Pyramid Poker, played at the Bellagio casino, is a simplified version of Pai Gow Poker. The pyramid poker rules and pyramid poker strategy are simple and easy to learn.
Here are the Pyramid Poker Rules and Pyramid Poker Strategy
1. The game uses a standard 52-card playing deck.
2. According to pyramid poker rules, the cards are ranked similar to poker. Aces are always high.
3. After all the wagers are made, each player and the dealer is dealt three cards face down.
4. The player must organize his three cards into a two-card hand and one-card hand. The two-card hand must always be greater than the one-card hand.
5. A pair beats any combination of single cards in the two-card hand. There are no straights or flush in Pyramid Poker.
6. According to pyramid poker rules, after the player has arranged his hand, the dealer will arrange his according to the house rules.
7. The dealer’s one-card hand will be compared to the player’s one-hand card, and the dealer’s two-hand card will be compared to the dealer’s two hand card. The higher hand wins. All copies are in favour of the dealer.
8. If the player wins both hands, the player gets even money.
9. If the player wins either hand and the dealer wins the other, the bet is a push.
10. If the dealer wins both hands, the bet is lose.
Here is how the house plays its hand.
1. When the dealer has three singletons (no pair), the dealer plays the middle card in the one-card hand.
2. When the dealer has a pair from 2 to 8, the dealers always play the pair in the two-card hand.
3. When the dealer has a pair of 9 and a single card greater than 6, the dealer plays the pair in the two-card hand, otherwise the dealer plays the 9 in the one-card hand.
4. When the dealer has a pair of 10 and a single card greater than 7, the dealer plays the pair in the two-card hand, otherwise the dealer plays the 10 in the one-card hand.
5. When the dealer has a pair of jack and a single card greater than 8, the dealer plays the pair in the two-card hand, otherwise the dealer plays the jack in the one-card hand.
6. When the dealer has a pair of queen and a single card greater than 9, the dealer plays the pair in the two-card hand, otherwise the dealer plays the queen in the one-card hand.
7. When the dealer has a pair of king and a single card greater than 10, the dealer plays the pair in the two-card hand, otherwise the dealer plays the king in the one-card hand.
8. When the dealer has a pair of ace and a single card greater than jack, the dealer plays the pair in the two-card hand; otherwise the dealer plays the ace in the one-card hand.
The following is the optimal pyramid poker strategy.
With three single cards, the correct pyramid poker strategy is to play the middle card in the one-card hand, except play the lowest card in the one-card hand with the following cards.
1. 2, 3, and any card 5 or greater.
2. 2, 4, and any card queen or greater.
If the player gets a pair and a single card, the correct pyramid poker strategy should be to play the pair in the two-card hand except with any of the following.
1. Pair jack or higher with 2, 3 or 4 single card.
2. Pair queen or higher with 5, 6 or 7 single card.
3. Pair king or higher with 8 or 9 single card.
4. Pair ace with a 10 or jack single card.
This article was written by Alexis.
Tags: pyramid poker, rules, strategy