Face Up Pai Gow Poker Guide

Poker Face Up Pai Gow is a fun table game available at many online and land-based casinos. You always face up against the dealer, and each hand features two optional side bets: Fortune Bonus or Ace-High.

You are probably wondering how you can become good at this game and win more consistently. In this article, I’ll explain how to play Face Up Pai Gow poker, which includes information on the rules, house edge and different strategies. Here’s what you need to know.

How to play Pai Gow Poker face up

Face Up Pai Gow follows a few basic rules that are easy to learn, meaning you’ll be playing the game in no time! The game has a similar formula to traditional Pai Gow poker.

• The game is played with a 53-card deck that includes a joker. The joker is semi-wild and you can use it as an ace or to complete a straight, flush, straight flush or royal flush.
• The ranking system for poker hands follows your standard rules. However, the A-2-3-4-5 straight is considered the second best straight (note that this rule does not apply in every casino).
• The dealer then decides how they want to position their cards in the form of a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand. When they choose a high hand, it must be larger than the low hand. If it is not, the hand is foul and you lose your bet.
• If Ace-High is the best hand the dealer can make, then all bets are discarded. This ultimately leads to a tie between the player and the dealer.

The player then also splits his seven cards into a five-card high hand and a two-card low hand. Conventional poker rules will determine the rankings of each hand.

The dealer’s and player’s five-card and two-card hands will then be compared. The hands with the higher poker value win, but in the event of a tie, the dealer wins.

Keep in mind that Face Up Pai Gow also uses a set of rules known as the “House Way,” which determines how players can position their hands.

Differences from traditional Pai Gow

There are several subtle but key differences between traditional Pai Gow and Face Up Pai Gow Poker. Perhaps the biggest difference is that the dealer’s cards are face up all the time, giving players a chance to position their hands more strategically.

In traditional Pai Gow, players receive a 5% commission on all winning bets, but in Face Up Pai Gow there is no such commission. In addition, when the dealer’s best five-card hand is an ace-high in Face Up Pai Gow, it results in an automatic push.

Tips for Face Up Pai Gow

Winning more consistently at Face Up Pai Gow poker will require you to develop at least a basic strategy. Ultimately, your goal should be to make the most of every hand and play from a strategic perspective.

Remember, you must beat the dealer with your high (five cards) and low (two cards) hands to make a profit. In other words, striving for the best possible outcome should always be your main goal.

If it is impossible to form a pair or something better from the cards you have been dealt, keep the highest card on your high hand and the next two highest cards on your low hand.

If you have two different pairs, and the best pair consists of aces, you should split the cards. You should do the same with kings, unless the second pair consists of dunks. You should play them together and play the two highest remaining cards in the low hand.

When you have three of a kind, include these cards in your high hand, unless you have three aces. Keep two aces in your high hand and the other ace in your low hand, along with the next highest card you have.

I also recommend that you avoid side bets. This is how the house makes its money – side bets offer nice payouts, but are rarely hit. In fact, side bets in Face Up Pai Gow make more money for the casino than the 5% commission in traditional Pai Gow.

Where to play Face Up Pai Gow Online

Many of the best online casinos offer Face Up Pai Gow poker and many other fun table games. These casinos also offer welcome bonuses and other promotions to maximize your bankroll.

This is a safe and fun gambling environment that gives you the best chance of winning by playing Face Up Pai Gow online.