Pai Gow Poker Calculator: Set Your Hands Perfectly

Pai Gow Poker combines poker hand rankings with ancient Chinese tile game strategy. Our calculator shows optimal hand settings for any seven cards, following house way or advanced strategy to minimize the 2.84% house edge.

What Is Pai Gow Poker?

Pai Gow Poker deals seven cards, which you set into a five-card "high hand" and two-card "low hand." You must beat the dealer's both hands to win. One win each = push.

Quick Answer: Pai Gow Poker has a 2.84% house edge (1.46% with optimal strategy). The key is setting hands correctly—your high hand must outrank your low hand. About 41% of hands push, making it a low-variance casino game perfect for long sessions.

How to Use Our Pai Gow Calculator

Use the Pai Gow Poker Calculator →

Enter your seven cards to see optimal high and low hand settings.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Enter Your Cards: Input all seven cards dealt

2. Include Joker: If dealt, it's a semi-wild card

3. View Optimal Setting: See recommended high and low hands

4. Compare to House Way: Check against casino strategy

5. Understand Why: Learn the strategic reasoning

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Cards	Your seven cards	A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♥ 10♦ 5♣ 3♦
Joker	If dealt	Yes/No
High Hand	Five cards	A♠ K♠ Q♠ J♥ 10♦
Low Hand	Two cards	5♣ 3♦
Strategy	Setting approach	House Way

Pai Gow Poker Basics

Game Flow

1. Receive seven cards (including joker possibility)
2. Set into 5-card high hand and 2-card low hand
3. High hand MUST beat low hand in poker rankings
4. Compare both hands to dealer's
5. Win both = win; lose both = lose; split = push

The Joker

The joker in Pai Gow is semi-wild:

• In straights/flushes: Completes the hand
• Otherwise: Counts as an ace

Example:

• Joker + 10♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ = Straight flush (joker = J♠ or 6♠)
• Joker + K♣ K♦ = Three kings (joker = ace... wait, no—counts as pair of aces)

Correction: Joker only completes straights/flushes. Otherwise, it's an ace.

Hand Rankings

High Hand (5 Cards)

Standard poker rankings:

1. Five aces (including joker)
2. Royal flush
3. Straight flush
4. Four of a kind
5. Full house
6. Flush
7. Straight
8. Three of a kind
9. Two pair
10. One pair
11. High card

Low Hand (2 Cards)

Only two rankings matter:

1. Pair (best is A-A)
2. High cards (best is A-K)

The Wheel: A-2-3-4-5 is the second-lowest straight (after "the wheel" in some house rules).

House Way Strategy

Basic House Way Rules

No pair:

• High card in low hand
• Set strongest possible high hand

One pair:

• Pair in high hand
• Two highest singles in low hand

Two pair:

• Usually split pairs (one each hand)
• Strong high pair + ace in low = keep together

Three of a kind:

• Keep trips in high hand
• Exception: Aces—split one ace to low hand

Straight or Flush:

• Keep complete in high hand
• Best two cards to low hand

Full house:

• Keep trips in high hand, pair to low
• Exception: Pair of aces—keep in high if needed

Four of a kind:

• Split based on rank:
  • 2-6: Keep together, highest cards to low
  • 7-10: Split unless ace/king for low
  • J-K: Split
  • Aces: Split one pair

Real-World Pai Gow Examples

Example 1: Two Pair

Cards: K♠ K♦ 8♥ 8♣ 4♦ 3♠ 2♥

House Way:

• High hand: 8♥ 8♣ 4♦ 3♠ 2♥ (pair of 8s)
• Low hand: K♠ K♦ (pair of kings)

Reasoning: Split pairs to strengthen both hands.

Example 2: Three of a Kind

Cards: Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ J♣ 9♥ 5♦ 2♣

House Way:

• High hand: Q♠ Q♥ Q♦ 5♦ 2♣ (trip queens)
• Low hand: J♣ 9♥ (J-9 high)

Reasoning: Keep trips in high, send best cards to low.

Example 3: Straight

Cards: K♥ Q♣ J♦ 10♠ 9♥ 4♦ 2♣

House Way:

• High hand: K♥ Q♣ J♦ 10♠ 9♥ (K-high straight)
• Low hand: 4♦ 2♣ (4-2 high)

Reasoning: Keep the made straight in high hand.

Example 4: Full House

Cards: A♠ A♥ A♦ 7♣ 7♥ 4♦ 2♠

House Way:

• High hand: A♠ A♥ 7♣ 7♥ 4♦ (aces and 7s, two pair)
• Low hand: A♦ 2♠ (ace high)

Wait—better option:

• High hand: 7♣ 7♥ 4♦ 2♠ A♦ (pair of 7s... no, worse)

Correct house way:

• High hand: 7♣ 7♥ A♦ 4♦ 2♠ (pair of 7s)
• Low hand: A♠ A♥ (pair of aces)

Reasoning: Send pair of aces to low hand for guaranteed strong low.

Example 5: With Joker

Cards: Joker A♠ K♣ Q♥ J♦ 9♠ 4♣

Analysis:

• Joker can make: A-K-Q-J-Joker (ace-high straight? No—Joker would be 10)
• Actually: Joker counts as ace if not completing straight/flush
• Best: Use joker as ace → pair of aces

House Way:

• High hand: K♣ Q♥ J♦ 9♠ 4♣ (K-Q-J-9-4 high)
• Low hand: Joker A♠ (pair of aces)

House Edge Analysis

Standard House Edge: 2.84%

Where it comes from:

• You must win BOTH hands to win bet
• Dealer wins ties (copies)
• 5% commission on wins

Reducing House Edge

Strategy	House Edge
Beginner/poor setting	4%+
Average setting	2.84%
House way	2.5%
Optimal strategy	1.46%
Banking (if offered)	~0.2%

Outcome Frequencies

Result	Frequency
Player wins both	28.6%
Dealer wins both	29.9%
Split (push)	41.5%

The high push rate makes Pai Gow low-variance.

Common Pai Gow Mistakes

1. Weak Low Hand

Mistake: K-K-J-10-9 high, 5-3 low Problem: Unbeatable high but guaranteed low loss Fix: Split to give low hand fighting chance

2. Fouling Your Hand

Mistake: Low hand outranks high hand Problem: Automatic loss (foul) Fix: Always verify high beats low

3. Breaking Up Full Houses Incorrectly

Mistake: Keeping full house in high, junk in low Problem: Weak low hand Fix: Usually send pair to low hand

4. Misusing the Joker

Mistake: Using joker as ace when straight is possible Problem: Missing stronger hand Fix: Always check for straight/flush first

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pai Gow Poker beatable?

No—the house edge exists regardless of strategy. But optimal play reduces edge to ~1.46%, among the best casino games.

Why do so many hands push?

You must win BOTH hands. Even skilled play results in 41%+ pushes because setting is constrained.

Should I use house way?

House way is near-optimal (within 0.5% of perfect). For casual play, it's fine. For serious play, study optimal strategy.

Can I bank the game?

Some casinos allow player banking. When you bank, edge shifts in your favor—up to +0.2% advantage.

How does commission work?

5% commission on winning hands. $100 win = $95 net. Some casinos offer commission-free versions with rule changes.

What's a "copy"?

When your hand exactly matches dealer's hand (same rank). Dealer wins copies—part of their edge.

Advanced Pai Gow Strategy

When to Split Two Pair

Pair Ranks	Action
Both low (2-6)	Split
High + low	Usually split
Both high (J+)	Split unless ace for low
High pair + ace	Consider keeping together

Four of a Kind Decisions

Quad Rank	Action
2-6	Keep together
7-10	Split if ace/king for low
J-A	Split into two pair

Banking Strategy

If banking offered:

• Bank when you have sufficient bankroll
• House edge reverses when banking
• Some casinos require dealer banking every other hand

Pro Tips for Pai Gow

• Learn house way first: It's 95%+ optimal

• Don't sacrifice low hand: Two weak hands lose to one strong + one weak

• Understand the joker: Straight/flush completion OR ace only

• Embrace pushes: They're not losses

• Bank if offered: Edge swings in your favor

Related Casino Calculators

• Casino House Edge Calculator - Compare games
• Poker Hand Rankings Calculator - Hand strength
• Three Card Poker Calculator - Similar game
• Caribbean Stud Calculator - Poker variant
• Bankroll Calculator - Session planning

Conclusion

Pai Gow Poker rewards thoughtful hand-setting with a reduced house edge. Our calculator shows optimal high and low hand configurations for any dealt cards. With 41% pushes and 1.46% optimal edge, it's one of the casino's best games for bankroll preservation.

Calculate Your Pai Gow Hands Now →

Master the house way, understand when to deviate, and enjoy Pai Gow's unique blend of poker and strategy. Low variance, social gameplay, and reasonable odds make it perfect for extended casino sessions.