Pai Gow Poker Basic Strategy for Optimal Play

One interesting strategy card game is called pai gow poker. It is true that there is a bit of a random factor to it in the form of the cards being shuffled. However, a player's skill and knowledge about the game is a weightier matter compared to the random shuffle of the cards. By using Pai Gow Poker basic strategy, players can bring down the house from around 2.5% to something close to even money.

The Pai Gow Poker basic strategy is based in what is called house way. House way, simply put, is how the dealer or the casino would play the cards in this game. Players are cautioned as to their expectations. When we use Pai Gow Poker basic strategy or house way, we should not expect that we will win every single hand.

The first step in Pai Gow Poker basic strategy is to place your highest ranked card in your high hand, the hand that has five cards. The two next highest ranked cards are to be used for your low hand, which is the one with only two cards. However, if you have a pair you do something different from the above mentioned step.

Your Pai Gow Poker basic strategy changes a bit if you have a pair in your hand. Your pair will go into your high hand while the next highest card will go into your low hand, the one with only two cards. You then proceed to arrange your cards to form a poker hand.

Here's your Pai Gow Poker basic strategy if you are dealt a couple of pairs. If you were dealt a pair of Aces, then you should have one pair of cards for each hand. This is also what you do if ever you have one pair of picture cards, pairs of six, or any higher ranked pair of cards. If you only have one Ace, use it in your low hand and both pairs for your high hand. If you have two pairs of lower value cards then use them in your high hand.

If you have three pairs, use the highest ranking pair for your low hand. The three of a kind is to be used on the high hand, so does a straight, flush, and a royal flush. You should split a full house except if you have a two pair, Ace, or King. Five Aces are to be split between both hands as well.

Remember that the key factor that makes a casino win is the house edge. Even if you use house way or basic strategy, the casino's edge will still be at work when you play the game. Pai Gow Poker basic strategy only minimizes whatever losses you get from the house edge. In short, it makes you win more than you would without it.