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