Pai Gow Poker Strategy
Pai Gow Poker offers one of the slowest games in the casino. Once you learn how to play, it offers a fun way to pass time gambling.
Pai Gow Poker resembles craps. Players tend to win or lose together.
Why?
It’s because the players all play against one dealer hand.
PAI GOW POKER STRATEGY CALCULATOR Select 7 player cards. You can make the card selections by either clicking on the deck of small cards or by entering the cards manually using the text boxes. The object of pai gow poker is to create a five card poker hand and a two card poker hand from seven cards that beat both of the bank's hands. Pai Gow poker strategy. Splitting two pairs: If you have two pairs in your hand, you can split them into two hands, because this is almost always the right move.; Focus on 5 cards and 2 card hands: Players must form a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand to win this game.Most players focus on the five-card hand and forget the other (or vice versa). I would like to start off by crediting Jason of 504 road trips for making the layout for this video. 504 road trips does driving videos with.
When players win or lose together it can lead to a feeling of camaraderie at the table.
Advantages of Playing Pai Gow Poker
The two biggest advantages offered by Pai Gow Poker?
- The low house edge.
- The slow pace of play.
Many hands end up in pushes. The actual number of winning or losing hands per hour is small. Your bankroll lasts long. You see more winning sessions.
Some casino games that offer a lower house edge, but most of them play many more hands or spins per hour, so you can end up losing more per hour at a lower house edge game than at a slow game like Pai Gow Poker.
Here’s an example:
You’re playing a video poker game with a house edge of .5% (one half percent). You’re betting $5 per hand and playing 400 hands per hour.
Your expected loss rate is $10 per hour.
The normal house edge for Pai Gow Poker is around 2.5% and roughly 40% of the hands end up in a push. If 30 hands are dealt per hour, only 18 of them end up with a win or a loss.
If you’re betting $10 per hand, your expected loss rate is only $4.50 per hour – even though you’re wagering twice as much per hand as you are per spin.
It’s also easy to learn a fairly solid basic strategy.
Pai Gow Poker Basic Strategy
Your goal is to create the best two card hand that you can legally use. The exception is when you can build a high five card hand that is unlikely to lose like a straight or flush.
But with a full house, use the three of a kind in the five card hand and the other pair in the two card hand.
A lone ace or king is a valuable card to be able to place in the two card hand as it will often win. So a strong hand can be kept in the five card hand if you can also play an ace of king in the two card hand.
Here are some example hands and the right strategy for each:
| Seven Card Hand | Five Card Hand | Two Card Hand |
| Ah Ad Kc Ks 7h 6d 3c | Ah Ad 7h 6d 3c | Kc Ks |
| Ah Ad Ac Ks 4d 3s 2h | Ah Ad 4d 3s 2h | Ac Ks |
| Ad 9s 8c 7h 6d 5d 2h | 9s 8c 7h 6d 5d | Ad 2h |
| 7d 7s 7c 6h 6c 3d 2s | 7d 7s 7c 3d 2s | 6h 6c |
| Ac Qs 8d 7c 5h 2s 2d | 2s 2d 8d 7c 5h | Ac Qs |
Since you have to win both hands to win or lose both hands to lose, your goal is to create as close to a sure thing in at least one hand and take my chances with the other hand.
Of course the five card hand has to be higher than the two card hand by the rules of the game. The more you play, the more instinctive your play will become.
You can take the time to memorize a more advanced strategy, but the extra percentage you pick up will be minimal. It might not be worth your effort.
All of this may sound complicated, but once you start playing, it won’t take you long to figure out the best way to play almost every hand. Within an hour, you should be able to play solid Pai Gow Poker without worrying about making many mistakes.
If you’re convinced you need to learn an advanced strategy, I’ve included a sample house way in the next section. Learn it and you will play your hand just like most casinos have their dealers play their hands.
The House Way
Each casino plays or sets their Pai Gow Poker hands a certain way. This way can vary, but it’s very close with only minor changes. If you don’t care for either of the basic strategies listed above you can play your hands the house way listed below.
Simply read down the instructions until you find your hand.
When you have five aces, always play two of the aces in the two card hand unless you have a pair of kings to go with the five aces. In that case play the two kings in the two card hand.
If you have four of a kind and a pair or three of a kind you will play the four of a kind in the five card hand and the pair or two of the three of a kind in the two card hand unless you have four aces. When you have four aces you play two of them in the two card hand unless you also have a pair of kings. Then you play the pair of kings in the two card hand.
When you have four of a kind of aces or face cards you always play a pair of the cards in the two card hand. If your four of a kind is sevens, eights, nines or tens you play a pair of them in the two card hand unless you can play an ace in the two card hand. Then play the ace with the next highest non paired card in the two card hand. If the four of a kind is twos, threes, fours, fives or sixes you always leave all four cards in the five card hand.
If you have a full house with two three of a kinds you play a pair from the highest three of a kind in the two card hand. If you have three of a kind and two pair you play the highest pair in the two card hand. When you have three of a kind and a pair you play the pair in the two card hand except when the pair is a pair of twos and you have an ace and king. In that case play the ace and king in the two card hand.
When you have any straight or flush with three of a kind you play a pair in the two card hand.
If you have any straight or flush with three pair always play the highest pair in the two card hand.
When you have a straight or flush with two pair use the two pair rule listed below.
If you have a straight or flush with one pair play the pair in the two card hand if the straight or flush can still be played in the five card hand. When you have an ace and a pair of tens or higher play the ace in the two card hand and the pair in the five card hand unless the flush or straight can still be played in the five card hand with the ace in the two card hand.
When you have any straight or flush with no pair play the arrangement that allows you to play the highest two cards in the two card hand while still playing the flush or straight in the five card hand.
If you hold two three of a kinds play the highest possible pair in the two card hand.
When you have three of a kind keep the three of a kind in the five card hand and play your other two highest cards in the two card hand unless the three of a kind is aces. Then play one of the aces in the two card hand.
If you have three pairs always play the highest pair in the two card hand.
When you have two pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces you always place the second highest pair in the two card hand. If you have a pair of aces and any other pair you place the second highest pair in the two card hand. When you have two pair with one pair being jacks or higher and one pair being from sevens to tens you always place the lower of the two pairs in the two card hand. When you have two pair that are each from sevens to tens you place the second highest pair in the two card hand unless you also hold an ace. Then you play the ace in the two card hand. If you have a pair of jacks or higher and a pair of sixes or lower play the lower pair in the two card hand unless you have an ace. Then play the ace in the two card hand. When you have a pair between sevens and tens and a pair of sixes or lower play the lower pair in the two card hand unless you have an ace. Then play the ace in the two card hand. When you have two pairs of sixes or lower play both of them in the five card hand.
If you have one pair play it in the five card hand and use your other two highest cards in the two card hand.
When you have no pairs use the highest card in the five card hand and the second and third highest cards in the two card hand.
Conclusion
Using either of the two strategies listed above for Pa Gow Poker play will offer you one of the lowest house edges that you can get. If you look at both strategies, you can see the simple strategy is very close to the house way. My suggestion is use whichever one is easiest for you to learn and spend the rest of your time enjoying the game.
Table Of Contents
- Pai Gow Poker is a variant of Poker based on Chinese Pai Gow domino game
- It’s one of the easiest Poker games to learn and play
- Learn how to play Pai Gow Poker online and play for free here
Pai Gow Poker might sound Chinese in origin, and it is. But it’s a version of Poker that was developed in the United States.
Pai Gow, the ancient Chinese game of skill and craft, is played with dominoes and is still immensely popular to this day.
Pai Gow Poker, on the other hand, takes place at a Poker table, with a deck of cards.
Developed as a twist in Poker for those who want a bit of variation to their playing style, Pai Gow Poker is a great
card game to play - and you can play it online for free.
Let’s take a look at the reasons why you will love Pai Gow Poker free online Casino game. And a few basic strategy tips that will help you to hit the table and instantly do well.
Pai Gow Poker: the Basics
The game of Pai Gow Poker actually isn’t that old - it was developed by Sam Torosian for the Bell Card Club in 1985.
One of the reasons it became so popular is the social factor.
Pai Gow Poker requires both of a player’s two hands to beat those held by the banker in order for the player to win.
The game can last quite long, with many pushes, and you’re likely to spend a lot of time with your fellow players.
This is good for anyone who plays Poker to enjoy themselves, and to have a nice time with like-minded people.
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Play NowSurely, this is why we all play Casino games.
Yes, you might like to play for the money, but ultimately you need anything you play to be enjoyable, otherwise you’re wasting your time playing it.
The house edge of Pai Gow Poker, on average, is rated as between 2.5 and 2.7 percent.
So, whether you are an experienced Poker player or someone looking for a game for a bit of recreational fun, your chances of winning are very reasonable.
Another reason why people like Pai Gow Poker is because, in most versions of the game, all six players are playing against the banker.
This leads to a situation where you and your fellow players are all united by a common goal, and against a common enemy.
When the banker wins, everybody else loses. As a group, you’ll win and lose together on the balance of occasions.
Thanks to this, it’s a lot more social than a conventional game of Poker.
Pai Gow Poker Online Rules
You can end up playing Pai Gow Poker with up to six players and a dealer. Online, it’s just you and the dealer.
In a real-life version of Pai Gow Poker, any player and the dealer can be the banker, but in the online version, it is the dealer who takes this role.
It’s often called a two-hand Poker because that’s exactly what you have when you play.
The banker uses a 53-card deck for a Pai Gow Poker. It consists of the classic 52-card deck, plus a Joker.
The Joker acts as a wild card like in other card games.
Unlike other Poker variants, in Pai Gow Poker, you’re dealt seven cards.
The aim is to use these cards to form two high hands out of it, both beating the dealer's hands.
The usual Poker hand ranking applies - you can win with a high-card hand, Royal Flush-hand, Straight-hand, etc. - you know the drill.
One of these hands should be a five-card hand and the other one a two-card hand.
The five-card hand has to be higher than the two-card hand. Yet, both still have to be the winning hands when they confront the dealer’s hands.
If you get it right, you win.
There are three outcomes of the game:
- you win when both of your hands beat the banker’s
- it’s a push when only one of your hands is higher hand than banker’s
- you lose when neither of your hands is higher than banker’s
The payout for the win is 1 to 1. If the game results in a push, you get your wager back but don’t win anything extra.
Pai Gow Strategy: How to Win at Pai Gow Poker Online
Pai Gow Poker is a great game. Especially, if you follow a strategy that works.
While you can ultimately develop one yourself, there are a few principles you can follow to make your playing experience as profitable as possible.
Here are some Pai Gow Poker strategy tips.
Make a Sensible Bet
At the start of a Pai Gow Poker online game, you’ll have to make a bet.
This is the only bet you need to make, so make sure it’s a good one yet friendly to your bankroll.
On all Casino and Poker games, I always advise you to only bet a small proportion of what you can afford, and this is sensible advice here too.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy Card
Remember -
When you’re starting out with Pai Gow Poker, even if the house edge is smaller comparing to some other games, you’ll still find yourself at a competitive disadvantage because of your inexperience.
Balance risk with reward and go for a bet that you can back up in future games too.
Play for Free at First
Pai Gow Poker Strategy Calculator
At some online Casinos, you can practice Pai Gow Poker by playing for free.
This is an ideal thing to do if you haven’t played the game before.
It gives you a chance to get to know how it works and what kinds of hands win. Thus, playing Pai Gow Poker online, free is a really good idea.
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Pai Chow Poker
Play NowMake the Strongest Possible Hand Across Both Hands
Pai Gow Poker is different in that it gives you two hands to play with. That adds to the variables for you as a player.
Your two-card hand must never outrank your five-card hand.
If it does, that’s a foul and a silly way to lose your money.
However, you can’t win money if only one of your hands is better than the dealer’s.
It’s necessary to balance your hands so that both are reasonably strong. Yet, keeping your five-card hand slightly stronger, as I’ve mentioned before.
Also, make sure to read this article on CasinoSmash to develop an optimal Pai Gow Poker strategy.
Do this and it won’t be long before you start winning.
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