Sound Pai Gow strategy...optimise your playing returns

According to Pai Gow expert Stanford Wong, one of the keys to optimising your Pai Gow returns is to be the dealer/banker as often as you can.  Unfortunately most online casinos don't let you do this.  

One exception is BeTheDealer where you can assume the role of banker/dealer.  For this reason, BeTheDealer is one of the casinos that we recommend for online Pai Gow play.  The fact remains though, that almost all other online casinos will only let you play Pai Gow as the 'player'.  But that's OK because with sound playing strategy (ie correct hand selection) you can still optimise your returns and get great value for your buck.

The table below contains optimum hand selections based on cards dealt.  For simplicity's sake, we have called any pair of 2's through 6's a "small pair", 7's through J's a "middle pair", and Q's through A's a "big pair".

 

Your hand

5-card hand selection 

 2-card hand

No Pair:

the highest card

the next two highest cards

One pair:

the pair

next two highest cards

Two Pair:

Pair of A's and any other Pair:

big pair

other pair

Two Big Pair:

best pair

other pair

Big Pair and Middle Pair

big pair

middle pair

Big Pair and Small Pair with A or K

both pair

A or K

Big Pair & Small pair w/out A or K

highest pair

small pair

Two Middle Pair with A or K

both pair

A or K

Two Middle Pair without A or K

best pair

other pair

Middle Pair & Small Pair with A or K

both pair

A or K

Middle Pair & Small Pair w/out A or K

middle pair

small pair

Two Small Pair with A or K

both pair

A or K

Two Small Pair without A or K

best pair

other pair

Three Pair:

second and third highest pair

highest pair

Three of a Kind:

Three A's

pair of A's

A and next highest card

All others

three of a kind

two highest remaining cards

Three of a Kind twice:

lower three of a kind

highest pair

Full House: 

With two pairs

full house with low pair

highest pair

Pair is 2's with A or K

full house

A or K

All others

three of a kind

the pair

Straight, flush & Royal Flush:

With no pair

lowest full hand

two highest cards

With one or two Pair

lowest full hand

2 highest cards, pair or o/wise

With Three of a Kind

full hand

pair

With Full House

three of a kind

pair

With Three of a Kind twice

lower three

highest two

Four of a Kind:

With Three of a Kind

four of a kind

pair from the three of a kind

With a Pair

four of a kind

pair

Four A's

pair of A's

pair of A's

J's through K's with an A

four of a kind

the A

J's through K's without an A

one pair from the four

the other pair

7's through 10's with A or K

four of a kind

A or K

7's through 10's without A or K

one pair from the four

the other pair

2's through 6's

four of a kind

highest remaining two

 

If you play according to the above table, even as the 'player' your returns will be substantial - over 97%.  If you are able to play as the banker also, your return for optimal play lifts to just under 99%! 

Want to practice Pai Gow online for free?  CLICK HERE

 

Want tips on playing slots?, check out The Slot Advisor or Slots Coach .  For general gambling tips, check out Gambling Advisor or Tips for Winning.

 

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