Pai Gow Tiles Optimal Strategy

Introduction

Following is the optimal strategy for Pai Gow Tiles with exceptions based on whether the dealer is banking or you are banking. This strategy is optimal against the Traditional Way. It should be nearly optimal against any casino house way.

The approach with this strategy is a little different than usual. It is separated into two sections: pairs and non-pairs. If the tile combination contains at least one pair, follow the rules in the Pairs section. Otherwise, skip to the second section.

The following tile codes are used:

• H0 = a high 10 tile
• L0 = a low 10 tile
• H2 = a Teen tile
• L2 = a Day tile
• H4 = a high 4 tile
• L4 = a low 4 tile
• H6 = a high 6 tile
• L6 = a low 6 tile
• H7 = a high 7 tile
• L7 = a low 7 tile
• H8 = a high 8 tile
• L8 = a low 8 tile

   

• 0 = a high 10 or low 10 tile
• 1 = an 11 tile
• 2 = a Teen or Day tile
• 3 = a Gee Joon tile, even if it is the one with 6 pips and/or used as a 6-point tile
• 4 = a high 4 or low 4 tile
• 5 = a 5 tile
• 6 = a high 6 or low 6 tile (not a Gee Joon tile)
• 7 = a high 7 or low 7 tile
• 8 = a high 8 or low 8 tile
• 9 = a 9 tile

1. Pairs

• With two pairs, play a pair in the low hand and a pair in the high hand.
• With one pair, play it in the high hand unless splitting is indicated below:

   

  Split Gee Joon with:	6 and 6
  	6 and 5
  	6 and 4
  Split Teens and Days with:	9 and L8	8 and 8
  	9 and 7	8 and 7	7 and 7
  	9 and 6	8 and 6	7 and 6	6 and 6
  	9 and 5	8 and 5	7 and 5	6 and 5
  	9 and 4	8 and 4	7 and 4	6 and 4
  	9 and 3	8 and 3	7 and 3
  	9 and 1
  Split 9s with:	2 and 2
  	2 and 0
  	0 and 0
  Split 8s with:	9 and 1
  	2 and 2
  	2 and 1
  	2 and 0
  	1 and 0
  	0 and 0
  Split 7s with:	2 and 2
  	2 and 1
  	2 and 0
  	1 and 0
  	0 and 0, except with H7s when banking
  Split 6s with:	2 and 2
  	2 and 1
  	2 and H0, except with H6s
  Split 5s with:	2 and 2

 

2. All Other

Determine the combination code for a hand by determing each tile's code as listed above, and then sorting the four codes from lowest to highest. For example, if the tiles are Teen, high 4, Gee, and 11, their respective codes are 2, 4, 3, and 1. Then sort the digits to get the code 1234. Look up the rule for the 4-digit code in the table below.

Combinations which have only one way to play are included but are greyed-out.

Written by: Michael Shackleford