How to Play Pai Gow Poker Online : A Beginners Guide

Pai Gow Poker Hand Rankings

Pai Gow Poker uses two different ranking systems since you are making two separate hands. Your five-card hand follows standard poker rankings, while your two-card hand has much simpler rules. Mastering both ranking systems is essential before you start playing for real money.

The key difference from regular poker is that you are not just making the best possible hand. You are making the best two hands that work together strategically.

Five-Card Hand Rankings

Your five-card hand follows traditional poker rankings from highest to lowest. Five aces sits at the top, followed by royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and high card.

One unique rule in Pai Gow Poker affects straights. A-2-3-4-5 ranks as the second-highest straight, not the lowest. This means the wheel straight beats any other straight except A-K-Q-J-10.

Here are the complete rankings:

• Five aces
• Royal flush (A-K-Q-J-10 suited)
• Straight flush (five consecutive suited cards)
• Four of a kind
• Full house (three of a kind plus a pair)
• Flush (five cards of the same suit)
• Straight (five consecutive cards)
• Three of a kind
• Two pair
• One pair
• High card

Five aces is a very rare hand. It occurs about once every 140,000 hands. In most cases, the aces should be split into three aces in the high hand and two aces in the low hand. If there is a side bet bonus on five aces, it pays, even when the hand is split between high and low. This rule applies to all other bonus hands. 

Two-Card Hand Rankings

Your two-card hand has only two possible rankings: pairs and high cards. A pair of aces represents the strongest two-card hand, while 2-3 is the weakest. Any pair beats any high card combination.

When comparing high card hands, you look at the highest card first, then the second card if needed. For example, A-K beats A-Q, and K-Q beats K-J.

How to Set Your Pai Gow Poker Hands

Setting your hands correctly separates Pai Gow Poker from pure luck games like slots. You must balance creating strong hands while ensuring your five-card hand always outranks your two-card hand. Poor hand-setting decisions cost you winnable situations.

The fundamental strategy involves playing defense rather than trying to create one monster hand. You want both hands to have reasonable strength to compete with the dealer’s hands.

Basic Hand-Setting Strategy

Your hand-setting approach depends entirely on what seven cards you receive. With no pairs, put your highest card in the two-card hand and arrange the remaining five cards by rank. With one pair, always keep the pair in your five-card hand and put your two highest remaining cards up front.

Two pair situations require more thought since you might split them or keep them together. Generally, split two pair unless you have very weak pairs or ways to make a stronger front hand. 

Here are the basic guidelines:

• No pair: Highest card in back, next two highest in front, lowest four in the back hand with the ace.
• One pair: Pair in back, two highest other cards in front
• Two pair: Usually split, but keep together if one pair is very weak
• Three of a kind: Keep together in back unless you have aces

Two Pair Rule

Two pair is the most difficult hand to play in Pai Gow Poker. There is no simple strategy for it. In general, if a player has two pair and also has a straight or flush, the two pair should be played and split between the high and low hand. The only exception is when a big hand can be played in the low while keeping a straight or flush intact. 

In other situations where two pair is the only available option, there is a rule to follow. The first step in those rules is determining low, middle, and high pairs.

• High: Jacks to aces
• Middle: 7s to 10s
• Low: 2s to 6s

Always split high pairs and any hand where one pair is aces. Always split high and middle pairs. Split two middle pairs unless an ace can be played in the front. That same rule applies when holding a high and low pair. When dealt a low and middle pair, or two low pairs, split unless an ace or king can be played in the front low hand. 

Other Common Hand-Setting Scenarios

Certain hand combinations appear frequently and require specific strategies. Full houses should almost always be split by moving the pair to your two-card hand. This creates a strong two-card hand while leaving three of a kind in back, which usually beats the dealer’s five-card hand. One exception is when a player has three of a kind with two sets of pairs. In that case, put the highest of the two sets in the low hand. If the pair in a full house is low, and an A-K or A-Q can be played in the front, play the full house together in the high hand. 

When you have three pairs, always put the strongest pair in the front low hand, and keep the two weakest pairs in back. With straights or flushes, keep them intact in your five-card hand unless you also have another way to play a strong hand in the front, like a two pair rule situation. 

Avoiding Fouled Hands

A fouled hand occurs when your two-card hand ranks higher than your five-card hand, resulting in an automatic loss regardless of the dealer’s cards. This mistake happens most often when players get excited about a strong two-card combination and forget to check their five-card hand strength.

Always double-check your hand arrangement before confirming your decision. On mobile devices at Hard Rock Bet Casino, take your time reviewing both hands since there’s no pressure from other players or dealers waiting. The software will not permit players to set fouled hands. Live casinos may require the player to forfeit a hand that is set improperly, though a warning is often given on the first offense. 

What Is the House Way in Pai Gow Poker?

The house way is a predetermined set of rules that dealers use to arrange their seven cards into two hands. This system ensures consistent play and removes any decision-making from the dealer’s role. Most casinos allow players to request that their hands be set using the house way as well.

Using the house way benefits beginners because it eliminates the pressure of making complex decisions while you’re learning. You’ll never foul a hand when using house way rules, and the strategy is mathematically sound for long-term play.

Pai Gow Poker Player Banking

Some retail casinos, but not online ones, permit players to bank traditional pai gow poker games. In card club states, this is often required by regulations. This means the opportunity to bank rotates counterclockwise around the table. If a player banks, they must be able to cover the table if they lose. The house dealer participates in the hand as if it were a player. The banker has an advantage in that they win all ties, known as copies, just as the house would when it banks. Player bankers pay a 5% commission on the net win from a hand.

Face Up Pai Gow Poker

Face Up Pai Gow Poker is common in retail casinos. It is a no-commission version of the game. The dealer sets the house hand first. This gives the players the advantage of knowing how to set their hands perfectly, as they know exactly what must be beaten. The dealer pushes all hands on an ace-high pai gow.

Start Playing Pai Gow Poker at Hard Rock Bet

Hard Rock Bet offers an ideal environment for learning and playing Pai Gow Poker. The mobile-optimized interface makes hand-setting simple with clear graphics and intuitive controls. Lower minimum bets compared to retail casinos mean you can practice and play without risking large amounts while building your skills.

The game’s slower pace perfectly complements Hard Rock Bet’s entertainment-focused approach to online gaming. Longer sessions help you maximize your Unity by Hard Rock rewards while enjoying a more relaxed gaming experience compared to faster-paced options in the casino’s collection of over 3,600 games, including live dealer options.

Whether you’re taking a break from slots or looking for a strategic card game that does not require memorizing complex charts, Pai Gow Poker delivers authentic casino excitement with beginner-friendly gameplay.

FAQ about Pai Gow Poker

Below we’ve put together a few questions and answers about Pai Gow Poker.