- Pai Gow Poker Strategy
- Pai Gow Poker Strategy Betting
- Pai Gow Poker Strategy Card
- Pai Gow Poker Strategy Betting
Pai Gow Poker offers one of the slowest games in the casino. Once you learn how to play, it offers a fun way to pass time gambling.
Pai Gow Poker resembles craps. Players tend to win or lose together.
Why?
Winning poker is also a science. So, to play poker well, you need to study hard. Studying well means that you know what and why you learned on a single day, and you have plans for how to use this knowledge in the future. It's time to work on the bugs. The secret of poker: working on bugs. One of my favorite casino games is Pai Gow Poker. Pai Gow is a form of poker amongst many different variations of the game you can find in actual casinos and online. It is a surprisingly enjoyable combination of the Chinese game Pai Gow, and poker. The poker hand rankings that are used in Pai Gow Poker are the standard poker hand rankings explained on this site's poker strategy page, with one exception–a straight of ace to five is considered the 2nd highest straight possible. (That straight is called a 'wheel.').
It's because the players all play against one dealer hand.
When players win or lose together it can lead to a feeling of camaraderie at the table.
Advantages of Playing Pai Gow Poker
The two biggest advantages offered by Pai Gow Poker?
- The low house edge.
- The slow pace of play.
Many hands end up in pushes. The actual number of winning or losing hands per hour is small. Your bankroll lasts long. You see more winning sessions.
Some casino games that offer a lower house edge, but most of them play many more hands or spins per hour, so you can end up losing more per hour at a lower house edge game than at a slow game like Pai Gow Poker.
Here's an example:
You're playing a video poker game with a house edge of .5% (one half percent). You're betting $5 per hand and playing 400 hands per hour.
Your expected loss rate is $10 per hour.
The normal house edge for Pai Gow Poker is around 2.5% and roughly 40% of the hands end up in a push. If 30 hands are dealt per hour, only 18 of them end up with a win or a loss.
If you're betting $10 per hand, your expected loss rate is only $4.50 per hour – even though you're wagering twice as much per hand as you are per spin.
It's also easy to learn a fairly solid basic strategy.
Pai Gow Poker Basic Strategy
Your goal is to create the best two card hand that you can legally use. The exception is when you can build a high five card hand that is unlikely to lose like a straight or flush.
But with a full house, use the three of a kind in the five card hand and the other pair in the two card hand.
A lone ace or king is a valuable card to be able to place in the two card hand as it will often win. So a strong hand can be kept in the five card hand if you can also play an ace of king in the two card hand.
Here are some example hands and the right strategy for each:
Seven Card Hand | Five Card Hand | Two Card Hand |
Ah Ad Kc Ks 7h 6d 3c | Ah Ad 7h 6d 3c | Kc Ks |
Ah Ad Ac Ks 4d 3s 2h | Ah Ad 4d 3s 2h | Ac Ks |
Ad 9s 8c 7h 6d 5d 2h | 9s 8c 7h 6d 5d | Ad 2h |
7d 7s 7c 6h 6c 3d 2s | 7d 7s 7c 3d 2s | 6h 6c |
Ac Qs 8d 7c 5h 2s 2d | 2s 2d 8d 7c 5h | Ac Qs |
Since you have to win both hands to win or lose both hands to lose, your goal is to create as close to a sure thing in at least one hand and take my chances with the other hand.
Of course the five card hand has to be higher than the two card hand by the rules of the game. The more you play, the more instinctive your play will become.
You can take the time to memorize a more advanced strategy, but the extra percentage you pick up will be minimal. It might not be worth your effort.
All of this may sound complicated, but once you start playing, it won't take you long to figure out the best way to play almost every hand. Within an hour, you should be able to play solid Pai Gow Poker without worrying about making many mistakes.
If you're convinced you need to learn an advanced strategy, I've included a sample house way in the next section. Learn it and you will play your hand just like most casinos have their dealers play their hands.
The House Way
Each casino plays or sets their Pai Gow Poker hands a certain way. This way can vary, but it's very close with only minor changes. If you don't care for either of the basic strategies listed above you can play your hands the house way listed below.
Simply read down the instructions until you find your hand.
When you have five aces, always play two of the aces in the two card hand unless you have a pair of kings to go with the five aces. In that case play the two kings in the two card hand.
If you have four of a kind and a pair or three of a kind you will play the four of a kind in the five card hand and the pair or two of the three of a kind in the two card hand unless you have four aces. When you have four aces you play two of them in the two card hand unless you also have a pair of kings. Then you play the pair of kings in the two card hand.
When you have four of a kind of aces or face cards you always play a pair of the cards in the two card hand. If your four of a kind is sevens, eights, nines or tens you play a pair of them in the two card hand unless you can play an ace in the two card hand. Then play the ace with the next highest non paired card in the two card hand. If the four of a kind is twos, threes, fours, fives or sixes you always leave all four cards in the five card hand.
If you have a full house with two three of a kinds you play a pair from the highest three of a kind in the two card hand. If you have three of a kind and two pair you play the highest pair in the two card hand. When you have three of a kind and a pair you play the pair in the two card hand except when the pair is a pair of twos and you have an ace and king. In that case play the ace and king in the two card hand.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy
When you have any straight or flush with three of a kind you play a pair in the two card hand.
If you have any straight or flush with three pair always play the highest pair in the two card hand.
When you have a straight or flush with two pair use the two pair rule listed below.
If you have a straight or flush with one pair play the pair in the two card hand if the straight or flush can still be played in the five card hand. When you have an ace and a pair of tens or higher play the ace in the two card hand and the pair in the five card hand unless the flush or straight can still be played in the five card hand with the ace in the two card hand.
When you have any straight or flush with no pair play the arrangement that allows you to play the highest two cards in the two card hand while still playing the flush or straight in the five card hand.
If you hold two three of a kinds play the highest possible pair in the two card hand.
When you have three of a kind keep the three of a kind in the five card hand and play your other two highest cards in the two card hand unless the three of a kind is aces. Then play one of the aces in the two card hand.
If you have three pairs always play the highest pair in the two card hand.
When you have two pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces you always place the second highest pair in the two card hand. If you have a pair of aces and any other pair you place the second highest pair in the two card hand. When you have two pair with one pair being jacks or higher and one pair being from sevens to tens you always place the lower of the two pairs in the two card hand. When you have two pair that are each from sevens to tens you place the second highest pair in the two card hand unless you also hold an ace. Then you play the ace in the two card hand. If you have a pair of jacks or higher and a pair of sixes or lower play the lower pair in the two card hand unless you have an ace. Then play the ace in the two card hand. When you have a pair between sevens and tens and a pair of sixes or lower play the lower pair in the two card hand unless you have an ace. Then play the ace in the two card hand. When you have two pairs of sixes or lower play both of them in the five card hand.
If you have one pair play it in the five card hand and use your other two highest cards in the two card hand.
When you have no pairs use the highest card in the five card hand and the second and third highest cards in the two card hand.
Conclusion
Using either of the two strategies listed above for Pa Gow Poker play will offer you one of the lowest house edges that you can get. If you look at both strategies, you can see the simple strategy is very close to the house way. My suggestion is use whichever one is easiest for you to learn and spend the rest of your time enjoying the game.
In China, pai gow is a popular gambling game played with Chinese dominoes. In 1985, Sam Torosian, owner of the Bell Card Club, created a poker game inspired by pai gow—he called it 'pai gow poker.' It's become a popular game in casinos throughout the United States.
Like blackjack, pai gow poker is a game of skill, where your decisions matter. It's also a slow-paced game, and the probability of getting into a 'push' situation (a tie) is relatively high. For someone with a small bankroll, pai gow poker can be one of the best deals in the casino.
But pai gow poker is also more complicated to play than many other casino card games. Playing well is another magnitude of difficulty. This post aims to provide everything you need to know to get started playing pai gow poker without making a fool of yourself.
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
Pai gow poker is played with a standard 53-card deck of cards. ('53' is not a typo—it's a 52-card deck with the addition of a joker.)
In most card games, jokers are 'wild cards'—they can stand in for any card you need them to.
But in pai gow poker, jokers are only wild for certain situations. Here's how you can use a joker in pai gow poker:
- You can use it as an ace.
- You can use it to complete a straight.
- You can use it to complete a flush.
- You can use it to complete a straight flush.
The game starts with the players making bets. Then the dealer and the players each get 7 cards.
As with most poker games, even house-banked games, the standard ranking of poker hands is used, with one exception:
After you get your 7 cards, you must 'set your hand.' This means you divided your hand into 2 hands—a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand. You have a lot of freedom for setting the hand, but you must follow one restriction:
The 5-card hand must have a better poker hand ranking than the 2-card hand.
Of course, the 5-card hand is treated like a 5-card poker hand. The 2-card hand can only qualify for 2 poker hand rankings, though—a pair, or not a pair.
The dealer also sets his hand, but he must follow specific rules set by the casino. This is called 'the house way.' It's comparable to how a blackjack dealer must play his hand in a prescribed manner.
Blackjack pizza denver. When you compare hands, you have the following possibilities:
- Both of the player's hands beat both of the dealer's hands.
- One of the player's hands beats the dealer's hand, but one of the dealer's hands beats the player's hand.
- Both of the dealer's hands beat both of the player's hands.
If both of the player's hands beat the dealer's hand, he wins even money less a 5% commission on his bet.
If both of the dealer's hands beat the player's hand, the player loses his bet.
But if one hand is a winner and the other is a loser, the bet is considered a 'push.' This means the player gets to keep his bet, but he doesn't get any winnings in addition to that.
Also, ties go to the banker.
40% of the time, the outcome is a push, which is huge. At most pai gow poker tables, you'll see 30 hands per hour. If 12 of them are ties, you're only looking at 18 hands per hour with a win or loss.
This kind of thing matters a lot when you're trying to track how much money per hour it costs to play a specific casino game. In blackjack, for example, you're liable to see 100 hands per hour, but most of them won't result in a push.
I like leisurely games where I don't lose a lot of money at once. Pai gow poker fits the bill nicely.
Banking in Pai Gow Poker
In most casino games, the betting is pretty straightforward. You're the player, and you bet against the dealer. In pai gow poker, though, you have the option to bet against the dealer and the other players. Only one player gets to be the banker on each hand, though—the opportunity rotates.
Here's the thing about being the banker in pai gow poker, though—it requires (as you might expect) a large bankroll. Most people just decline the opportunity to be the banker.
If you do choose to play as the banker, you can set your hand any way you like. You're not required to follow the house way.
Being able to play as the banker enables players to get a small edge, especially if you're playing with other players who are beginners and aren't good at the game. The strategy in pai gow poker stems from how you're able to set your hands.
The House Edge in Pai Gow Poker
The house edge is the long-term expected win for the casino expressed as a percentage. It's a forecast and an estimate, but it only applies in the long run—over the course of thousands of hands. Still, it's good information to have about a casino game.
Generally, the lower the house edge, the better the game is for the player. For example, the house edge in blackjack is usually around 1%, but that assumes the use of perfect basic strategy. This means that every time you place a $100 bet, the casino expects to win an average of $1.
The house edge in pai gow poker varies based on a couple of things. One of these is how good you are at setting your hand. The other is how often you can afford to play as the banker.
Generally, the house edge in pai gow poker is 2.7%, although it's much lower when playing as the banker. This estimate assumes you're just following the house way strategy. If you can play more optimally than that, you can whittle the house edge down by another 0.2%.
And if you're playing as the banker and using optimal strategy, the house edge is even lower—around 0.3%. If you can find a table where the other players aren't very good at setting hands, you might even be able to get a long-term advantage. This is an example of an advantage gambling technique.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy for Setting Your Hand
For most recreational gamblers, a strategy similar to the house way is sufficient. Getting any more optimal than that is more trouble than it's worth for the tiny gain in expectation. Below I've outlined one common house way of setting hands.
To understand this guide to pai gow poker strategy, you should know which hand is your 'front' hand and which hand is your 'back' hand. Luckily, this isn't complicated.
The front hand is your 2-card hand.
The back hand is your 5-card hand.
Here's how to play with close to correct pai gow poker strategy:
First, if you have no pairs at all in your 7 cards, put the highest card in your front hand. Put the next 2 highest cards in your back hand.
If you have one pair, always put it in your back hand. Then put your 2 other highest cards in your back hand.
If you have 2 pairs, you'll put one pair in your back hand and the other in your front hand. The higher ranked pair goes in your back hand, and the lower ranked pair goes in your front hand. But sometimes, you'll want to keep both pairs in your back hand.
You'll do this if you have a pair of 7s and no ace. You'll also do this if you have a pair of jacks or better AND a pair of 6s or better along with an ace. And finally, you'll do this if you have a pair of aces and any other pair.
If you get 3 pairs, put the highest-ranked pair in your front hand. The other 2, of course, go in your back hand.
If you have 3 of a kind, put all 3 of those cards in your back hand UNLESS you have 3 aces. In that case, you put an ace in your front hand and 2 aces in your back hand.
If you have a 3 of a kind AND a 2nd 3 of a kind, put the lower-ranked 3 of a kind in your back hand. Then split up the 2nd 3 of a kind so that you'll have a pair in your front hand.
If you get a full house, split it up so that you have a pair in your front hand and 3 of a kind in your back hand.
If you get a straight, flush, or a straight flush, you should always keep those 5 cards together in your back hand.
If you have a 4 of a kind, how you play it depends on the ranks of the cards. If they're 6 or lower, you'll keep the 4 of a kind together in your back hand. If they're 7, 8, 9, or 10, you should split them unless you have an ace, in which case you keep them together and put the ace in your front hand. Is san manuel casino open.
If you have a 4 of a kind consisting of face cards, split them unless you also have a pair of 10s or higher. And if you have 4 aces, split them unless you have a pair of 7s or higher.
Since you have to win both hands to win or lose both hands to lose, your goal is to create as close to a sure thing in at least one hand and take my chances with the other hand.
Of course the five card hand has to be higher than the two card hand by the rules of the game. The more you play, the more instinctive your play will become.
You can take the time to memorize a more advanced strategy, but the extra percentage you pick up will be minimal. It might not be worth your effort.
All of this may sound complicated, but once you start playing, it won't take you long to figure out the best way to play almost every hand. Within an hour, you should be able to play solid Pai Gow Poker without worrying about making many mistakes.
If you're convinced you need to learn an advanced strategy, I've included a sample house way in the next section. Learn it and you will play your hand just like most casinos have their dealers play their hands.
The House Way
Each casino plays or sets their Pai Gow Poker hands a certain way. This way can vary, but it's very close with only minor changes. If you don't care for either of the basic strategies listed above you can play your hands the house way listed below.
Simply read down the instructions until you find your hand.
When you have five aces, always play two of the aces in the two card hand unless you have a pair of kings to go with the five aces. In that case play the two kings in the two card hand.
If you have four of a kind and a pair or three of a kind you will play the four of a kind in the five card hand and the pair or two of the three of a kind in the two card hand unless you have four aces. When you have four aces you play two of them in the two card hand unless you also have a pair of kings. Then you play the pair of kings in the two card hand.
When you have four of a kind of aces or face cards you always play a pair of the cards in the two card hand. If your four of a kind is sevens, eights, nines or tens you play a pair of them in the two card hand unless you can play an ace in the two card hand. Then play the ace with the next highest non paired card in the two card hand. If the four of a kind is twos, threes, fours, fives or sixes you always leave all four cards in the five card hand.
If you have a full house with two three of a kinds you play a pair from the highest three of a kind in the two card hand. If you have three of a kind and two pair you play the highest pair in the two card hand. When you have three of a kind and a pair you play the pair in the two card hand except when the pair is a pair of twos and you have an ace and king. In that case play the ace and king in the two card hand.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy
When you have any straight or flush with three of a kind you play a pair in the two card hand.
If you have any straight or flush with three pair always play the highest pair in the two card hand.
When you have a straight or flush with two pair use the two pair rule listed below.
If you have a straight or flush with one pair play the pair in the two card hand if the straight or flush can still be played in the five card hand. When you have an ace and a pair of tens or higher play the ace in the two card hand and the pair in the five card hand unless the flush or straight can still be played in the five card hand with the ace in the two card hand.
When you have any straight or flush with no pair play the arrangement that allows you to play the highest two cards in the two card hand while still playing the flush or straight in the five card hand.
If you hold two three of a kinds play the highest possible pair in the two card hand.
When you have three of a kind keep the three of a kind in the five card hand and play your other two highest cards in the two card hand unless the three of a kind is aces. Then play one of the aces in the two card hand.
If you have three pairs always play the highest pair in the two card hand.
When you have two pair of jacks, queens, kings or aces you always place the second highest pair in the two card hand. If you have a pair of aces and any other pair you place the second highest pair in the two card hand. When you have two pair with one pair being jacks or higher and one pair being from sevens to tens you always place the lower of the two pairs in the two card hand. When you have two pair that are each from sevens to tens you place the second highest pair in the two card hand unless you also hold an ace. Then you play the ace in the two card hand. If you have a pair of jacks or higher and a pair of sixes or lower play the lower pair in the two card hand unless you have an ace. Then play the ace in the two card hand. When you have a pair between sevens and tens and a pair of sixes or lower play the lower pair in the two card hand unless you have an ace. Then play the ace in the two card hand. When you have two pairs of sixes or lower play both of them in the five card hand.
If you have one pair play it in the five card hand and use your other two highest cards in the two card hand.
When you have no pairs use the highest card in the five card hand and the second and third highest cards in the two card hand.
Conclusion
Using either of the two strategies listed above for Pa Gow Poker play will offer you one of the lowest house edges that you can get. If you look at both strategies, you can see the simple strategy is very close to the house way. My suggestion is use whichever one is easiest for you to learn and spend the rest of your time enjoying the game.
In China, pai gow is a popular gambling game played with Chinese dominoes. In 1985, Sam Torosian, owner of the Bell Card Club, created a poker game inspired by pai gow—he called it 'pai gow poker.' It's become a popular game in casinos throughout the United States.
Like blackjack, pai gow poker is a game of skill, where your decisions matter. It's also a slow-paced game, and the probability of getting into a 'push' situation (a tie) is relatively high. For someone with a small bankroll, pai gow poker can be one of the best deals in the casino.
But pai gow poker is also more complicated to play than many other casino card games. Playing well is another magnitude of difficulty. This post aims to provide everything you need to know to get started playing pai gow poker without making a fool of yourself.
How to Play Pai Gow Poker
Pai gow poker is played with a standard 53-card deck of cards. ('53' is not a typo—it's a 52-card deck with the addition of a joker.)
In most card games, jokers are 'wild cards'—they can stand in for any card you need them to.
But in pai gow poker, jokers are only wild for certain situations. Here's how you can use a joker in pai gow poker:
- You can use it as an ace.
- You can use it to complete a straight.
- You can use it to complete a flush.
- You can use it to complete a straight flush.
The game starts with the players making bets. Then the dealer and the players each get 7 cards.
As with most poker games, even house-banked games, the standard ranking of poker hands is used, with one exception:
After you get your 7 cards, you must 'set your hand.' This means you divided your hand into 2 hands—a 5-card hand and a 2-card hand. You have a lot of freedom for setting the hand, but you must follow one restriction:
The 5-card hand must have a better poker hand ranking than the 2-card hand.
Of course, the 5-card hand is treated like a 5-card poker hand. The 2-card hand can only qualify for 2 poker hand rankings, though—a pair, or not a pair.
The dealer also sets his hand, but he must follow specific rules set by the casino. This is called 'the house way.' It's comparable to how a blackjack dealer must play his hand in a prescribed manner.
Blackjack pizza denver. When you compare hands, you have the following possibilities:
- Both of the player's hands beat both of the dealer's hands.
- One of the player's hands beats the dealer's hand, but one of the dealer's hands beats the player's hand.
- Both of the dealer's hands beat both of the player's hands.
If both of the player's hands beat the dealer's hand, he wins even money less a 5% commission on his bet.
If both of the dealer's hands beat the player's hand, the player loses his bet.
But if one hand is a winner and the other is a loser, the bet is considered a 'push.' This means the player gets to keep his bet, but he doesn't get any winnings in addition to that.
Also, ties go to the banker.
40% of the time, the outcome is a push, which is huge. At most pai gow poker tables, you'll see 30 hands per hour. If 12 of them are ties, you're only looking at 18 hands per hour with a win or loss.
This kind of thing matters a lot when you're trying to track how much money per hour it costs to play a specific casino game. In blackjack, for example, you're liable to see 100 hands per hour, but most of them won't result in a push.
I like leisurely games where I don't lose a lot of money at once. Pai gow poker fits the bill nicely.
Banking in Pai Gow Poker
In most casino games, the betting is pretty straightforward. You're the player, and you bet against the dealer. In pai gow poker, though, you have the option to bet against the dealer and the other players. Only one player gets to be the banker on each hand, though—the opportunity rotates.
Here's the thing about being the banker in pai gow poker, though—it requires (as you might expect) a large bankroll. Most people just decline the opportunity to be the banker.
If you do choose to play as the banker, you can set your hand any way you like. You're not required to follow the house way.
Being able to play as the banker enables players to get a small edge, especially if you're playing with other players who are beginners and aren't good at the game. The strategy in pai gow poker stems from how you're able to set your hands.
The House Edge in Pai Gow Poker
The house edge is the long-term expected win for the casino expressed as a percentage. It's a forecast and an estimate, but it only applies in the long run—over the course of thousands of hands. Still, it's good information to have about a casino game.
Generally, the lower the house edge, the better the game is for the player. For example, the house edge in blackjack is usually around 1%, but that assumes the use of perfect basic strategy. This means that every time you place a $100 bet, the casino expects to win an average of $1.
The house edge in pai gow poker varies based on a couple of things. One of these is how good you are at setting your hand. The other is how often you can afford to play as the banker.
Generally, the house edge in pai gow poker is 2.7%, although it's much lower when playing as the banker. This estimate assumes you're just following the house way strategy. If you can play more optimally than that, you can whittle the house edge down by another 0.2%.
And if you're playing as the banker and using optimal strategy, the house edge is even lower—around 0.3%. If you can find a table where the other players aren't very good at setting hands, you might even be able to get a long-term advantage. This is an example of an advantage gambling technique.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy for Setting Your Hand
For most recreational gamblers, a strategy similar to the house way is sufficient. Getting any more optimal than that is more trouble than it's worth for the tiny gain in expectation. Below I've outlined one common house way of setting hands.
To understand this guide to pai gow poker strategy, you should know which hand is your 'front' hand and which hand is your 'back' hand. Luckily, this isn't complicated.
The front hand is your 2-card hand.
The back hand is your 5-card hand.
Here's how to play with close to correct pai gow poker strategy:
First, if you have no pairs at all in your 7 cards, put the highest card in your front hand. Put the next 2 highest cards in your back hand.
If you have one pair, always put it in your back hand. Then put your 2 other highest cards in your back hand.
If you have 2 pairs, you'll put one pair in your back hand and the other in your front hand. The higher ranked pair goes in your back hand, and the lower ranked pair goes in your front hand. But sometimes, you'll want to keep both pairs in your back hand.
You'll do this if you have a pair of 7s and no ace. You'll also do this if you have a pair of jacks or better AND a pair of 6s or better along with an ace. And finally, you'll do this if you have a pair of aces and any other pair.
If you get 3 pairs, put the highest-ranked pair in your front hand. The other 2, of course, go in your back hand.
If you have 3 of a kind, put all 3 of those cards in your back hand UNLESS you have 3 aces. In that case, you put an ace in your front hand and 2 aces in your back hand.
If you have a 3 of a kind AND a 2nd 3 of a kind, put the lower-ranked 3 of a kind in your back hand. Then split up the 2nd 3 of a kind so that you'll have a pair in your front hand.
If you get a full house, split it up so that you have a pair in your front hand and 3 of a kind in your back hand.
If you get a straight, flush, or a straight flush, you should always keep those 5 cards together in your back hand.
If you have a 4 of a kind, how you play it depends on the ranks of the cards. If they're 6 or lower, you'll keep the 4 of a kind together in your back hand. If they're 7, 8, 9, or 10, you should split them unless you have an ace, in which case you keep them together and put the ace in your front hand. Is san manuel casino open.
If you have a 4 of a kind consisting of face cards, split them unless you also have a pair of 10s or higher. And if you have 4 aces, split them unless you have a pair of 7s or higher.
If you get 5 aces, you should split them unless you have a pair of kings to put in your front hand. Interior wall mail slot cover.
Besides that, you should always play as the banker if you can afford to, because of the much lower house edge. This isn't an option when playing in an online casino, but it's an option at most traditional brick and mortar casinos.
Pai Gow Poker Strategy Betting
Conclusion
Pai Gow Poker Strategy Card
If you're looking for affordable entertainment in the form of casino gambling, you'll have a hard time finding a better game than pai gow poker. A house edge of 2.7% sounds high, but it's really not bad at all when you consider that 40% of the hands you'll play will be a push.
Optimal strategy for pai gow poker is more complicated than the house way, but if you just play by the house way, you'll be doing better than most other players at the table. Consider using the house way strategy provided in this post next time you play.
Finally, one of the biggest distinctions between pai gow poker and other casino games is the ability to play as the banker. You should take advantage of this as much as possible, but you'll probably only be able to if you're a high roller with a huge bankroll.