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Pai Gow Poker strategy
Pai Gow poker is growing in popularity, however it is still quite a recent addition to casinos and because of this it has the ability to easily confuse a new player. The rules and structure of Pai Gow are somewhat different from typical poker games so it’s important to get a very sound understanding of how the game pans out and the best possible hands you can make. It seems like obvious advice, but all too often a new player will rely heavily on guides while playing the game only to find that their hesitant attitude has made them easy pickings for more experienced players. They know how to spot a fish, so don’t play like one.
In Pai Gow, if both the bankers hand and the players hand have the same value – a copied hand – then the bankers hand wins. This makes the odds up to one or two percent in favour of the banker. So it’s worth remembering to bank whenever the opportunity to do so comes around. Experienced players will be using this tactic, so you might as well join in.
As Pai Gow poker requires players to form two poker hands, a two card hand a five card hand, it seems to be a common mistake for new players to focus their main strengths on the five card hand. This is probably because the five card hand needs to have a higher value than the two card hand so it seems to be given the most attention. However, this is a bad habit to get caught into. Playing a good two card hand can really help you on your way to win big at Pai Gow.
If you happen to receive a full house when playing Pai Gow poker, then it usually makes sense to play the three of a kind behind and the pair in front. The exception to this is if the pair is small and the side cards are very high – for example an ace and a queen may be better to play than a pair of threes.
If you’re lucky enough to get two three of a kinds then the best way forward is to play the highest three of a kind as a pair in front and the smaller three of a kind behind. Similarly, if you receive three pairs then always play your highest pair in front since your two lower pairs in the five card hand will still stand a good chance of winning.
In short, a combination of both your 5 card hand and your 2 card hand is required to give you the best odds possible at Pai Gow Poker.
