5 Strategies to Improve Your Pai Gow Poker Skills

Want to boost your Pai Gow Poker game and beat the dealer more consistently? We’ve got five key tips that will help you strategize—whether you’re playing standard or Face-Up Pai Gow. Best of all, you can test these tips in our free online trainer before hitting a live table.

1. Master Your 2-Card Hand

The biggest mistake beginners make is ignoring the impact of the two-card low hand. A strong low hand can secure half the battle if it beats the dealer’s low. Use our trainer to see how different splits affect your 5-card high hand and 2-card low hand together.

2. Understand the Joker

In Pai Gow Poker, the Joker acts primarily as an Ace, unless it can help complete a flush or straight. Practice leveraging it in our trainer to form crucial 5-card combos, or occasionally create a crucial pair up front in Face-Up Pai Gow.

3. Explore the House Way

Most casinos use a “house way” to set the dealer’s hands. In Face-Up Pai Gow, you can see this logic in action. By knowing how the house arranges pairs, straights, and flushes, you can predict their final layout and adjust yours for maximum edge.

4. Don’t Overlook Side Bets

Fortune bonus, Insurance, or other side bets can offer substantial payouts—even if the main hand pushes or loses. However, they come with higher house edges. Use our free online Pai Gow trainer to see how often you’d hit a 3-of-a-kind or better for the Fortune bet.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice

Ultimately, consistent success in Pai Gow Poker (especially Face-Up Pai Gow) comes from understanding probabilities and refining your hand-splitting strategy. Our trainer lets you practice for free, track your progress, and learn from each round without financial risk.

Adopt these five strategies, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a confident Pai Gow Poker player. Try our free trainer now and watch your skills skyrocket!