Updated on: September 12th, 2024
Beat the house using a Pai Gow Strategy. Yep, that is correct. Playing an optimal strategy for Pai Gow poker can decrease the house edge and turn you in a Pai Gow genius. Players who are on a quest to win at the poker variant should be implementing a strategy of some sort. Beating the house is not as tough as it seems. However, playing without a strategy is like going to war underprepared. There are few tough hands that players can end up with, and players have to be prepared.
Prepping to beat Pai Gow just got ten times simpler. Using our basic and detailed guide, you will be able to beat the poker room Pai Gow odds and possibly win. Did we mention that implementing a poker strategy can help reduce the house edge to 2.5 percent? That is a pretty good reason to learn and apply our Pai Gow poker strategy. In no time you will be able to hit and win big at Pai Gow tables at top US Casinos.
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How to Play Pai Gow Poker
Playing Pai Gow Poker is relatively simple once you have learnt how to play the card game. The aim is to beat the dealer, who is also the banker. Pai Gow is played with a 52-card deck including the joker card. Players play with seven cards which have to split into a two-card and five-card hand. The backhand has to be the better hand of the two. The two-card hand is also called the front hand, and the five-card hand is known as the backhand. The cards are dealt face down after bets have been made. The player will win if both hands beat the dealers. If the dealer’s hand is better than the players, the dealer wins. If the round ends with both hands in a tie – a push – the dealer wins.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy
We have broken down our strategy guide into the standard poker hand rankings to make it easier to understand.
Four of a Kind
- There are three ways to play a hand that has four of kind
- If the four of a kind is made up of sixes or lower keep it together in your backhand.
- If the four of a kind is made up of sevens – tens split unless there is an ace or better to play in front hand.
- Split four of a kind hands made of face cards unless there is another pair that you can play in the front hand.
Three of a Kind
Don’t split your three of a kind and play in the high hand unless it is made up of aces. If the three of a kind is made up of three aces, place a pair of ace in the high hand and in the low hand place the remaining ace with the next top card.
Example: A, A, A, 8,5,3 and 2
Five Card Hand: A, A,5,3,2
Two card Hand: A and 8
Full House
If your full house only has three of a kind and two pair, play the highest pair in the front hand.
Example: 4, 4, 4, J, J, 2 and 2
Five Card Hand: 4, 4, 4, 2 and 2
Two card Hand: Pair of J
If your full house hand has a pair of twos and an ace or king play it in the front hand.
Three-Pair
Should your hand have three pairs place the higher pair in your low hand and the other two in your upper hand.
Example: 9, 9, 5, 5, 3, 3 and K
Five Card Hand: 5, 5, 3, 3 and K
Two card Hand: 9 and 9
Two Pair
- If the pair only has sixes or lower split unless you hold an ace. Play the ace with the next highest card in the front hand
- If the pair only has sevens – tens split unless there is an ace. Play the ace with the next highest card in the front hand
- If the pair only has face cards, split and play the highest pair in the backhand.
One Pair
Play your pair in the backhand and your two highest cards in the front hand.
Example: 6, 6, Q, J, 4, 2 and 8
Five Card Hand: 6, 6, 4, 2 and 8
Two card Hand: Q and J
Five Aces
If your hand consists of five aces which is made of four aces and a joker card, split the hand. If you have five aces and a pair of kings, place the pair in the front hand.
Example: A, A, A, A, K, K and Joker
Five Card Hand: A, A, A, A and Joker
Two card Hand: K and K
No Pair
So, you have a hand that doesn’t have a pair. Play your highest card in the backhand and the following higher cards in the front hand.
Example: K, 9, 7, 2, 3, 5, 6
Five Card Hand: K, 2, 3, 5, 6
Two card Hand: 9 and 7
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