Winning Pai Gow Poker strategies
Pai Gow Poker offers something for every style of gambler - if you're a low, medium, or high stakes punter and whether or not you're experienced at Poker.
Below, we explain everything you need to know to become a winning Pai Gow Poker player.
Check out our recommended strategies, then try them out risk-free by clicking on the image opposite.
This will launch an instant version of Pai Gow Poker courtesy of Bodog. You'll get 1000 credits to practice with until you feel confident in our winning strategies.
Pai Gow Poker is a really entertaining alternative to the run-of-the-mill card games. If you take the time to learn it, it will reward you with hours of enjoyable - and hopefully successful - play!
Pai Gow Poker offers something for every style of gambler - if you're a low, medium, or high stakes punter and whether or not you're experienced at Poker.
Below, we explain everything you need to know to become a winning Pai Gow Poker player.
Check out our recommended strategies, then try them out risk-free by clicking on the image opposite.
This will launch an instant version of Pai Gow Poker courtesy of Bodog. You'll get 1000 credits to practice with until you feel confident in our winning strategies.
Pai Gow Poker is a really entertaining alternative to the run-of-the-mill card games. If you take the time to learn it, it will reward you with hours of enjoyable - and hopefully successful - play!
How to win at Pai Gow Poker
Further Pai Gow strategy
2 pair:
Always split, unless:
1. Two pairs of 6s or below - don't split.
2. The hand contains an ace - play the ace behind.
3 pair:
Always play the highest pair in front.
3 of a kind:
1. If three Aces, play a pair of Aces behind and Ace high in front.
2. Otherwise, play the three of a kind behind and the remaining high cards in front.
Straight / Flush / Straight flush:
Set the back as whichever hand gives the better front.
2 pair:
Always split, unless:
1. Two pairs of 6s or below - don't split.
2. The hand contains an ace - play the ace behind.
3 pair:
Always play the highest pair in front.
3 of a kind:
1. If three Aces, play a pair of Aces behind and Ace high in front.
2. Otherwise, play the three of a kind behind and the remaining high cards in front.
Straight / Flush / Straight flush:
Set the back as whichever hand gives the better front.
Low-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
If you're low-risk, your strategy is simple! Play at either Spin Palace or Ruby Fortune and use the House Way button.
You'll not have to make any decisions and you'll be playing in a way
that minimises your losses. It's the best way to get familiar with the
game, without risking too much!
And if you're a bonus hunter, their 100% match bonuses are only subject to 65x playthrough requirements on Pai Gow Poker. For more information, check out our bonuses page.
Medium-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
Once you're familiar with the game, you'll want to start taking more of a risk. This involves learning our Optimal Pai Gow Strategy and using it to set your hands.
If you've mastered the strategy, you'll love playing Pai Gow Poker
at Bodog casino. The game is slick and fast and at Bodog
Pai Gow is subject to only 15x playthrough requirements.
You'll also get a 10% bonus on your 1st deposit!
If you haven't yet mastered the strategy, you should use the House Way button to make a suggestion, but then make your own decision on how to set the hands. In that case, you want to play at a casino that doesn't automatically play the hand once it's been set. So our recommendation would be either Spin Palace or Ruby Fortune.
In both cases, you can use the House Way, check the hand once
it's been set and then decide for yourself if you wish to take a risk,
change it and play it your way! With Expert mode allowing you the
option to Flip the cards and Peek at your own, you'll feel like you
have much more control over the way you play the game.
If you're low-risk, your strategy is simple! Play at either Spin Palace or Ruby Fortune and use the House Way button.
You'll not have to make any decisions and you'll be playing in a way
that minimises your losses. It's the best way to get familiar with the
game, without risking too much!
And if you're a bonus hunter, their 100% match bonuses are only subject to 65x playthrough requirements on Pai Gow Poker. For more information, check out our bonuses page.
Medium-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
Once you're familiar with the game, you'll want to start taking more of a risk. This involves learning our Optimal Pai Gow Strategy and using it to set your hands.
If you've mastered the strategy, you'll love playing Pai Gow Poker
at Bodog casino. The game is slick and fast and at Bodog
Pai Gow is subject to only 15x playthrough requirements.
You'll also get a 10% bonus on your 1st deposit!
If you haven't yet mastered the strategy, you should use the House Way button to make a suggestion, but then make your own decision on how to set the hands. In that case, you want to play at a casino that doesn't automatically play the hand once it's been set. So our recommendation would be either Spin Palace or Ruby Fortune.
In both cases, you can use the House Way, check the hand once
it's been set and then decide for yourself if you wish to take a risk,
change it and play it your way! With Expert mode allowing you the
option to Flip the cards and Peek at your own, you'll feel like you
have much more control over the way you play the game.
Practice for free
These strategies can seem complex at first, but with practice they become second nature.
But no-one wants to waste money learning a new game. So, we've linked up with Bodog and Spin Palace to give you free versions of Pai Gow Poker AND Bonus Pai Gow Poker that you can play without registering, without depositing, without risking any money at all!
To play, click on this link and Play Pai Gow Poker for free.
These strategies can seem complex at first, but with practice they become second nature.
But no-one wants to waste money learning a new game. So, we've linked up with Bodog and Spin Palace to give you free versions of Pai Gow Poker AND Bonus Pai Gow Poker that you can play without registering, without depositing, without risking any money at all!
To play, click on this link and Play Pai Gow Poker for free.
1. Optimal Pai Gow strategy
Strategy for most hands
The temptation for players of Pai Gow poker is to see hands in straight poker terms. The secret to winning Pai Gow poker is in remembering that you have to win both hands in order to win the bet. The player's basic strategy in Pai Gow poker is therefore to set the two-card hand (front) as high as possible, whilst still leaving a higher five-card hand (back).
If this isn't possible, and would leave you with two weak hands, set a 'stopper' or 'blocker' by setting the back hand as high as possible and leave a weak front hand. This won't win, but will hopefully stop the bank winning, giving you a chance to bet again.
If your hand is just single cards (ie nothing - no pairs, straights, flushes) all you can do is set your 2nd and 3rd highest cards as the front.
If you have a single pair, put the highest two single cards as your two-card hand eg if your hand is K,10,10,9,5,3,2, split them into K,9 and 10,10,5,3,2.
This strategy will cover the majority of hands you'll be dealt
and is a good way to get to grips with the basics of the game.
Strategy for most hands
The temptation for players of Pai Gow poker is to see hands in straight poker terms. The secret to winning Pai Gow poker is in remembering that you have to win both hands in order to win the bet. The player's basic strategy in Pai Gow poker is therefore to set the two-card hand (front) as high as possible, whilst still leaving a higher five-card hand (back).
If this isn't possible, and would leave you with two weak hands, set a 'stopper' or 'blocker' by setting the back hand as high as possible and leave a weak front hand. This won't win, but will hopefully stop the bank winning, giving you a chance to bet again.
If your hand is just single cards (ie nothing - no pairs, straights, flushes) all you can do is set your 2nd and 3rd highest cards as the front.
If you have a single pair, put the highest two single cards as your two-card hand eg if your hand is K,10,10,9,5,3,2, split them into K,9 and 10,10,5,3,2.
This strategy will cover the majority of hands you'll be dealt
and is a good way to get to grips with the basics of the game.
2. The House Way
The House Way is the set of instructions each casino gives its dealers on how to set their seven card hands. Most online casinos offer a House Way button so that you can automatically take advantage of this set of rules.
What's important here is understanding that the House Way isn't set to win all the time, but to keep losses down so that the casino wins in the long term. In other words, the House Way is a safety option, probably best suited to new players
and low-risk punters.
Another important point is that some House Way buttons automatically play the hand once it's set. Others (Spin Palace, Ruby Fortune) set the hand but give you the option of whether to play it that way or not. This may not seem much but it affects your overall strategy.
3. The Bonus bet
If you bet on the bonus, then you'll win up to 8000 times your stake if your seven cards contain a bonus hand (Straight or above). The payouts are big, but don't come anywhere near the odds against, so the house edge is substantial.
This won't suit low and medium risk punters. However, if you're a high-roller, and prepared to take the risk, the Bonus bet adds enormously to the fun and excitement of Pai Gow Poker.
It's the way we play!
The House Way is the set of instructions each casino gives its dealers on how to set their seven card hands. Most online casinos offer a House Way button so that you can automatically take advantage of this set of rules.
What's important here is understanding that the House Way isn't set to win all the time, but to keep losses down so that the casino wins in the long term. In other words, the House Way is a safety option, probably best suited to new players
and low-risk punters.
Another important point is that some House Way buttons automatically play the hand once it's set. Others (Spin Palace, Ruby Fortune) set the hand but give you the option of whether to play it that way or not. This may not seem much but it affects your overall strategy.
3. The Bonus bet
If you bet on the bonus, then you'll win up to 8000 times your stake if your seven cards contain a bonus hand (Straight or above). The payouts are big, but don't come anywhere near the odds against, so the house edge is substantial.
This won't suit low and medium risk punters. However, if you're a high-roller, and prepared to take the risk, the Bonus bet adds enormously to the fun and excitement of Pai Gow Poker.
It's the way we play!
Full house:
Set the three of a kind behind and the pair in front.
2 sets of 3-of-a-kind:
Split the higher set into a pair and a single - play the pair in front and play the smaller 3-of-a-kind behind. For example, with K,K,K,10,10,10,5 you should play K,K and 10,10,10,K,5.
Four of a kind:
1. If 2 to 6, play it behind.
2. If 7 to 10, split into pairs, unless a pair or an ace and a face card can be played in front.
3. If J to K, split into pairs, unless the hand also contains a pair of 10s or higher.
4. If Aces, split into pairs, unless a pair of 4s or higher can be played in front.
Royal flush:
1. Play behind.
2. If Royal flush with two pair, split as per two pair rule.
3. Split, if an A, K or a pair can be played in front and a straight or flush behind.
Five Aces:
1. Split, unless a pair of Ks can be played in front.
Set the three of a kind behind and the pair in front.
2 sets of 3-of-a-kind:
Split the higher set into a pair and a single - play the pair in front and play the smaller 3-of-a-kind behind. For example, with K,K,K,10,10,10,5 you should play K,K and 10,10,10,K,5.
Four of a kind:
1. If 2 to 6, play it behind.
2. If 7 to 10, split into pairs, unless a pair or an ace and a face card can be played in front.
3. If J to K, split into pairs, unless the hand also contains a pair of 10s or higher.
4. If Aces, split into pairs, unless a pair of 4s or higher can be played in front.
Royal flush:
1. Play behind.
2. If Royal flush with two pair, split as per two pair rule.
3. Split, if an A, K or a pair can be played in front and a straight or flush behind.
Five Aces:
1. Split, unless a pair of Ks can be played in front.
STRATEGY
Pai Gow Poker strategy
PRACTICE
GAMBLING SYSTEMS
RECOMMENDED
BONUSES
DEPOSITING
Which casino is best for Pai Gow Poker?
There are lots of options to consider when choosing your casino for Pai Gow Poker - do they have Bonus/Fortune, is there a House Way button, is Pai Gow eligible for a bonus and what's the wagering requirement?
To help you decide where to play, we've put together an easy to understand table showing all these options for our recommended casinos.
Find the best place to play Pai Gow on our Pai Gow Poker casinos page.
There are lots of options to consider when choosing your casino for Pai Gow Poker - do they have Bonus/Fortune, is there a House Way button, is Pai Gow eligible for a bonus and what's the wagering requirement?
To help you decide where to play, we've put together an easy to understand table showing all these options for our recommended casinos.
Find the best place to play Pai Gow on our Pai Gow Poker casinos page.
Essential information for playing at online casinos: Casino reviews | Casino Bonuses | Casino deposit guide
Pai Gow at Ruby Fortune
Bonus bet - win up to 8000x stake
Expert mode
Auto-play - tailor the game to suit
House Way available
Expert mode
Auto-play - tailor the game to suit
House Way available
Ruby Fortune Casino offers a fantastic version of Bonus Pai Gow Poker. Using
'expert' mode you can tailor the auto-play system to suit your style. The House Way is
always available, and if you're a high-rolling Pai Gow player, you'll want to take
advantage of the bonus bet and get the chance to win 8000 times your bet!
'expert' mode you can tailor the auto-play system to suit your style. The House Way is
always available, and if you're a high-rolling Pai Gow player, you'll want to take
advantage of the bonus bet and get the chance to win 8000 times your bet!
Win up to 8000 times your stake
Pai Gow Poker strategy - basics
Learning how to win at Pai Gow Poker comes down to understanding three basic elements and combining them to suit your own personal style:
1. Optimal Pai Gow strategy - general rules for setting any seven card hand;
2. The House Way - the way the casino instructs its dealers to set their hands;
3. The Bonus bet - betting on your hand, regardless of how you set it.
We explain each of these in detail below, and put them together into three strategies:
Low-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
Medium-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
Higher-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
Learning how to win at Pai Gow Poker comes down to understanding three basic elements and combining them to suit your own personal style:
1. Optimal Pai Gow strategy - general rules for setting any seven card hand;
2. The House Way - the way the casino instructs its dealers to set their hands;
3. The Bonus bet - betting on your hand, regardless of how you set it.
We explain each of these in detail below, and put them together into three strategies:
Low-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
Medium-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
Higher-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
Higher-risk Pai Gow Poker strategy
If you're a high roller, then you should be playing Bonus Pai Gow Poker at either Spin Palace or Ruby Fortune. The 'normal' game can seem a little slow, like you're grinding out a small, steady profit. This is fine for lower risk punters, but it won't suit you!
The odds against getting a Royal Flush in your seven cards are 6000-1. Imagine getting that and being paid out even money less commission? With Bonus Pai Gow you'd be getting back 150 to 1 on your bonus stake.
So, double your bets - place the same on the bonus bet as you place
on your basic, then play with the added thrill of knowing that
regardless of how you play, if you get lucky, you'll get rewarded!
At the end of the day, isn't that why you gamble?!
If you're a high roller, then you should be playing Bonus Pai Gow Poker at either Spin Palace or Ruby Fortune. The 'normal' game can seem a little slow, like you're grinding out a small, steady profit. This is fine for lower risk punters, but it won't suit you!
The odds against getting a Royal Flush in your seven cards are 6000-1. Imagine getting that and being paid out even money less commission? With Bonus Pai Gow you'd be getting back 150 to 1 on your bonus stake.
So, double your bets - place the same on the bonus bet as you place
on your basic, then play with the added thrill of knowing that
regardless of how you play, if you get lucky, you'll get rewarded!
At the end of the day, isn't that why you gamble?!
