Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 621a.3 - Pai Gow tiles; ranking of hands, pairs and tiles; value of the hand(a) Each tile used in the game of Pai Gow must comply with the requirements in § 603a.18 (relating to Pai Gow tiles; physical characteristics) and contain the identifying spots listed in subsection (h).(b) Tiles used in Pai Gow shall be changed at least every 12 hours.(c) When comparing high hands or low hands to determine the higher ranking hand, the determination shall first be based upon the rank of any permissible pair of tiles which are in the hands. A hand with a permissible pair of tiles shall rank higher than a hand which does not contain a permissible pair. The permissible pairs of tiles and their rank, with the Supreme Pair being the highest or first ranking pair, are as follows: | Ranking | Pairing |
| Supreme Pair |
| First | Six (2-4) and Three (1-2) |
| Matched Pairs |
| Second | Twelve (6-6) and Twelve (6-6) |
| Third | Two (1-1) and Two (1-1) |
| Fourth | Eight (4-4) and Eight (4-4) |
| Fifth | Four (1-3) and Four (1-3) |
| Sixth | Ten (5-5) and Ten (5-5) |
| Seventh | Six (3-3) and Six (3-3) |
| Eighth | Four (2-2) and Four (2-2) |
| Ninth | Eleven (5-6) and Eleven (5-6) |
| Tenth | Ten (4-6) and Ten (4-6) |
| Eleventh | Seven (1-6) and Seven (1-6) |
| Twelfth | Six (1-5) and Six (1-5) |
| Mixed or Unmatched Pairs |
| Thirteenth | Mixed Nines (3-6 and 4-5) |
| Fourteenth | Mixed Eights (3-5 and 2-6) |
| Fifteenth | Mixed Sevens (3-4 and 2-5) |
| Sixteenth | Mixed Fives (1-4 and 2-3) |
| Wongs |
| Seventeenth | Twelve (6-6) and Nine (4-5) |
| Twelve (6-6) and Nine (3-6) |
| Eighteenth | Two (1-1) and Nine (4-5) |
| Two (1-1) and Nine (3-6) |
| Gongs |
| Nineteenth | Twelve (6-6) and Eight (2-6) |
| Twelve (6-6) and Eight (3-5) |
| Twelve (6-6) and Eight (4-4) |
| Twentieth | Two (1-1) and Eight (2-6) |
| Two (1-1) and Eight (3-5) |
| Two (1-1) and Eight (4-4) |
(d) When comparing two high hands or two low hands that are of identical permissible pair rank, the hand shall be considered a copy hand and the dealer or, if applicable, the bank shall win the hand.(e) Except as provided in subsection (g), when comparing the rank of high hands or low hands which do not contain any of the pairs listed in subsection (c), the higher ranking hand shall be determined on the basis of the value of the hands. The value of a hand shall be a single digit number from zero to nine and shall be determined by adding the total number of spots which are contained on the two tiles which form the hand. If the total of the spots is a two-digit number, the left digit of the number shall be discarded and the right digit shall constitute the value of the hand. Examples of this rule are as follows: (1) A hand composed of a Two (1-1) and a Six (3-3) has a value of 8.(2) A hand composed of an Eleven (5-6) and a Seven (1-6) has a numeric total of 18 but a value of 8 since the left digit in the number 18 is discarded.(f) If the tiles which form the Supreme Pair are used separately, the numeric total of the 1-2 tile may be counted as a 3 or a 6 and the numeric total of the 2-4 tile may be counted as a 3 or a 6. When the 1-2 tile is counted as 6, its individual ranking under subsection (h) shall be fifteenth instead of seventeenth and when the 2-4 tile is counted as 3, its individual ranking shall be seventeenth instead of fifteenth.(g) When comparing high hands or low hands which are of identical value, the hand with the highest ranking individual tile shall be considered the higher ranking hand. If, however, the numeric value of the tiles results in a zero-zero tie, both hands, regardless of the highest ranking tile, are equally bad and the dealer or, if applicable, the bank shall be considered the higher ranking hand.(h) The individual ranking for each tile, from highest rank to lowest rank, is as follows: | Ranking | Tile | Number of Tiles in Set |
| First | Twelve (6-6) | 2 |
| Second | Two (1-1) | 2 |
| Third | Eight (4-4) | 2 |
| Fourth | Four (1-3) | 2 |
| Fifth | Ten (5-5) | 2 |
| Sixth | Six (3-3) | 2 |
| Seventh | Four (2-2) | 2 |
| Eighth | Eleven (5-6) | 2 |
| Ninth | Ten (4-6) | 2 |
| Tenth | Seven (1-6) | 2 |
| Eleventh | Six (1-5) | 2 |
| Twelfth | Nine (3-6) | 1 |
| Twelfth | Nine (4-5) | 1 |
| Thirteenth | Eight (2-6) | 1 |
| Thirteenth | Eight (3-5) | 1 |
| Fourteenth | Seven (2-5) | 1 |
| Fourteenth | Seven (3-4) | 1 |
| Fifteenth | Six (2-4) | 1 |
| Sixteenth | Five (1-4) | 1 |
| Sixteenth | Five (2-3) | 1 |
| Seventeenth | Three (1-2) | 1 |
(i) If the highest ranking tile in each hand being compared is of identical rank after the application of subsection (h), the hand shall be considered a copy hand, and the hand of the dealer or, if applicable, the bank shall be considered the higher ranking hand. This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 621a.1 (relating to definitions); 58 Pa. Code § 621a.4 (relating to opening of the table for gaming; mixing procedures); and 58 Pa. Code § 621a.8 (relating to procedures for completion of each round of play; setting of hands; payment and collection of wagers; payout odds; vigorish).