Pai gow poker joker: a semi-wild card called the bug
Pai gow poker uses a 53-card deck with one joker. The joker counts as an ace, or it can complete a straight, flush or straight flush. It is not fully wild, so it cannot make a pair of kings.
Reviewed Oct 14, 2026
Answer first
90s| Your cards | Joker becomes | Result |
|---|---|---|
| A-A + joker | Ace | Three aces |
| K-Q-J-10 + joker | Ace or 9 | Straight |
| Four hearts + joker | Heart | Flush |
| A-A-A-A + joker | Ace | Five aces |
| K-K + joker | Ace | Pair of kings, ace kicker |
Key numbers
The joker in four numbers
In short
Key takeaways
- The joker is semi-wild: an ace, or a card to finish a straight or flush.
- It cannot turn into a king, queen or any other rank for pairs.
- Five aces is the best possible seven-card holding in pai gow poker.
- The joker is often best used in the five-card hand when it completes a straight or flush.
On the felt
How the joker reads
Joker as an ace
With the joker, this low hand becomes a pair of aces
Joker in a straight
Joker fills the 10 or 5
Joker in a flush
Joker counts as a heart
The joker is shown separately at the table; here it is implied.
Hand rankings with the joker
| Rank | Hand |
|---|---|
| 1 | Five aces |
| 2 | Royal flush |
| 3 | Straight flush |
| 4 | Four of a kind |
| 5 | Full house |
| 6 | Flush |
| 7 | Straight |
| 8 | Three of a kind |
Some casinos rank A-2-3-4-5 as the second-highest straight.
Using the joker well
If the joker completes a straight or flush, it usually belongs in the five-card hand. If it does not, it acts as an ace and often goes in the two-card hand as an ace kicker or pair.
The house way at each casino sets exactly how the dealer uses it.
Common joker decisions
| Holding | Usual setting |
|---|---|
| Joker + lone ace | Pair of aces in back or ace-joker up front, by house way |
| Joker + no pair | Joker as ace in the two-card hand |
| Joker completes a flush | Flush in back |
| Joker + four aces | Five aces; split by house way |
House ways differ.
Why the joker is not fully wild
A fully wild joker would make strong hands too common and change the pay structure. Limiting it to aces, straights and flushes keeps the game balanced.
Some bonus side bets treat the joker as fully wild; read their rules separately.
Sequence
Setting a joker hand
Step 01
Look for straights or flushes
Joker fills them first.
Step 02
Otherwise count it as an ace
Pair it with an ace or use it high.
Step 03
Build the five-card hand
It must outrank the two-card hand.
Step 04
Ask for the house way
Dealers will set it for you on request.
Joker and side bets
Fortune and other side bets usually let the joker complete hands like five aces or a seven-card straight flush. Those pay the biggest prizes.
Their edges are much higher than the main game.
Floor rules
Joker terms
Know before you sit
- Bug
- Another name for the semi-wild joker.
- House way
- The casino’s fixed method for setting hands.
- Five aces
- Four aces plus the joker.
- Foul
- A hand set wrongly, such as a low hand outranking the high hand.
Common mistakes
- Using the joker as any rank
- It cannot make a pair of kings or queens; only aces, straights and flushes.
- Wasting the joker
- Putting it low when it would finish a flush in back loses value.
- Fouling the hand
- The five-card hand must outrank the two-card hand.
- Ignoring house way help
- Asking the dealer avoids costly setting errors.
Keep reading
Related pages
Go play
Where to play in Las Vegas
Tap a resort — each row opens that casino’s White Gambling page (hours, game mix, floor facts). Venues with this game in official counts, sorted high to low.
Open a casino page
Real listings · not adsAfter the 90 seconds
Questions before and after you play
A 90-second guide cannot cover every table moment. Tap a group, then a question — answers are short paragraphs, not one-liners.
01Basics
Is the joker wild in pai gow poker?
Semi-wild. It counts as an ace, or as any card to complete a straight, flush or straight flush.
Can the joker make a pair of kings?
No. With a king, the joker counts as an ace, not a second king. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What is the best hand in pai gow poker?
Five aces, made with four aces and the joker. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
02Setting
Where should the joker go?
In the five-card hand if it completes a straight or flush; otherwise often as an ace in the two-card hand, per house way.
Does the joker change the house edge?
The edge with house way and the 5% commission is about 1.5% on banking-free play; the joker is built into that figure.
Can I ask the dealer to set my hand?
Yes. Most casinos set hands by the house way on request. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
03Side bets
Is the joker wild in side bets?
Often more so. Many side bets let it complete five aces and seven-card hands. House rules can vary, so check the table placard or ask the dealer.
What is the Fortune bonus?
A popular side bet paying on strong seven-card hands. Its edge is much higher than the main game.
Is pai gow poker offered online?
Some licensed online casinos and live dealer studios offer it, with the joker rules in the help screen.
Sources
- Wizard of Odds — Pai gow poker Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry)The gaming industry’s standard reference for casino-game math, by actuary Michael Shackleford. Not an official registry; our calculators compute these numbers independently. · accessed Oct 14, 2026Rules, odds and house edge
- Nevada Gaming Control Board · accessed Oct 14, 2026Approved games and gaming revenue reports
- UNLV Center for Gaming Research Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Research library on casino games and gambling
- National Council on Problem Gambling — Help and resources Not from a registry (Reference source, not an official registry) · accessed Oct 14, 2026Free, confidential help: call or text 1-800-GAMBLER