In Pai Gow Poker, we are splitting our seven-card hand into two different poker hands. One of these hands has only two cards and the rankings of this hand are based on high card hands and one pair hands only. The two-card hand is called the front. The other hand has five cards using standard poker hand rankings and is called the back. Additionally, the back hand always has to rank higher than the front hand. Strategy in Pai Gow Poker is based around trying to outplay the dealer, who will be using the house’s hand-splitting strategy, when creating these two hands. Here we’re going to look at rules that will help you to play an almost completely optimal strategy by looking at how to play each type of hand individually.

High Card Hands

If you’re dealt seven cards with no pairs and no flushes or straights, then your strategy is fairly simple. In this situation, you’ll put your second and third highest cards in the back, and the other five cards in the front. For example, if you’re dealt A-K-T-8-4-3-2, then you should play A-8-4-3-2 in the back and K-T in the front. This rule is easy to remember, and has been proven to be the best way to play high-card hands.

One Pair Hands

When you’re dealt just one pair, there’s another easy rule to follow. What you’ll need to do in this situation is put your pair in the back with your highest two other cards in the front. If you’re dealt K-Q-J-J-7-5-2, then you should put your pair in the back with J-J-7-5-2, and the highest two cards that aren’t paired in the front with K-Q. A little over two-thirds of your hands will be either a high card hand or a one pair hand, so you’re going to be using these two rules a majority of the time to play.

Two Pair Hands

In Pai Gow Poker, two pair hands are the most difficult to play perfectly. The question you’re trying to answer when you’re playing a two pair hand is if you should split the pairs or not. For example, if you’re dealt K-J-9-9-7-5-5, your best two options for play are 9-9-5-5-7 with K-J in front, or 9-9-K-J-7 with 5-5 in front. If you play these hands better than the dealer, then it’s likely you will have good chances to beat the house advantage.

In general, you should always split your two pair if your best pair is a pair of Aces. Additionally, you should always split your two pair if your best unpaired card is a Ten or lower. The rest of your strategy should be based on what kind of difference there is between the front hand options and the back hand options.

Take for example if you’re dealt Q-Q-3-3-A-K-7. Your two options are Q-Q-3-3-7 with A-K in front, and Q-Q-A-K-7 with 3-3 in front. If we look at the front hands, there isn’t much of a difference in strength between A-K and 3-3, so our chances of winning the front hand aren’t going to change much if we choose A-K over 3-3, or vice versa. However, Q-Q-3-3-7 is much better than Q-Q-A-K-7, and we will win a lot more with two pair in the back than a pair of Queens. Therefore, we shouldn’t split the pair.

Better Hands

Almost all hands better than two pair play themselves, with a few exceptions. If you’re dealt a flush or straight with a two pair at the same time, then you should ignore the flush or straight and play the hand just like it’s two pair. Additionally, if you’re dealt three pairs, then you should always play the highest pair in front.

If you stick to these guidelines and play your two pair hands well, then you’ll have good chances to overtake the house edge.

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