One of the more fun aspects of Pai Gow poker is figuring out how to set your hand

Hand Setting Tips

Of course, you can get the software to set your hand for you, but it is much more fun to do it yourself. If you decide to go the self-setting route, here are some quick tips that will give you a great chance to beat the dealer if the cards go your way.

No Pair

If you don't have a pair, you must put your highest card in your five card back hand by rule. You are free to put the next two highest cards in your front hand and you should, to give yourself the best chance of winning that hand and hopefully getting a push.

One Pair, Two Pairs, Three Pairs

With one pair, you will have to put your pair in the back since the back hand needs to be the strongest. You are then free to put your two highest non-paired cards in the front. You will usually want to break up two pair in order to get a pair in front, which is very powerful in Pai Gow.

The only exception might be if you can make an ace high front hand, which is almost as good as a pair. Then you can keep your two pair in back. If you have three pair, you'll put your high pair in front. Remember the stronger your front hand, the better.

Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush

Keep your three of a kind in back and make the strongest front hand you can unless you have three aces that you would split up. Keep your straights, flushes and straight flushes in the back.

Break up your full houses and four of a kinds to put a pair in front. If you have an ace with your four of a kind, give yourself an ace high front and quads in the back.