MGM Grand House Way for Pai Gow Poker

Introduction

Presented here is the official house way for MGM Grand, sourced from a document detailing gameplay procedures from the year 2002.

NO PAIR

In your high hand, utilize the highest card available, followed closely by the second and third highest cards for your low hand.

ONE PAIR

Always prioritize using your pair as the high hand, while opting for the strongest cards available for the low hand.

TWO PAIRS

When breaking pairs, categorize them into three groups, ensuring to place the lowest pair in the front hand when splitting.

• 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 SEPARATE ANY PAIR WITH A VALUE OF 6 OR LOWER.
• In the case of a low pair competing against a medium pair, split unless you possess an Ace, in which case adopt two pairs in the high hand.
• In the scenario of a low pair versus a higher pair, separate them unless you hold an Ace, then proceed with two pairs in the high hand.
• For two medium pairs, always split them unless you have an Ace, in which you would stack two pairs in the high hand.
• MEDIUM PAIR — HIGH PAIR: Always split.
• HIGH PAIR — HIGH PAIR: Always split.
• If you possess a pair of Aces alongside any other pair, you should always split those.

THREE PAIRS

Utilize the highest pair available for your low hand in every situation.

THREE-OF-A-KIND

Keep your pairs intact, unless they are Aces, in which case one Ace should be used for the low hand.

(TWO) THREE-OF-A-KIND

When you have a three of a kind, play the pair derived from that for your low hand.

ALL STRAIGHTS, FLUSHES, STRAIGHT FLUSHES, AND ROYAL FLUSHES

• WITH NO PAIR
  
  When deciding between a straight, flush, straight flush, or royal flush, select the option that allows for the highest two cards to be utilized in the low hand.
  
• WITH ONE PAIR
  
  • If you can sustain a straight, flush, straight flush, or royal flush, play your pair in the front hand.
    
  • Possessing an Ace or Joker alongside a pair of 10s, Jacks, Queens, or Kings means you should position the Ace or Joker in the front and the pair in the high hand unless maintaining a straight or flush with an Ace in the low hand.
• WITH TWO PAIR
  
  Apply the two pair rule: If you have two low pairs, retain the straight or flush unless you can afford to place two low pairs in the high hand, with at least one 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
  
  Refer to the full house rule for guidance: e.g., (A Heart, Joker, J Heart, J Spade, J Club, K Heart, 2 Heart yields: Ace, Joker/J, J, J, K, 2)
  
  • Whenever there is a three-of-a-kind paired with another pair, split them and place the pair in the front hand. However, if the hand includes a pair of 2s along with an Ace, King, and three-of-a-kind, play Ace and King as the low hand while the pair of 2s and three-of-a-kind can be grouped in the high hand.
  • When you have a three-of-a-kind combined with two pairs, always place the highest pair in the front hand.
  • For a scenario containing three-of-a-kinds alongside another three-of-a-kind, the highest three-of-a-kind should be positioned as a pair in the front hand.

FOUR-OF-A-KIND

• 2's thru 6's: Never split, play in high hand.
• For cards from 7 to 10, it’s best to split unless an Ace can be laid out in the front hand; in that case, keep all four in the high hand.
• Face Cards and Aces: Always split.

WHEN FOUR OF A KIND IS PRESENT WITH A PAIR (OR THREE OF A KIND)

Always position four of a kind in the high hand, except in the unique case where your four of a kind are Aces, which should be separated.

If you have four Aces along with a pair, you'll split the four Aces, unless you also have a pair of Kings and are holding four Aces in the back.

FIVE ACES

In any circumstance, always split and maintain two Aces in the front hand. The one situation to note is if there’s a pair of Kings ahead alongside five Aces in the back.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• The bank cannot create a guaranteed loss!
• The \"A-2-3-4-5\" sequence ranks as the second-best straight.
• The Joker acts as an Ace or can be utilized to complete other combinations such as straights, flushes, straight flushes, or royal flushes.
  
  When the Joker is involved in completing a flush, it assumes the value of the highest card that is not already present in your hand.
  
  For instance: an Ace, Joker, King, 7, and 5 will be played as Ace, King (with Joker treated as a Queen) along with 7 and 5 to form the flush.

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Written by: Michael Shackleford