Pai Gow Poker Basic Strategy

Pai Gow Poker is notorious for giving the Banker a distinct edge. However, there is a strong Pai Gow Poker strategy that can greatly increase the average player’s chances of winning, effectively dropping the house edge to an absolute minimum.

This Pai Gow Poker Strategy is so simplistic in design, most players never even thought of it. The object is to use the exact same rules of hand development as the banker is strictly required to do.

The only real difference between the player and the banker is the restrictive nature of hand development. Players can do whatever they wish (so long as the Back Hand is stronger), while the banker must follow stringent guidelines. The rules of hand development for the banker may vary slightly by which land-based or online casino you play in, but they are generally the same, or extremely close to it.

The most common guidelines are those used in the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, so those are the rules we’ll interpret for this Pai Gow Poker Strategy. Use the table below in accordance with the hand you are dealt to determine the best strategic move in Pai Gow Poker.

Note: The Back Hand holds 5 cards and must rank Higher than the Front Hand of 2 cards.

No Pair
Back Hand: Highest card
Front Hand: Next two highest cards.

One Pair
Back Hand: Pair
Front Hand: Two highest remaining cards

Two Pair
Proper Pai Gow Poker Strategy is determined by the strength of the Pairs. 2-6 are Low Pairs, 7-10 are Medium Pairs, Jack-King High Pairs. A Pair of Aces should always be split, with Aces in the Back Hand, the other Pair in the front.

Two Low Pairs: Split - Highest in Back, Lowest in Front, unless holding a King or Aces; put both Pairs in Back with highest remaining cards in Front.
Low and Medium Pair: Highest in Back, Lowest in Front, unless holding a King or Aces; put both Pairs in Back with highest remaining cards in Front.
Low and High Pair: Split - High in Back, Low in Front, unless holding an Ace; Put Pairs in Back with Ace and next highest remaining card in Front.
Two Medium Pairs: High in Back, Low in Front, unless holding an Ace; Put Pairs in Back with Ace and next highest remaining card in Front.
Medium and High Pair: Split – Highest in Back, Lowest in Front.
Two High Pairs: Split – Highest in Back, Lowest in Front.

Three Pairs
Back Hand: Two Lowest Pairs
Front Hand: Highest Pair

Three of a Kind
Back Hand: Three of a Kind
Front Hand: High Card
Exception: When holding 3 Aces, put Pair of Aces in back with Ace and next highest in Front.

Two Three of a Kinds
Back Hand: Lowest Three of a Kind
Front Hand: Highest Pair

Straights & Flushes
The proper Pai Gow Poker Strategy depends on the full range of your cards…

Straight or Flush, No Pair: Straight or Flush in Back, remaining cards in Front.

Straight and Flush, No Pair: If you have a Straight and Flush available play, choose the Back Hand that allows the highest two remaining cards in your Front Hand.

Straight or Flush with 6 or 7 cards: Straight/Flush in Back with highest possible cards in Front.

Straight/Flush + Pair: Straight or Flush in Back with Pair in Front.

Straight/Flush with Two Pairs: Use the Two Pair rules above, unless Straight or Flush can be played in Back with Pair in Front.

Straight/Flush with Three Pairs: Use the Three Pairs rules above.

Straight/Flush with Three of a Kind: Straight or Flush in Back, Pair in Front.

Full House
Back Hand: Three of a Kind
Front Hand: Pair.
Exception: If Pair is 2s, and remaining cards are Ace and King, place Full House in Back, Ace-King in Front.

Full House + Extra Pair
Back Hand: Full House with Lowest Pair.
Front Hand: Highest Pair

Four of a Kind
The Pai Gow Poker Strategy depends on the rank of the Four of a Kind.

2-6: Four of a Kind in Back, next two highest in Front.
7-10: Split – Pair in Back, Pair in Front, unless King or Ace remains; Four of a Kind in Back, King or Ace and next highest in Front.
J-K: Split – Pair in Back, Pair in Front, unless Ace remains; Four of a Kind in Back, Ace and highest remaining card in Front.
Aces: Split – Pair in Back, Pair in Front.

Four of a Kind + Pair
Back Hand: Four of a Kind
Front Hand: Pair

Four of a Kind + Three of a Kind
Back Hand: Four of a Kind
Front Hand: Pair