General Odds

The odds in Pai Gow Poker [Pai Gow Poker Rules] may very slightly according to the way that the House sets its hands. However, with optimal strategy by the player, the House has an edge of about 2.67 percent.

Bets in Pai Gow pay off at roughly even money, .95-to-1, to be exact, with a five percent commission on winning bets paid by the player. Remember that if you are not sure how to set your hand, you can ask the dealer to set it for you.

Banker Odds

However, what does not factor into this calculation is the banker option. In turn, each player had the option to serve as the banker, playing against all other players.

The player should always take this option, as it is a tremendous advantage. The banker wins copies. If two people both have straights, the banker wins if his two card hand is better than the player's, but does not lose if the player's hand is better. Similarly, if both players have ace king in front, the banker wins with a better back hand but ties if the player has a better back hand.

More importantly, the five percent commission is not taken from the banker until all bets have been tallied. This means that the banker gets to deduct all his losses from his wins before paying the commission, something that other players do not have the benefit of doing. This is such an advantage that it can cut the House edge in half or better, depending on how many players the banker faces.

Commission

Don't forget that you will need to pay that commission before you leave the table. Some players prefer to pay the commission up front. This actually slightly reduces the price of the commission, so it is an advisable strategy.