Play Pai Gow Poker: Probabilities & Payouts

The house way is defined as the manner in which casinos require dealer’s split their hands. It determines odds for each on-land and online casino game.

In terms of online gambling, house ways vary from one online casino game site to the next, thus exacting different online Pai Gow Poker odds. Looking at house ways is a good means of understanding basic Pai Gow Poker probabilities and estimating your online Pai Gow Poker payouts.

Pai Gow Poker Odds: Front & Back Hands

Remember, the five card hand MUST be better than the two card hand, so the general idea is to have the back be good, but not so good that it keeps the front from having a shot at winning.
If there’s no pair, a typical house way will put the highest card in the back, while putting the next two highest in the front.
A pair is similarly simple: the pair goes in the back and the next two highest in the front.
Two pair is where it gets difficult. Some house ways will always put the two pair in the back. Others determine placement based on the strength of the pairs. Two high pairs such as Kings and Jacks may be strong enough to each win individually. In these cases, the house way may split them, putting the Jacks in front and Kings in back.
With three pair, the house way will likely put the highest pair in front and let the strength of the two pair carry the back. Three of a kind almost always stays in back. In rare cases, a casino may break up three aces, putting one in front and two in back. A full house will almost always be put in back, and when there are two pairs in addition to three of a kind, the highest always goes up front.
Flushes, straights, and straight flushes will always be put in the back by the house way unless there is a potential for two pair. In most versions of Pai Gow Poker casino games, two pair will only be played if there is an Ace outside the two pair, or one of the pairs is of aces. Where there is a choice between making a straight flush in the back or a standard straight flush, the decision will depend on whichever leaves a hand of around Jack or higher in the front.
For four of a kind, the general rule is that pairs of 6 or below will be kept together and seven and above will be split.

Understanding the House Way in Pai Gow Poker Odds

Though the house way appears fairly complex, it is a system that can improve your Pai Gow Poker payouts if properly understood. Two pair, for example, generally presents the most difficult decision.

Fortunately, there is an easy-to-remember Pai Gow Poker odds formula for splitting pairs that shaves .04% off the house edge:

** Split two pair unless the sum of the paired cards is 9 or less and you have a king or ace to put in the front

** if the sum of the paired cards is 15 or less and you have an ace to put in the front.

Some online casinos have a button that lets you automatically split your hands according to the house way. This can be great for those who are just beginning to play Pai Gow Poker. Over time, however, you’ll develop your own preferred variations on the House Way.

The House Way is not perfect strategy, so feel free to play with your gut a little bit on borderline cases.