How to Play Pai-Gow Poker

The House Way

When you arrange your cards, so they have the best house edge, this is known as the “House Way” and these are the rules the casinos use to give themselves the best advantage. The term “House Way” means it’s a pre-determined setting of the casino’s hand depending on which cards they have received. The dealer must always set their hand according to house way. If you forget the house way or you have a question on how to set your hand, feel free to ask the dealer for advice.

Starting from the lowest ranked hand, we are going to go through each poker ranking and describe the best way to set each hand.

High Card

Out of the 7 cards you were dealt, if you can’t form a ranking hand, then this is known as a High Card and your best option is to place your highest ranking card in the high hand and the second and third highest ranking cards in the low hand.

Pair

Next on the list is a pair. Always place the pair in the high hand and the next two highest ranking cards in the low hand.

Two Pair

After one pair is two pair and this is where it gets a bit more in depth, but don’t worry we have a rule that’ll help you out. The two pair rule can be broken down like this, if you have a pair of Jacks and 6’s or anything higher, then always split the pair.

If you have a pair of 6’s and 5’s or anything lower, then always keep the two pair together.

If you have anything else, then always split the pair.

Unless you also have an ace in your hand, then you would keep the two pair together in the high hand and the ace in the low hand.

Every casino is different and some casinos treat their two pair rule differently than others. For example, in some casinos they have you splitting Jack’s and 7’s instead of Jack’s and 6’s. Another deviation is, if you have a pair of aces with any other pair, than always split the two.

Three Pair

Next on the list is 3 pair. If you have 3 pair, always put your highest pair in the low hand and the other two pair in the high hand.

3 of a Kind

After 3 pair comes 3 of a kind. If you get a 3 of a kind, then always keep the 3 of a kind together in the high hand.

Except if you have aces. You always split three aces so that a pair is in the high hand and one ace is in the low hand.

If you have two 3 of a kinds, then place the lowest 3 of a kind in the high hand and split the higher 3 of a kind so that the low hand has a high pair in it.

If there is a 3 of a kind with two pair then play the highest pair in the low hand.

Straights & Flushes

Next on the list is a Straight, followed by a Flush, but we’re lumping them into the same group because they follow the same rules. If you have a straight or a flush, always keep it in the high hand.

Unless you have a six or seven card straight. Then you would put your highest card in the low hand and the straight or flush in the high hand.

If you have a six card straight with a pair at either end, then use the pair in the low hand and the straight in the high hand.

The two pair rule must always be followed even if it splits up a straight or a flush. If you have a pair of Jacks and 6’s or anything higher, then split the pair.

If you have a pair of 6’s and 5’s or anything lower, then always keep the two pair together.

If there is a pair of Aces with any other pair, then always split the pair with the low pair in the low hand and the pair of aces in the high hand.

If you have both a straight and a flush in your hand, then play the cards in a way that will give you a Jack or better in the low hand.

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Full House

Next on the list is a Full House. Always split a full house.

Except when the low pair are two’s and the hand contains an A, J or an A, K, depending on the casino.

If the full house has an extra pair, then play the highest of the two pair in the low hand.

4 of a Kind

After the Full House is a 4 of a Kind. If you have a four of a kind of 6's and under, then always keep them together in the high hand.

If they’re 7’s and higher, then always split.

Unless you have an ace or any other pair, then keep the four of a kind together and place the ace or the pair in the low hand.

If you have a four of a kind with Jack’s or higher and any other pair, then split the four of a kind so that you have a high pair in your low hand and two pair in your high hand.

Unless that pair is seven’s or higher, then you would keep the four of a kind together.

If you have four aces then you would split them up.

Unless you had a pair with those four aces. If you had a pair of sevens or higher, then you would place the pair in the low hand and the four aces in the high hand.

If the pair is sixes or lower, then play the pair of aces in the low hand and the two pair in the high hand.

If you have both a four of a kind and a three of a kind then split the hand in a way that the highest pair goes in the low hand.

Straight Flush

Next on the list is a Straight Flush. And if you have a Straight Flush, then keep it as the high hand.

But for anything else, you would split the straight flush the same as you would a straight. And you can play the straight or the flush over the straight flush if you have an ace or a king to play in the low hand.

Royal Flush

After the Straight Flush is a Royal Flush. If you have a Royal Flush, always play it in the high hand.

Unless there are two pair of 10’s or higher; then split the hand.

Always play the straight or the flush over the royal flush if it means you’ll have a King or higher in the low hand. In some casinos, it’s a Jack or higher.

5 of a Kind

A 5 of a Kind can only occur with aces and no other card. It’s a good idea to always split up 5 aces so that there are 2 aces are in the low hand.

Unless you also have a pair of Kings, then you would keep the aces together.

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