PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT
New to Pai Gow Poker? Master the rules, understand the strategy and get ready to take your seat at the table
Pai Gow Poker is one of those casino games that may seem intimidating when you first sit down, but once you understand the basics, it can be an enjoyable way to stretch your bankroll and keep the action going. Unlike blackjack, where you’re trying to beat the dealer with a single hand, Pai Gow Poker gives you seven cards and asks you to make two separate hands: a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand. The trick is knowing how to divide those cards to give yourself the best chance of winning both. A little strategy goes a long way, so before you take a seat at the table, here are some basic tips to help you set your hands, avoid common mistakes and play with greater confidence.
Know the house way. Every casino has its own specific rules for setting hands, known as the “house way.” Familiarize yourself with the casino’s rules, because they can affect how your cards should be arranged.
Never sacrifice the low hand. One of the biggest mistakes new players make is putting too much strength into the five-card hand and leaving a weak two-card hand. Remember, you generally need to win both hands to win the wager. A powerful five-card hand doesn’t help much if your two-card hand loses.
With no pair, split your cards wisely. Put your two highest cards in the low hand and use the remaining five cards for the high hand. When deciding which cards to keep together, consider how strong each hand will be against the dealer.
With one pair, think balance. A single pair is often best kept together in the five-card hand, while your two highest remaining cards make the low hand. However, if your remaining cards are particularly weak, breaking up the pair may sometimes create two more competitive hands.
With two pair, things get interesting. In many situations, you’ll want to split the pairs, but the strength of the pairs matters. A common guideline is to keep the pairs together when one is low and the other is high, while splitting can make sense when both pairs are strong enough to create a competitive low hand.
With three of a kind, usually keep it together. The exception is when you can split the trips and still make a very strong five-card hand while creating a substantially better two-card hand.
Don’t forget the joker. In Pai Gow Poker, the joker isn’t completely wild. It typically acts as an ace or can complete a straight or flush. Knowing exactly how the joker works is essential when setting your hand.
When in doubt, favor two solid hands. Pai Gow Poker is a game of pushes and ties, and that’s part of what makes it different from many other casino games. Rather than trying to create one spectacular hand, look for a setup that gives you two respectable chances to beat the dealer.
The biggest tip? Learn the basic hand-setting rules before you sit down. Pai Gow Poker offers plenty of opportunities to make decisions, but you don’t have to memorize every possible seven-card combination to play intelligently. Start by learning how to handle pairs, two pair, straights, flushes and the joker, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a more confident player.
