Strategy

Now the complexity of Pai Gow really shows. For the sake of discussion, let’s call any pair of 2's through 6's a "low pair", 7's through J's a "medium pair", and Q's through A's a "high pair". To avoid confusion we'll call the two-card hand the "front" hand and the five-card the "back" hand.

1.) No Pair:

• Back: the highest card; Front: the next two highest cards.

2.) One pair:

• Back: the pair; Front: next two highest cards.

3.) Two Pair:

• Pair of A's and any other Pair: Back: high pair; Front: other pair.
• Two High Pair: Back: best pair; Front: other pair.
• High Pair and Medium Pair: Back: high pair; Front: medium pair.
• High Pair and Low Pair with A or K: Back: both pair; Front: A or K.
• High Pair and Low pair without A or K: Back: highest pair; Front: low pair.
• Two Medium Pair with A or K: Back: both pair; Front: A or K.
• Two Medium Pair without A or K: Back: best pair; Front: other pair.
• Medium Pair and Low Pair with A or K: Back: both pair; Front: A or K.
• Medium Pair and Low Pair without A or K: Back: medium pair; Front: low pair.
• Two Low Pair with A or K: Back: both pair; Front: A or K.
• Two Low Pair without A or K: Back: best pair; Front other pair.

4.) Three Pair:

• Back: second and third highest pair; Front: highest pair.

5.) Three of a Kind:

• Three A's: Back: pair of A's; Front: A and next highest card.
• All others: Back: three of a kind; Front: two highest remaining cards.

6.) Three of a Kind twice:

• Back: lower three of a kind; Front: highest pair.

7.) Full House:

• With second Three of a kind: play the highest pair to Front hand.
• With second Pair: Back: full house with low pair; Front: highest pair.
• Pair is 2's with A or K: Back: full house; Front: A or K.
• All others: Back: three of a kind; Front: the pair.

8.) Straights, Flushes, Straight Flushes and Royal Flush:

• With no pair: Back: lowest full hand; Front: two highest cards.
• With one or two Pair: Back: lowest full hand; Front: two highest cards, pair or otherwise.
• With Three of a Kind: Back: full hand; Front: pair.
• With Full House: Back: three of a kind; Front: pair.
• With Three of a Kind twice: Back: lower three; Front: highest two.

9.) Four of a Kind:

• With Three of a Kind: Back: four of a kind; Front: pair from the three of a kind.
• With a Pair: Back: four of a kind; Front: pair.
• Four A's: Back: pair of A's; Front: pair of A's.
• J's through K's with an A: Back: four of a kind; Front: the A.
• J's through K's without an A: Back: one pair from the four; Front: the other pair.
• 7's through 10's with A or K: Back: four of a kind; Front: A or K.
• 7's through 10's without A or K: Back: one pair from the four; front: the other pair.
• 2's through 6's: Back: four of a kind; front: highest remaining two.