There are several ways to lower the house edge in Pai Gow poker.
Novice players hurt their odds when they don't understand the
basics.
But if you remember the following tips when you step up to a Pai
Gow table, you'll have a little more success and probably enjoy your
experience more.
Bank Whenever Possible
When playing Pai Gow poker, bank any time you get the
opportunity. The bank wins when hands are copied, which slides the
odds 1% to 2% in the banker's favor. This is one major way that
experienced Pai Gow players weight the odds in their favor.
The drawback to banking is the need for a bankroll. The banker
must be able to cover the wagers of all other players at the table.
For this reason, many players avoid banking. Remember to ask if the
casino allows players to share banking duties, which will lower the
potential cost of a failed hand as banker.
To lower the negative expectation to zero, it is best to bet as
much as possible when banking, and as little as possible when not
banking. It is best to bet 6 to 14 times the amount when you bank as
when you do not. In the short term, you might suffer losses. In the
long term, this evens the odds considerably.
Most casinos limit the amount of hands one player can bank.
Banker duties begin with the dealer, then move around the table. If
a player does not want to bank, the opportunity is offered to the
next player. Usually, a player will only be allowed to bank one or
two hands in a row.
It is best to find a table with no other players and a dealer. In
this way, you may be able to bank every other hand.
Build the Best Two Card Hand
Inexperienced Pai Gow players forget that the two card hand is
important as the five card hand. Often, a new player will try to
build the five card hand's strength to the exclusion of the forward
cards.
It is best to find the best combination that give you good odds
to win both the five and the two card hands. Of course, one must
always remember that the front hand can never be stronger than the
behind hand.
Never Play a Full House
There are several examples to note when arranging one's hands in
Pai Gow Poker. For one, a full house should never be played as the
upper hand. This will leave a simple high card for the forward hand,
which means the player will almost certainly push. It is better to
play a three of a kind for the behind hand, with a two of a kind for
the forward hand. Both of these hands have a high degree of
likelihood to win.
Playing 3 Pairs
When a player acquires three pairs, it is best to play the
highest pair in two card hand. Any two pairs give a player a good
chance to win the five card hand. Therefore, it is better to play
the highest pair on their own, to increase your chances of beating
any potential pair the dealer might play.
If you have six cards to a flush, it is best to play the lowest
high card for that flush. In this way, you save a higher card to
play in your two card hand.
Asking for Help
In most casinos, if you ask the dealer for assistance in Pai Gow
poker, she will help you. This usually takes the form of telling a
player the standard play using "house ways". Don't be embarrassed to
ask for help, if you don't know which is the best way to play a
hand.
In certain cardrooms, the management will allow Pai Gow players
at a table to offer advice. This is one of the reasons for Pai Gow
poker's popularity. If this practice is not allowed in a casino, the
dealer will let you know.
Don't let Pai Gow poker intimidate you, though. Most of the hand
plays are obvious even to a new player. And the house edge for
playing the house way is less than 1%, so don't stress out over
these plays.
Be sure to visit the rest of our online Pai Gow poker guide:
