I plan to publish some pai gow poker strategy in January, 2014. The house advantage in Pai Gow Poker depends on partially on your skill setting hands but more on how much of the action you bank. This page took months for my assistant JB to create so I hope you'll have a look.įor your convenience, I also have my one-page simple pai gow poker strategy (PDF). It contains simple, intermediate, and advanced strategies for both playing as the banker, against the banker, and combined. I'm very proud to present my pai gow strategy page.

The player may always decline to bank (which usually happens), in which case the option will revert to the next player, or dealer.

The turn to act as banker is supposed to rotate around the table, but at some casinos it zig-zags between the dealer and each player in turn.

Unlike most casino games, the player may bet against the dealer, and other players in pai gow poker.

If the player loses or ties both, then the player shall lose his wager. If the player wins one and loses one, then the bet shall push.

If the player wins both comparisons, then the player will win even money on his bet, less a 5% commission.

If the event of a tie, for example both two-card hands are ace/king, then the tie has go to the 'banker.'

The two high hands will be compared, and the two low hands, the hand with the higher poker value winnings.

After the player has set his hand, the dealer will turn over his cards and divide his hand in the same manner, according to specified rules known as the 'house way.'.

The only poker hand in the two-card hand is a pair or no pair, after which the individual cards determine the value.

The five-card hand is ranked according to conventional poker rules.

The high hand must be of higher poker value than the low hand.

The player will separate his seven cards into a five-card high hand, and two-card low hand.

Some casinos have dropped this ridiculous rule, but most still cling to it.

Standard poker ranking rules are followed with one strange exception - the A2345 straight (known as 'the wheel') is considered the second highest straight.

After the player makes a bet, the dealer will deal the player and himself seven cards each. It may be used as an ace, or to complete a straight, flush, or straight flush, or royal flush. A single 53-card deck is used, consisting of the usual 52 cards, plus one joker.

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