Pai Gow Poker Strategy and Odds
Odds and House Edge
Different casinos may have slightly different variations as to how the dealer is forced to play the cards. The average house advantage is 1.2%. The following table shows the probability of getting dealt a specific hand in seven cards, regardless of how the player elects to separate the hands.
| Hand | Probability |
| Five Aces | 0.001% |
| Straight Flush | 0.14% |
| Four of a Kind | 0.20% |
| Full House | 2.71% |
| Flush | 4.00% |
| Straight | 7.29% |
| Three of a Kind | 4.85% |
| Two Pair | 23.07% |
| One Pair | 41.66% |
| Nothing | 16.08% |
Strategy for Play
Back = 5 card hand
Front = 2 card hand
NO PAIR: Use the highest card in the back and second and third highest in front
ONE PAIR: Place pair in back, highest other two cards in front.
TWO PAIR:
Big Pair is Jack thru Ace: Place small in front.
Big Pair is 7's thru 10's: Place both pairs in back if you can put Ace in front.
Big Pair is 2's thru 6's: Place both pairs in back if you can put King in front; otherwise split
THREE PAIR: Place big pair in front.
THREE OF A KIND:
Aces: Place an Ace and next highest card in front.
Kings and Below: Place three of a kind in back; two highest cards in front.
TWO SETS: Place pair from higher set in front.
STRAIGHT; FLUSH; STRAIGHT FLUSH:
With No Pair: Place two highest cards in front that leave a complete hand in back.
With One Pair: Place two highest cards possible (pair or no pair) in front that leave a complete hand in back.
With Two Pair: Use two pair strategy.
With Three of a Kind: Place complete hand in back, pair in front.
FULL HOUSE: Put pair in front.
FOUR OF A KIND:
Jacks thru Aces: Always split.
7's thru 10's: Place four of a kind in back if you can put Ace or King in front; otherwise split
6's or Below: Never split.
With a Pair: Play four of a kind in back; pair in front.
With Three of a Kind: Put highest pair in front; full house in back.
FIVE ACES: Place pair of Aces in front.
[source: about.com]