Pai Gow House Way Guide

One way casinos maintain their advantage in Pai Gow is by ensuring that dealers play the “House Way.” Pai Gow House Way refers to the specific patterns in which dealers must arrange their cards to form the strongest possible two-hand combination. If the cards are not set according to the House Way, the dealer has to reset. Luckily, you can also benefit from this rule. You can request the dealer help you set your hand according to the House Way.

For a clearer understanding of Pai Gow House Way, we will go through each of the game’s poker hand rankings and describe the best approach for setting each hand.

Pai Gow Poker House Way for Setting Winning Hands

The maximum number of cards you can receive in Pai Gow is seven, from which you must form a winning hand. From the weakest to the strongest, here is how to arrange Pai Gow Poker hands the “House Way.”

No Pair

Combine the card of the highest value in the high hand with the second and third highest ranked cards for the low hand. Example: A, K, Q, 10, 7, 6, 5 → high hand: A, 10, 7, 6, 5; low hand: K, Q.

One Pair

Position the pair as the high hand and use the two highest-ranking remaining cards in the low hand. Example: A, J, 7, 8, 5, 2, 2 → high hand: 2, 2, 7, 8, 5; low hand: A, J.

Two Pair

Two pair introduce some specific “House Way” rules.

2's through to 6's are Low Pair
7's through to 10's are Medium Pair
Jacks through to Aces are High Pair

When you have a pair of Aces and any other pair, always split, play Aces in the low hand and the other pair in the high hand.

Example: A, A, 2, 2, x, x, x → high hand: A, A, x, x, x; low hand: 2, 2

When you have a high pair (K's, Q's, or J's) with any other pair, split the two pair. The exception is if the second pair is 5s, 4s, or 2s AND you also hold an Ace, in that case, keep both pair together in the high hand and play the Ace with another card in the low hand.

Example: J, J, 5, 5, A, x, x → high hand: J, J, 5, 5, x; low hand: A, x

When you have two medium pairs (any combination of 7s, 8s, 9s, or 10s with a pair of 9s or below), split the pairs, unless you also hold an Ace. In that case, keep both pairs together in the high hand and play the Ace in the low hand.

Example: 10, 10, 9, 9, A, x, x → high hand: 10, 10, 9, 9, x; low hand: A, x.

When you have a high pair with a high pair, split

When you have any two low pairs (any combination of 6s, 5s, 4s, 3s, or 2s), never split keep both pair together in the high hand and play your two highest remaining cards in the low hand.

Example: 6, 6, 5, 5, x, x, x → high hand: 6, 6, 5, 5, x; low hand: x, x.

Note: Pai Gow House Way for two pair can vary from one casino to another. Therefore, it's okay to ask the dealer.

Three Pair

If you are dealt three pairs, always play the highest pair in the low hand and the two remaining pairs in the high hand.

Example: A, A, 10, 10, 2, 2, x → high hand: 10, 10, 2, 2, x; low hand: A, A.

3 of a Kind

Three of a kind is a strong hand. Always keep the three of a kind together in the high hand with one exception: always split three Aces (play a pair of Aces in the high hand and a single Ace in the low hand). If you are dealt two sets of three of a kind, keep the lower three of a kind in the high hand and split the higher three of a kind (two of them go in the low hand as a pair).

Example: A, A, A, 2, 2, 2, x → high hand: 2, 2, 2, A, x; low hand: A, A.

Straight

When you have a straight, keep it as the high hand. There are a few exceptions: With a 6card straight, play the highest card in the low hand and the remaining 5 card straight as the high hand. With a 6 card straight that has a pair at either end, play the pair in the low hand. Split the straight when you have a pair of J's, Q's, or K's with a pair of 6s or higher. Split the straight when you have a pair of Aces with any other pair. When the straight includes two pair with an Ace kicker, follow the Two Pair rule.

Flush

The House Way for a flush is similar to the rule for a straight. Keep the flush as the high hand. Exceptions: With a 6 card flush, play the highest card in the low hand. With a 6 card flush that contains a pair, play the pair in the low hand. If the hand contains an Ace or King that could be played in the low hand, choose the straight over the flush. Split a flush using the same rules as splitting a straight.

Full House

Always split a full house, play the three of a kind in the high hand and the pair in the low hand. The one exception: if the pair is 2s AND the hand also contains an Ace and a King, keep the full house together in the high hand and play the A-K in the low hand.

Example: 8, 8, 8, 2, 2, A, K → high hand: 8, 8, 8, 2, 2; low hand: A, K.

Four of a Kind

Four of a kind is a strong hand. The House Way depends on the rank: 2s through 6s: always keep the four of a kind together in the high hand. 7s through 10s: split into two pair, UNLESS the hand also contains an Ace or another pair, in which case keep the four of a kind together. Jacks, Queens, Kings, or Aces: split into two pair, UNLESS the other pair is 7s or higher, in which case keep the four of a kind together. When you have both four of a kind and three of a kind in the same hand, split the four of a kind and play the two pair (including the three of a kind's pair) to maximize the low hand.

Straight Flush

Split a straight flush using the same rules as splitting a straight. If the hand contains an Ace or King that could be played in the low hand, play the straight or the flush instead of the straight flush.

Royal Flush

Always keep a Royal flush as the high hand, except when you also have two pair of 10s or higher, in which case follow the Two Pair rule (split).

Five Aces

Five Aces (four Aces plus the Joker) is the strongest possible hand in Pai Gow Poker. Always split, play three Aces in the high hand and a pair of Aces in the low hand. The exception is when you also hold a pair of Kings: in that case, keep all five Aces together in the high hand and play the pair of Kings in the low hand.

Example: A, A, A, A, Joker, K, K → high hand: A, A, A, A, Joker; low hand: K, K.

Conclusion

Think of the Pai Gow House Way as a proven template for setting your seven cards into the strongest possible two-hand split.

Following these rules and remembering the exceptions for each hand type helps you play optimally and reduces the casino's edge over time. When in doubt, you can always ask the dealer to set your hand the House Way.

As always, keep in mind that every house is different, so make sure you know your house rules. The house way we referenced for this article can be found here, and it is the house way Heather Ferris dealt when working as a casino dealer in Las Vegas.