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MGM Grand House Way for Pai Gow Poker

Introduction

The following is the house way for the MGM Grand. It was taken from a document on the procedures of the game, dated 2002.
 

NO PAIR

Use the highest card in the high hand, then use the second and third highest as the low hand.
 

ONE PAIR

Always use the pair as the high hand and use the highest ranking cards for the low hand.
 

TWO PAIRS

Pairs will be broken into three groups (when splitting, always play the lowest pair in the front hand).
 
  • 2's thru 6's — Low Pair
  • 7's thru 10's — Medium Pair
  • Jacks thru Aces — High Pair

Play the two pair as follows.
 
  • NEVER SPLIT ANY TWO LOW PAIRS (6 OR UNDER).
  • LOW PAIR — MEDIUM PAIR: Split unless holding an Ace, then play two pair in high hand.
  • LOW PAIR — HIGH PAIR: Split unless holding an Ace, then play two pair in high hand.
  • MEDIUM PAIR — MEDIUM PAIR: Split unless holding an Ace, then play two pair in high hand.
  • MEDIUM PAIR — HIGH PAIR: Always split.
  • HIGH PAIR — HIGH PAIR: Always split.
  • PAIR OF ACES AND ANY OTHER PAIR: Always split.
 

THREE PAIRS

 Always play the highest pair for the low hand.
 

THREE-OF-A-KIND

Always keep, unless Aces, then play one of the Aces for the low hand.
 

(TWO) THREE-OF-A-KIND

 Play Pair of the highest Three-of-a-Kind for the low hand.
 

ALL STRAIGHTS, FLUSHES, STRAIGHT FLUSHES AND ROYAL FLUSHES

  • WITH NO PAIR

     When given a choice to play either a straight, flush, straight flush or royal flush, play the category which will allow the highest two cards to be played on the low hand.
     
  • WITH ONE PAIR
     
    • Play pair in front hand if a straight, flush, straight flush or royal flush can be preserved in high hand.
       
    • With Ace or Joker and pair of 10's, Jacks, Queens or Kings — play Ace or Joker in front hand and pair in high hand, unless a straight or flush can be maintained with an Ace in the low hand.
  • WITH TWO PAIR

    Use two pair rule. (With two low pair, play straight or flush unless you can play two low pair in the high hand with at least an Ace in the low hand. )
     
  • WITH THREE PAIR

    Use three pair rule.
     
  • WITH THREE-OF-A-KIND

    Play pair in front hand.
     
  • WITH FULL HOUSE

    Use full house rule. Example: (A Heart, Joker, J Heart, J Spade, J Club, K Heart, 2 Heart, play: Ace, Joker/J, J, J, K, 2)
     
    • Three-of-a-Kind and pair: Always split and play pair in front hand. Exception: When the hand contains a pair of 2's, an Ace, King and Three-Of-A-Kind, you will play A, K as low hand and the pair of 2's and three-of-a-kind (full house) in the high hand.
    • Three-of-a-Kind and two pair: Play highest of the pairs in front hand.
    • Three-of-a-Kind and Three-of-a-Kind: Play highest of Three-Of-A-Kind as a pair in front hand.
 

FOUR-OF-A-KIND

  • 2's thru 6's: Never split, play in high hand.
  • 7's thru 10's: Split unless an Ace can be played in the front hand, then keep four in high hand.
  • Face Cards and Aces: Always split.
 

FOUR-OF-A-KIND WITH A PAIR (OR THREE-OF-A-KIND)

Always play Four-of-a- Kind in the high hand. (The only exception will be four Aces which will always be split.)

Four Aces and a pair: split four Aces, except if you have a pair of Kings and four Aces in back.
 

FIVE ACES

Always split and play two Aces in front hand. The only exception will be if you also have a pair of Kings in front and five Aces in back.

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • The bank cannot set an automatic loser!
  • The "A-2-3-4-5" is the second highest straight.
  • The Joker will be used as an Ace or may be used to fill a straight, flush, straight flush or a royal flush.

    When the Joker is used to fill a Flush, the Joker will be used as the highest value card not already held in the hand.

    Example: Ace, Joker, King, 7, 5 will be played as Ace, King (Joker="Queen") 7, 5 in the flush.
 

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Written by: Michael Shackleford