‘House Way’ Meaning | Casino & Gambling Terms Explained

‘House Way’ is a term used to describe the set of rules that a casino dealer must follow when playing their hand in certain table games, such as Pai Gow Poker. The House Way is designed to give the casino a slight edge over the players, by minimizing the dealer’s chances of losing or splitting the pot. The House Way is not a secret, and it is usually posted on the table or available upon request. The House Way can vary from casino to casino, but the differences are usually marginal and happen in frequently.

The House Way implications

The House Way applies to games that involve dividing the cards into two hands, such as Pai Gow Poker. In Pai Gow Poker, the dealer and the player each receive seven cards, and they must form two hands: a five-card hand (also known as the high hand or the back hand) and a two-card hand (also known as the low hand or the front hand). The ranking of the hands follows the standard poker rules, with one exception: the second-highest straight is A-2-3-4-5, also known as the wheel. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer’s two hands with your own two hands.

The House Way determines how the dealer will arrange their cards into two hands, based on a hierarchy of possible combinations. The House Way usually follows these general principles:

• The dealer will always try to make the highest-ranked five-card hand possible, unless they have a specific combination that requires a different arrangement.
• The dealer will never play a full house as the high hand. They will always split it, unless they have a pair of aces or better to play as the low hand.
• The dealer will never play a flush or a straight as the high hand, unless they have two pair or better to play as the low hand, or they have no pair at all.
• The dealer will always play the highest pair as the low hand, unless they have a specific combination that requires a different arrangement.
• The dealer will always play the highest card as the low hand, if they have no pair or better.

Here are some examples of how the dealer will arrange their cards according to the House Way:

• If the dealer has A-A-K-K-8-7-6, they will play A-A as the low hand and K-K-8-7-6 as the high hand.
• If the dealer has 9-9-8-8-7-6-5, they will play 9-9 as the low hand and 8-8-7-6-5 as the high hand.
• If the dealer has A-K-Q-J-10-9-8, they will play A-K as the low hand and Q-J-10-9-8 as the high hand.
• If the dealer has A-2-3-4-5-6-7, they will play A-2 as the low hand and 3-4-5-6-7 as the high hand.

Knowing the House Way can help you improve your strategy and decision-making when playing against the dealer. You can compare your cards with the dealer’s possible hands, and try to arrange your cards in a way that gives you the best chance of winning or at least pushing (tying) the pot. You can also use the House Way as a guide when you are unsure of how to split your cards, or when you want to simplify your choices. However, you should also be aware that the House Way is not always the optimal way to play your hand, and sometimes you may have to deviate from it depending on the situation and your personal preferences.