Pai Gow is traditionally a Chinese game played with dominoes. The western version of the game is integrated with poker and is also called double-handed poker. It is usually played with six players and a dealer. The goal is to defeat the banker, who can be another player or the dealer.
Pai Gow poker involves a deck of 53 cards that includes the joker. Jokers are also used to make a Flush, a Straight, or as an Ace. The game is played on a one to one basis, where players compete to create a better hand. Here are a few tips to keep in mind to improve your performance.
Bank at every opportunity
It is ideal to bank whenever you can while playing the game. When hands get copied, the bank wins tilting the odds about 2% in your favor. This is a great way to weigh the winning odds in your favor. But banking often requires a large bankroll that covers all the players’ wagers. Some casinos allow you to share the responsibility of being a banker, lowering the costs if your hand fails.
You should place maximum bets while banking and do the opposite when you are not banking. When you bank, bet between six and 14 times the amount. Short term losses are common, but odds get evened out in the long term. Finding a table with only a dealer is ideal as you can bank every alternate hand (banking twice in a row is now allowed).
Avoid playing a full house
Never play the upper hand with a full house. Doing this leaves an easy high card for the next hand, meaning he is most likely to push the hand. Playing three cards of a kind is ideal for a behind hand, while two similar cards should be played for a forward hand. These hands increase your chances of winning considerably.
Ask for assistance
If you feel confused or stuck at any point, you can always seek help from the dealer in a live casino game or from customer support. This will give you access to the standard rules called “house ways”. Being able to ask for assistance is unique to Pai Gow and is one of the main reasons for its popularity.
Don’t forget the two card hand
Players who are not very experienced in the Pai Gow often overlook the fact that two card hands are as vital as five card hands. Beginners often try to build up five card hand at the cost of excluding the forward cards. Finding good combinations that provide ideal odds to win two card and five card hands is ideal. It should always be kept in mind that the behind hand is stronger than the front hand.
Play with three pairs
If you get three pairs, the most suitable move would be to use the highest pair to play a two card hand. To increase your winning odds it is ideal to play with the highest pair against any potential pair the dealer might have.
