pai gow poker

The system of playing pai gow poker

The gameplay is actually quite simple; you have to beat the dealer with two combinations of 5 cards and 2 cards by yourself. The older one has to be the stronger one. But there are a few formation strategies that require separate attention.

Optimal option

Currently, there are many websites that specialise in this type of poker, for example nolimitway.com offers an introduction to the game. That is, there is a detailed description of how to be in this or that case. But you can make it very simple and follow the rule: you have to form the maximum combination on 2 cards that is possible on a hand of 5 cards.

Often this looks like this: a high pair in the high hand and a pair of big cards in the low hand. And here you can win even on 2 hands.

And it’s important to understand that the highest combinations can’t make an extra payout, so the best solution is to split.

How to play pai gow poker

Recommendations for drawing two pairs

  1. The youngest combination should be sent to a pair of aces. And it doesn’t matter what cards create the other pair.
  2. Kings should also be sent to the junior combination, especially if the second pair has cards higher than 7.
  3. If there is an ace with a weak card, then kings should be sent to threes, queens to fives, jacks to tens.
  4. Small pairs should never be divided. 
  5. If an ace is missing, then pairs should be split into 2 hands.

Three pairs in cards

            It’s actually different with threes, there are differences. For example, if it’s a three of less than a queen, it’s best to keep it in the high hand.

            If you have 3 aces in your hand at once, you should split it so that one of them is with the high card. The same goes for kings.

High combinations

Everything depends on the situation here as well, e.g:

  1. When there is only a straight or flush in the cards, the combination should be left and the other cards sent to the low hand.
  2. If there are 2 combinations in hand at once, one is saved to the maximum anyway. You can sacrifice the flush and keep the straight, if that makes the junior hand stronger.
  3. If there is a pair in addition to these combinations, the situation plays a huge role here as well.

Full house

            In this case, the three stays in the high hand, while a pair goes into the low hand. But if a pair is small, it’s best to keep this combination.

Four of a Kind

            It’s almost always a four-card draw, especially if there’s no pair or high cards.             These are the simplest points, which don’t look so simple. There are other recommendations that are also good to listen to. But everything comes with experience.

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