What do you do with three pairs in Pai Gow Poker?

Which pair goes in front

Average result per unit bet against a dealer who sets the house way (Foxwoods), after the 5% commission on wins. From the exact distribution of the dealer’s hands; it ignores that your seven cards can’t also be in the dealer’s hand, which only matters when two settings are very close. The best value in each row is green.

Why

Three pairs give you a two-pair back hand whichever pair you move, so the front decides the hand. The highest pair makes the strongest possible low hand, and two pair behind is still well above what the dealer usually holds. Playing two pair behind with odd cards in front throws away the best low hand you will see all night.

Related questions

• When should you split two pair in Pai Gow Poker?

  Usually: put the lower pair in front and the higher pair behind. Keep both pairs behind only when they are small and you have an ace, or with the smallest pairs a king, to put in front.

• Should you split a full house in Pai Gow Poker?

  Yes: three of a kind behind and the pair in front. The exception is a very small pair with an ace and a king to play in front; then keep the full house behind.

• Should you split three of a kind in Pai Gow Poker?

  Split three aces: a pair of aces behind and the third ace in front. Split three kings too when your other cards are low. Keep any other three of a kind together behind, with your two best other cards in front.

All Pai Gow Poker questions