Pai Gow Strategy

Although two pairs are the most common hands thatlucky six-card straight then two-card the highest card
come up in Pai Gow there are mistakes made evenin the straight to strengthen your two hand. Likewise,
with some of the more lucrative hands. Drawing threekeep a flush together and if you draw a six or seven
pairs is always a pleasant surprise and usually the bestcard 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-cardA dilemma arises if you draw a straight and a pair
hand. By doing this you make the most of your twowhere 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 theshould 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 byfive-card the pair and put your two highest other cards
inexperienced players. The idea is to make the mostfor your two hand. If however you have any other
of you two-card hand while still winning the five-cardlowers straight then keep the straight in the five hand
hand. This all depends on the three of a kind that youand play the next best cards for your two hand.
have. If you have three aces split off a pair for theAs 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 instrong hand. There is however a justifiable cause for
the five-card is always useful too. If you have threebreaking up a flush under the right circumstances. If
kings the also two-card a pair of kings unless you alsoyou can form a pair of 9s or better and an ace-jack
have a single ace, a queen, or a 10-Jack combinationcombination or better by breaking up the flush then do
as well. If you have three queens or less then alwaysit. 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 togetherinstead of concentrating all of you strength into just the
because it is such a strong hand to play. If you have afive hand (by playing the flush there).