As the aim of playing Pai Gow Poker is to win by having better hands than the dealer, one of the most important strategies for play is setting the hands. There are two hands in this game where 7 cards are dealt. A five card hand and a two card hand and both of these have to beat the dealer, if only one hand beats the dealers' hand than the game goes to a push. If the players' cards tie with the dealer, then the dealer wins! The dealer is also compelled to set their hand "the house way".

Obviously there are millions of different hand possibilities and the way a Pai Gow poker hand is set is the way to obtain a winning outcome. There are certain standard strategies which apply and the five card hand has to be a poker hand; in this game the poker hand is ranked the same as any other poker game. This five card hand is referred to as the "bottom" and the two card hand is referred to as the "top".

The rules state that the two card hand is not allowed to equal or exceed in value, the total value of the five card hand. The two card hands also need to be made up from a pair of any cards, or two high cards.

As the pack used is a standard 53 card pack with one Joker left in play, the Joker is a wild card and can be substituted for anything except in the two card hand, where it can only be substituted for an Ace.

The rules of this game are also interesting in that at the end of the deal, each place at the table has been dealt with seven cards and there should only be four cards left in the dealers' hand. This means that a Pai Gow Poker table has room for six players and regardless of whether they are seated playing, the cards are dealt and they go on the unused pile.

Trying to set the best two hands possible can be tricky and this is what makes this game of skill and strategy so interesting. If you are only dealt a single pair and nothing else, keep these in the "bottom" pack and place your highest two cards in the "top". If you are dealt two pairs, then split them and place the high pair in bottom and the low pair in top. Being dealt three pairs is a tremendous amount of luck, so play the highest pair in top and the lowest two pairs in bottom. And so it goes, learning how to split and set these card hands is vital for strategic play, but the options are virtually endless.

Playing Pai Gow Poker online gives the new player ample opportunity to learn what the game is all about. Why? Because you can play for free until you get the hang of the game!

There are many online casinos and poker rooms which offer Pai Gow Poker in fun mode and the best online poker rooms offer members a free poker school. Playing in freeroll tournaments is also a great way to learn as well as a way to build a bankroll for play in the larger prize money games.