Internet Pai Gow Poker Strategy
It seems like everyone is getting into the Pai Gow poker craze these days. Pai Gow, which is a combination of
poker and Chinese dominoes, is now played in casinos all over the world. It is also played in even more places online. Many people play and
win at Pai Gow and others lose. One way to increase your chances of winning is to adopt a Pai Gow strategy.
How to Win Pai Gow Poker
Pai Gow is an interesting way of
playing poker. Each player is dealt seven cards. From these seven cards, you have to come up with two completely separate hands. One hand can only have two cards, the other hand has the remaining five.
The key is that your five card hand must be stronger than your two card hand. If your two card hand is higher, you automatically lose. (It's referred to as a "foul.") Despite this, don't put garbage in your two-card hand. If you win the big hand but lose the two card "front" hand, it is a "push" and your money is returned to you.
A question that many people ask is what kind of poker hand you can have with two cards? The answer is that the highest value two card hand is a pair of Aces, followed by a pair of Kings, pair of Queens, and pair of Jacks. The lowest pair is a pair of twos.
In Pai Gow Poker, if your two card hand does not contain a pair, then the hand is ranked according to the highest card. If you have an Ace and a five, you then have an "Ace High" hand. You will win the two card hand if the dealer does not have a pair or an Ace. If the dealer has an Ace, than the high cards are tied and the winner is the one with the highest second card.
The Best Strategy to Win Pai Gow Poker
There is a strategy to win Pai Gow Poker. Consider how the game is played. You want a good two card hand, but not so good that your five card hand is weak. If you have the good fortune of getting two pairs in your seven cards, then put the lower value pair in your two card hand. Odds are that the two card hand will win, and if you now have a high value pair in your five card hand, you are in really good shape.
If you only have one pair, you must leave it in your five card hand. Otherwise you will foul by having a higher two card hand. Of course, if you have a pair and a flush or a pair and a straight, then that is different. By all means play the pair in the small hand and then hit the table with your monster hand. If you do have a pair and a straight of a flush, you are very likely to be the winner.
Most hands in Pai Gow will end up in a push since you and the dealer will each win a hand. That is why a good Pai Gow Poker strategy is to have lots of patience. Pai Gow can unfold slowly as both dealer and player feel each other out. Some players are more aggressive, some more cautious, the trick is to play a style that is right for you.
One more thing to keep in mind when playing Pai Gow. Aces can be wild if they are needed to complete a straight or a flush. If you can make a straight or a flush with an Ace in your five card hand, don't waste it in your small hand. Hopefully, you have another high ranking card that will top whatever the dealer is playing in his front hand.
Use these Pai Gow Poker strategies and see if they work for you. Always remember what has happened on previous hands. The more you play, the better you can be. That is why so many people all around the world have entered the fascinating world of Pai Gow poker.