How to Play Pai Gow Poker :: Pai Gow Poker Tips and Strategy

Pai Gow Poker - Basic Play, Tips and Strategies

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Pai Gow Poker is a combination of the ancient Chinese game of Pai Gow and Poker. Played with one deck of cards with a joker. The joker is a wild card, which can only be used to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush, otherwise it is treated as an ace.

After placing bets, the players and the dealer are dealt seven cards. You have to split your seven cards intoone 5-card hand (the "back" hand) and one 2-card hand (the "front" hand). The back hand must outrank the front hand. The hope is that both your hands will beat the dealer's hands.

The trick is, the dealer doesn't reveal his hands and split them until after the players have done so.

If you beat only one of the dealer's hands, and one of his beats yours. In other words, lets say your front hand is higher than the dealer's front hand, but his back hand beats your back hand, it is a push and no money will be won or lost.

If either of your hands ties in rank with either of the dealers hands, the dealer wins the tie.

Pai Gow Poker - the Strategy

If you are dealt:

No Pairs

Put the highest card in your back hand and the 2nd and 3rd highest in your front hand.

Place pair in your back hand and the highest cards (other than the pair) in your front hand.

Two Pair:

If highest value pair is Jack - Ace, put it in your back hand, and the smaller value pair in your front hand.
If highest value pair is 7's - 10's, put both pairs in your back - but only if you have an Ace to put in the front hand, otherwise split them.
If highest value pair is 2's - 6's, put both pairs in your back hand if you can put King or Ace in front; otherwise split them.

Three Pairs

Put the highest value pair in your front hand.

Three of a kind

If you have three Aced: Split the aces - put one ace, along with your next highest card, in your front hand.
If you have three kings or lower, then put the three of a kind in your back hand, and the two highest cards in your front hand.

Two Sets

Put the pair from highest set in your front hand.

Straight, flush or straight flush

With no pair - put your two highest cards in your front hand that will leave a complete hand in your back.
With one or two pair - put the two highest cards possible (pair or not) in the front hand that will leave a complete hand in back.
With three of a kind - put a pair in the front hand, leave a complete hand in back.

Full House

Put a pair in the front.

Four of a kind

Always split Jacks thru Aces
7's thru 10's - If you can put an Ace or King in the front, keep the four of a kind in the back hand. Otherwise always split.
Never split 6's or below.

Four of a kind with a pair or three of a kind

With a pair - Four of a kind in back, pair in front
With three of a kind - Highest pair in front, full house in back.

Five Aces (four of a kind and a joker)

Place a pair of aces in the front hand.

The best tip I can give you is to go ahead and download the free casino software from any of the casinos listed below, and sign up for a free/practice account to get a feel for things before you play for real money.

Poker Baron recommends the following reputable casinos for playing Pai Gow Poker:

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Pai Gow Poker :: How To Play Pai Gow Poker :: Pai Gow Poker Tips and Strategies

Pai Gow Poker - Basic Play, Tips and Strategies

Poker Rules

Pai Gow Poker - the Strategy