Poker Rules]