Pai Gow Strategy

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Here are a few tips or tricks that will help you map out your strategy to either maximize your play time and/or your winnings when playing Pai Gow Poker:

The house advantage in Pai Gow Poker is 2.5%. However, when a player decides to be the dealer, the odds are pretty much even. Therefore, it is advisable for a player to be the dealer as much as possible.
Look for tables that do not have that many players at them. This way, you have a good chance of being the dealer more often.
Always play the 'house way'. This means that you will play all your hands the way the house dealer must play, regardless of whether you are the dealer or not. This gives you two advantages- it forces you to play in the most effective way strategically in order to win, and it also gets you used to playing how you will most likely have to play if you are the dealer on a particular hand. Here is a handy chart of the house way. Be aware, though that there could be slight variations from casino to casino, though they are usually negligible and make little if any difference in the eventual outcome:

Combination of Cards	What to Do
No pair	Place the highest card in the 5 card hand and the next two highest cards in the 2 card hand.
One Pair	Place the pair in 5 card hand and the next two highest cards in the 2 card hand.
Two Pairs	Ace and any other pair - always split Face card pair and pair 6's or higher - always split; Any two pair 6's or under - never split; With any other 2 pair, split unless the hand contains an ace - then play the ace in the 2 card hand;
Three Pairs	Always play highest pair in 2 card hand.
Three of a Kind	Always play three of a kind in 5 card hand except break up three aces Two Three of a Kinds - play the lowest 3 of a kind as the 5 card hand and split the higher 3 of a kind.
Straight	Keep as the 5 card hand 6 card straight - use the highest card in the 2 card hand 5 or 6 card straight with a pair - use the pair as the 2 card hand Straight with 2 pair - play the 2 pair rule.
Flush	Keep as the 5 card hand. 6 card flush - use the highest card in the 2 card hand. 5 or 6 card flush with a pair - use the pair as the 2 card hand. Flush with 2 pair - play the 2 pair rule.
Straight and a Flush	A flush and a straight with no pair - play the combination that results in the highest 2 card hand.
Full House	Split except with pair of 2's and an ace/king can be played in 2 card hand.
Four of a Kind	Play according to the rank of the Four of a Kind: 2 through 6: Always keep together 7 through 10: Split unless a pair or ace and picture can be played in the 2 card hand Jack through king: Split unless hand also contains a pair of 10's or higher Aces: Split unless a pair of 7's or higher can be played in 2 card hand.
Straight Flush	Keep as the 5 card hand Split 2 pair 10's and higher, or a pair of aces and any other pair Any other two pair with ace - play the 2 pair as high and the ace in the 2 card hand Play a straight or flush instead of the straight flush if it causes a picture card or higher to be played in the 2 card hand.
Royal Flush	Keep as the 5 card hand Royal flush with a pair - play the pair in the 2 card hand Royal flush with 2 pair - play the 2 pair rule Split the royal flush if an ace, king or a pair can be played in the 2 card hand while retaining a straight or flush in the 5 card hand.
Five Aces	Split unless pair of kings can be played in 2 card hand.

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Pai Gow Strategy

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