When you begin playing ask the dealer what the rule is for setting hands that contain 2 small pairs. If he/she says split if I don't have an ace the casino is using an aggressive way of setting hands.
NO PAIR
ONE PAIR
TWO PAIR
THREE PAIR
STRAIGHT
FLUSH
They are playing for the win rather than the push.
This will help you in making decisions on how to set your hand.
Remember, Pai Gow is a strange game and there are literally thousands of different hands that are possible.
So, no strategy for this game is 100% effective.
There isn't much you can do when you have a bad hand.
But here is a suggestion.
If your hand's highest card is an ace and you have no J, Q, K you may want to try protecting the high hand, because there is a very high probability that a low hand without picture cards will not get you a push or win.
Place the ace in the high hand.
If you have let's say 10, 9, 7, 6, 4, 3 place the 10 in the high hand and use the 9 and 7 in the low hand.
It is possible (and has happened to me) that the dealer also has an ace high hand, and placing the next highest card in the high hand instead of the low has caused a push hand and saved the bet.
This is a risky play, but has proven successful in pushing and sometimes winning.
The theory behind it is you will just push, and sometimes lose, with a pair of aces in the high hand and virtually nothing in the low hand.
With an ace in the low and high hand you increase your chances of pushing and maybe even winning if the dealer has a bad hand.
If you have a pair of aces with no J, Q, K to place in the low hand split the aces (1 in the low and o1 in the high hand).
Use the highest of the remaining cards in the high hand, and the secnd highest card in the low hand.
You may want to adjust your strategy depending on whether the casino plays a "push" or "aggressive" strategy when setting hands.
Please refer to HOUSE RULES.
If you have 2 pair both being 6 or below, and you don't have a J, Q, K to place in the low hand, you mat want to consider splitting the pairs (lowest in the low hand highest in the high hand).
The rule here is to place the highest pair in the low hand.
But if you have AA KK 99 place the KK in the low hand.
A KK in the low hand is very strong, and having the aces in the high hand may help win a hand.
I would do this also with KK QQ 77 placing the QQ in the low hand.
I do not recommend doing this with lower hands than the ones shown.
If you have a straight but also have 2 pairs it is usually advisable to play the 2 pairs.
If you have aces and an other pair deinately do this.
If both pairs are below 6 consider keeping the straight because this play is a gamble with a higher possibility of losing.
Refer to STRAIGHT strategy.
NO PAIR
Use highest ranked card for the high hand.
Use second and third highest ranked cards for the low hand.
ONE PAIR
Always use the pair as the high hand and the highest-ranking outside cards for the low hand.
TWO PAIR
Pairs will be broken into four groups (when splitting, always play the lower pair in the low hand).
2's thru 6's Low Pair.
7's thru 10's Medium Pair.
Jacks thru Kings High Pair.
Aces Aces.
Low Pair + Low Pair
Both pairs in high hand (push setting).
Split pairs if you don't have an ace to place in the low hand (aggressive setting).
Low Pair + Medium Pair
Split unless holding an ace to place in the low hand.
Low Pair + High Pair
Both in high hand if you have an ace to place in the low hand.
Otherwise split the pairs.
Medium Pair + Medium Pair
Split the pairs (push setting).
Both pairs in high hand if you have an ace to place in the low hand (aggressive setting).
Medium Pair + High Pair
Split the pairs.
Medium Pair + Low Pair
Split the pairs.
If you have an ace to place in the low hand keep the 2 pairs in thehigh hand.
High Pair + High Pair
Split the pairs.
Aces + Any other pair
Always split.
THREE PAIR
Always play the highest pair in the low hand.
THREE OF A KIND
Always play in high hand.
Exception: With three Aces, play one Ace in low hand and two Aces in the
high hand.
Three-of-a-Kind with Three-of-a-Kind
Play pair of highest three-of-a-kind in low hand.
STRAIGHTS, FLUSHES, & STRAIGHT FLUSHES
(INCLUDING ROYAL FLUSHES).
With No Pair
When given a choice to play a Straight, Flush or Straight Flush, play the combination that allows the highest possible low hand.
With a Pair
Play pair in low hand if Flush, Straight or Straight Flush can be preserved in High Hand.
With Two Pair
Use Two Pair Rule.
With Three Pair
Use Three Pair Rule.
With Three-of-a-Kind
Use Three-of-a-Kind Rule.
With Full House
House Use Full House Rule.
FULL HOUSE
With Three-of-a-Kind and a Pair
Split and play pair in low hand.
With Three-of-a-Kind and a two Pairs
Play higher-ranking pair in low hand.
With Three-of-a-Kind and Three-of-a-Kind
Play higher-ranking Three-of-a-Kind as a pair in low hand.
FOUR OF A KIND
2's thru 9's
Never split, play in high hand.
10's thru Kings
Split unless there is an Ace or Joker, then play the four in the high hand and the ace or joker in the low hand.
Aces
Always split.
FOUR OF A KIND WITH A PAIR
(OR 3 OF A KIND)
Play pair in the low hand.
FIVE ACES (WITH JOKER)
Always split and play two Aces in low hand.
Exception: With five Aces and a pair of Kings, play Kings in low hand.
A player may be the bank and play against the dealer and the other players.
The bet against the dealer is the last amount you bet before banking.
The advantage is that the bank wins ties.
If the dealer is getting good hands a player may bank in an atempt to change the dealer's hand to a worse one.
Banking can be rewarding if you get a good hand and beat the majority or all the players.
It can be a disaster if you get a bad hand.
I once heard that banking as much is allowed will give you an advantage.
Another defense if you are getting bad hands aside from banking is to change your seat.
The casino, in an attempt to increase their advantage has invented 2 variations to the game, Dragon Hand and Fortne Pai Gow Poker.
Both prey on people's greed and should be avoided.
Dragon Hand is offering a player the chance to play 2 hands.
If the table is not full one of the unused hands is offered to a player.
If he/she refuses it the next plaer is offered the hand.
On the next deal of the cards the nxt player is offered the hand and so on.
The only time this should be considered is when you have a very bad hand and wish to try another in the hopes of saving your bet by winning the Dragon Hand.
Fortune Pai Gow Poker is placing a side bet that you will receive a hand higher than 3 of a kind.
If you do, each hand, 3 of a kind, straight, flush, full house, all the way up to a seven card straight flush without the joker is paid a certain amount.
The problem is these hands aren't dealt that often, especially the higher paying ones.
Another problem is you are giving the casino extra money.
If you push a hand with a $15 bet and lose the $5 "bonus" bet you must make up that loss either by hitting a big bonus or by winning hands.
Hitting a big bonus is few and far between.
Winning a $15 bet won't help because you really need to win 2 hands to make up for the lost bonus bet plus the 5% commission paid on winning hands.
Plus if yo lose anothe $5 bonus bet on the hand you just won how are you going to make that up?
These $1, $2, and $5 bonus bet may not seem to matter much to the player.
But, added to the 5% commission the casino charges, and spread out over many thousands o hands dealt means BIG money for the casino and a higher casino advantage for the player to go up against. Okay, take a shot at it once in awhile if you just can't restrain yourself.
You may hit the 7 card straight flush without a joker.
It may snow in Phoenix Arizona in August too!!!
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