Pai Gow two pair strategies

Pai gow is a card game less intense than other casino card games like poker or blackjack. The rules make it a slow game and give more importance to the split action. The outcome of the game can be influenced by the way the seven cards are split. Mostly, the decision is very easy to take and the two hands are obvious. The most difficult decision is the two pair situation.

All casinos have their own splitting strategy when it comes to two pairs. The question is whether to split the pairs or not. Usually the casino’s strategy looks like this:

- Two low pairs (2-6): split except in case of holding a king or ace;
- A low pair (2-6) and one medium (7-10): split but only if not holding a kink or an ace;
- A low pair(2-6)  and a high pair(7-10): unless holding an ace must be split;
- Two medium pairs (7-10): split except having an ace;
- A medium pair (7-10) and a high pair (J-K): split;
- Two high pairs (J-K): split;
- A pair of aces and any other kind of pair must be split.

This is a safe strategy that every player can use while playing Pai Gow.

Another good strategy, but shorter and easier to use requires splitting the two pairs except two situations:

- The sum of the two pair ranks is less or equal to 9 and you also hold a king or an ace:
- The sum of the two pair ranks is less or equal to 15 and you have an ace.

In this strategy the pair rang is the number written on the card. For example a pair of 3 and a pair of 10 must be split unless you hold an ace because 3+10= 13. For the face cards and aces this strategy uses their poker value.

If you want to try these Pai Gow strategies you can do it online at most major casinos including This is Vegas, Europa Casino and Sun Palace.