Skip to main content

Pai Gow Poker Tips

Rachel Elam | August 19, 2020 | Updated on: January 7th, 2021

best pai gow poker tipsPai Gow Poker is a variation of poker derived from the Chinese domino game that has been around since the 1980s. The game puts a new spin on standard poker with players needing to build two winning poker hands.

This real money game is extremely popular with US players. Thus, many players are on the hunt for pai gow poker tips to help them beat the dealer the next time they play for real money.

Then, we also list all of the best online casinos for poker games below. So, what are you waiting for? Start playing online today!

Best Pai Gow Poker Casinos

1
 
cafe casino
$5500 Bonus
7.9
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Unfilled star
$5,500 BONUS
Play Now Cafe Casino
Rating: 4/5
List item
  • 24/7 live chat and telephone customer service
List item
  • Play on any mobile and desktop device
List item
  • Bitcoin supported
2
 
wild casino
$5000 Bonus
9.8
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star
$5,000 BONUS
Play Now Wild Casino
Rating: 4/5
Our Top Choice
List item
  • 90% Cost coverage, no annual limit
List item
  • Easy, straightforward claims process
List item
  • No annual or lifetime limits
3
 
High Country Casino
$5000 Bonus
8.2
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Unfilled star
$5,000 BONUS
Play Now High Country
Rating: 5/5
List item
  • Great selection of casino games
List item
  • Wide variety and selection of bonuses
List item
  • All licensed vets are covered
4
 
Vegas Aces
$5000 Bonus
7.6
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Unfilled star
$5000 BONUS
Play Now Vegas Aces
Rating: 5/5
List item
  • 24/7 customer support available
List item
  • SSL encryption
List item
  • Proven fair by TST
5
 
Lucky hippo casino
$3000 Bonus
9.4
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Half-filled star
$3,000 BONUS
Play Now Lucky Hippo Casino
Rating: 4/5
List item
  • Up to 90% reimbursement
List item
  • VetConnect™ 24/7 helpline
List item
  • Save 40% for eligible multiple bets
6
 
sun palace casino
$10000 Bonus
7.1
Fully filled star Fully filled star Fully filled star Half-filled star Unfilled star
$10,000 BONUS
Play Now Sun Palace
Rating: 4/5
List item
  • Great range of RTG slot machines.
List item
  • Reliable and experienced gaming operator.
List item
  • Networked RTG progressive jackpots.

What is Pai Gow Poker?

Beginners may think that their chance of winning in this casino game is much higher than other versions of poker. After all, Pai Gow Poker rules do not allow for a draw or community pool. But quite the opposite is true. The table game requires you to be strategic in the face of pressure.

Another reason this game is so popular is that the pai gow poker house edge is relatively low. This means that you have a great opportunity to win with the right tips and strategies. To help you out, we have listed some of our top tips for both beginners and experts. You are guaranteed to improve your game if you use them.

We assume that if you found this page that you probably know something about the game. But, you never really know, so, before we get into it all, we think that it is important to explain a little bit more about Pai Gow Poker.

Pai Gow Poker is a relatively easy game to learn but it can be very difficult to get really good at it. The game uses a deck of 52 cards plus one joker, which is one of the two rules that sets it apart from other games. The joker acts as a wild that can be used to complete hands.

The second major rule that differentiates it from other poker games is that you need to build two hands. A big hand (also known as a high hand or back hand) and the small hand (minor hand or front hand).

The big hand consists of five cards and you aim to build standard poker hands with it. However, the small hand consists of two cards, and the best hand is a pair.

One thing to note is that your big hand always needs to have a higher rank than your small hand. This means that if your best hand is a high card, it needs to be in the big hand.

The player wins the game if both hands are better than the dealers. The player loses if both hands are worse than the dealer or the game ends in a tie.

However, if the end of the game sees you with one hand better than the dealer, the game is pushed. A good way to look at it is that if the result is not a player win or push, the dealer wins that hand.

pai gow poker tips

5 Winning Pai Gow Poker Tips

1.          Understand the Game Rules

Knowing and understanding the rules of the game is the essential tip for any casino game, including pai gow poker. This prevents you from struggling with how the game works, especially when you know the basics of the game. What’s more, the game differs from the standard poker game so, the same rules will not apply here.

2.          Be careful of how you split the pairs

If you have a hand with two pair, it is always best to split them. However, how you split them is very important because you will be reducing the house edge, giving you a good return. To be able to do the split correctly, you will have to look at your strategies. You can check if the strategy will work by playing the game for free first.

3.          Play the Banker

This option is only applicable if you have a big enough bankroll. The banker has the best odds, but you will have to cover the bets of everyone else on the table. Hence why you need a big bankroll.

4.          Aim for a Balanced Hand

Since you will be playing with two hands, you must make sure that both the hands give you an optimal chance of winning. Don’t concentrate only on the one hand. What’s more, you have to make sure that there is a good balance between the two hands.

5.          Play the High Ranking Three Pair

If you happen to have a three pair, play it as your front hand. However, make sure that your backhand is also strong. If you happen to have the three pair as the only strong hand, rather play it at the back and put your high cards in front.

Pai Gow Poker Tips and Tricks: Conclusion

Pai gow poker is a fun casino game to play, especially when you have the skills to play it. However, it does not mean that beginner players can miss out on the game because if the lack of skill. It is for this reason that we have put together the pai gow poker tips guide to help. You can also play the game for free to get the feel of it. Another pai gow tip is that not all casinos offer the game. So, when searching for a website that provides the game, make sure it is safe and regulated.