Pai Gow Poker is a very fun game to play, and once you understand the rules, it is very easy to learn. It is played with a deck of 53 cards, a normal deck and one joker. The joker is a limited wild card, meaning that it can only be used as an Ace or to make a Straight, a Flush or a Straight Flush. Also, in this game, players compete only against the dealer, not each other . The object of the game is to make the best high (five card) hand possible and the best low (two card) hand possible. Once each player has placed their bet, the dealer deals seven face down cards to each player and to himself. When all cards have been dealt, the players are to set their cards into a two card and a five card hand, making sure that the five card hand is higher in rank than the two card hand. After the hands are set, they are placed face down in the marked areas in front of the players and the dealer’s cards are turned over and set into two hands. At this point, each players hands are individually compared to the Dealer’s hands for determination of wins and losses, and all wins are paid even money.

The following strategy is great for anyone new to the game, but can be used by anyone. It shows you how you should play each of the possible hands in Pai Gow Poker.

Five Aces - In this instance, you should always split the pair of Aces into the Low Hand and the remaining three aces into the High Hand.

Straight Flush with No Pair - Simply split the cards not involved in the straight flush into the low hand.

Straight Flush with a Pair - Split the Pair into the Low hand and the Straight Flush into the High hand.

4 of a Kind - Keep the 4 of a Kind in the High Hand and put the 2 highest remaining cards into the Low Hand.

Full House - Put the 3 of a Kind into the High Hand and the Pair in the Low Hand

Flush and Straight - See Straight Flush

3 of a Kind -Keep the 3 of a Kind in the High Hand and the 2 highest remaining cards in the Low Hand, except in the case that you have 3 Aces, when this happens, put 2 aces in the High Hand and 1 in the Low hand.

2 Pair - If pair of sixes or less and pair of tens or less, then split if there is not a King, Ace or Joker. If pair of sixes or less and pair of Jacks or higher, then split if there is not an Ace or Joker. If two pairs between sevens and tens, then split if there is no Ace or Joker. Split in all other situations.

A Pair - Place the Pair in the High Hand and the 2 highest remaining cards in the Low Hand.

The most important thing to keep in mind when playing Pai Gow Poker is that you need to pay close attention to the cards in your hand as you are setting them into the High Hand and the Low Hand. You have to make sure that the High Hand is always higher in rank than the Low Hand, that is the first and foremost thing that must be done, as it can result in a forfeit of your bet if you do not adhere to this rule. Another thing that you need to watch for is that you set your hands in an effective manner. For example, you wouldn’t want to split a 3 of a Kind (unless they are 3 Ace) and you wouldn’t want to accidentally split up a Straight Flush. If you make sure to do this at all times, you will increase your chances of winning more often and of improving your overall game. Finally, you want to make sure that you pay attention to how the dealer sets their cards, sometimes you can pick up some pointers by making that observation.