Online Pai Gow Poker - Play the House Way
Online pai gow poker is one of those online casino games that you may have never played before the advent of online gaming. Pai gow poker in a casino can look a little intimidating, and many players in the past chose to opt for simpler looking games like blackjack or roulette.
However, pai gow poker is quite simple, and online pai gow poker can be learned and played in the comfort of your own home in a low stress environment. If you're going to play pai gow poker online, here's some basic strategy.House Way or the High Way
The simplest approach is to click the "house way" button on your screen. This will signal the computer to organize your five-card and two-card hands in what it thinks is the optimal way, the same way it organizes the dealer's hand. However, if you don't trust the house way or simply don't find letting the computer organize your hand to be as much fun, here are some ideas to remember. These are not exact, but close enough to optimal strategy to reduce house edge significantly.Making a Pai Gow Poker Hand
If you cannot make anything out of your hand, you should put the highest two possible cards in the front (the two-card hand). You cannot put the highest two cards since this violates the rule that the back hand must be stronger, so you will have to put the second highest two cards. If you have only one pair, you have to put it in the back hand, and should then put the two highest remaining cards in the front hand. You should not break up the pair.If you have two pairs, the stronger one goes in the back and the weaker goes in front. You should not keep two pair in the back unless your best pair is fives or lower and you can make a king-high front hand, or your best pair is eights or lower and you can make an ace-high front hand.
If you have three pairs, the highest pair goes in the front and the remaining two pair in the back. If you have three of a kind, it goes in the back. Unless it is aces, in which case give yourself a pair of aces in the back and ace high in the front. If you have three of a kind and a pair, the trips goes in the back and the pair goes in the front. If you have a full house and a pair, put the strongest pair in the front (not breaking up the three of a kind).
If you can make a straight or flush, you should do so, configuring the straight or flush so that you can put the best possible two cards in the front, while maintaining the straight or flush (or straight flush). If you have four of a kind, play it if it is quad fives or worse, but split into two pairs if it is higher than fives. That is, unless you can make an ace- or king-high front hand. With four aces, you should put a pair of aces in the front unless you have another pair to put in the front. If you have five aces (with the joker) put three in the back and two in the front.