| Although two pairs are the most common hands that | | | | lucky six-card straight then two-card the highest card |
| come up in Pai Gow there are mistakes made even | | | | in the straight to strengthen your two hand. Likewise, |
| with some of the more lucrative hands. Drawing three | | | | keep a flush together and if you draw a six or seven |
| pairs is always a pleasant surprise and usually the best | | | | card flush (I wish) then two-card the highest cards of |
| way to play this is by two-carding the highest pair, | | | | the flush without ruining the five-card flush that remains. |
| which means to use the high pair for you two-card | | | | A dilemma arises if you draw a straight and a pair |
| hand. By doing this you make the most of your two | | | | where one of the pair cards is required for the straight. |
| card hand while retaining a hard-to beat five card hand. | | | | Now what? Contrary to what you might think you |
| Don't forget - to win (or lose) requires winning both the | | | | should split a straight that runs from 10-ace if the pair |
| five card and the two card hand. | | | | you can make is 10s or higher. However, the trick is to |
| Three of a kind is a hand that is often misplayed by | | | | five-card the pair and put your two highest other cards |
| inexperienced players. The idea is to make the most | | | | for your two hand. If however you have any other |
| of you two-card hand while still winning the five-card | | | | lowers straight then keep the straight in the five hand |
| hand. This all depends on the three of a kind that you | | | | and play the next best cards for your two hand. |
| have. If you have three aces split off a pair for the | | | | As mentioned above you almost never want to break |
| two-card hand and keep the third for you five-card. | | | | up a flush to make a pair because the flush is such a |
| You now have a very strong two-hand and an ace in | | | | strong hand. There is however a justifiable cause for |
| the five-card is always useful too. If you have three | | | | breaking up a flush under the right circumstances. If |
| kings the also two-card a pair of kings unless you also | | | | you can form a pair of 9s or better and an ace-jack |
| have a single ace, a queen, or a 10-Jack combination | | | | combination or better by breaking up the flush then do |
| as well. If you have three queens or less then always | | | | it. Keep the pair for the five hand and two-card the |
| five-card your three of a kind. | | | | high combination. This gives you stronger hands overall |
| A straight of course should always be kept together | | | | instead of concentrating all of you strength into just the |
| because it is such a strong hand to play. If you have a | | | | five hand (by playing the flush there). |