Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/8603
FEATURING JOKERS WRITER>>DANIEL ALBERT hands rank higher than both of the designated Player/Dealer where hands are played and ranked as traditional Poker hands. Pai Gow Poker is also featured in two different forms. In the first version the joker is played as a wild. In the second version the joker may be used only as an Ace or to complete a Straight or Flush. In the first version, if the two-card hand (front) consists of a "joker", it will automatically play as a "pair". The Joker may also come into play at the Hustler Casino in the game of Omaha, however with a much different use. A Joker, when playing in an Omaha Hold'em game that does not use a Joker, is considered a scrap of paper. A card being treated as a scrap of paper is replaced by the next card below it in the deck, except when the next card has already been intermingled with another player's cards. In this situation, it will be replaced after that round of cards have been dealt. If a player does not call attention to the Joker among his down cards before acting on his hand, then he has a foul hand and forfeits all rights to the pot and all monies involved THE BICYCLE CASINO also uses this merry prankster in a few of its gaming endeavors. The game of Mexican Poker is one example. Mexican Poker is similar to 5-card stud and is played with a standard deck "stripped" to 41 cards where all the 8's, 9's and 10's are removed while the Joker remains. When used in this game the Joker has a very specific purpose. In the game of Mexican Poker the Joker acts as a "wild" in all cases when dealt face down; however, when dealt face up, it is "wild" only with Aces, Flushes and Straights. If any down card is exposed by the house dealer during a game of Mexican Poker, that player will receive his next card down and if the "Joker" is inadvertently exposed, it will play as if it had been dealt face down—"wild" in all cases. 21st Century Baccarat, a California game that is offered at the Bicycle Casino is another game that also makes use of the Joker. 21st Century Baccarat is dealt using eight standard 52 card decks with one Joker for each deck (eight Jokers) totaling 424 cards in a shoe. The object of the game is to form a hand that equals "9" or as close to "9" as possible. In 21st Century Baccarat Jokers are wild meaning that they have any value between 0 & 9. A hand containing two Jokers, called a "Natural", beats all other hands. The Bicycle Casino also offers its own variation of Pai Gow Poker called Fortune Pai Gow Poker. Fortune Pai Gow Poker adds a bonus bet element to the traditional game of Pai Gow Poker played in California card rooms and is played with a standard fifty-two (52) card deck including a joker for a total of fifty-three (53) cards. This April Fools Day whether you're busy replacing your roommate's shampoo with syrup or placing your co-workers desk items in Jello, you won't be the only Joker around because there will be plenty in play at your local LA Casino. If you have yet to visit the LA casinos April Fools is a perfect time to start, otherwise the Joke's on you. 9