Playing a flush in pai gow poker is similar in many ways to playing a straight.  A flush is such a strong high hand that you want to play it whenevever possible.  However, there are multiple hand combinations to consider. 

• Flush with two singletons
• Flush and a pair
• Flush using the bug and a pair
• Flush and straight
• Flush and two pair
• Flush and three pair
• Flush and three of a kind 

Flush and two singletons

If you have a flush and two singletons, play the flush in your high hand.  If you have 6 or 7 cards to the flush, play the lowest five in your high hand and the highest two in your 2nd high hand.

Flush and a pair

If you can set the pair off in the 2nd high hand without breaking up your flush, then the hand plays itself.  You set the flush as your high hand and your pair in the 2nd high hand.  Unfortunately it is not always that simple and sometimes you must consider putting the pair in your high hand and making the best 2nd high hand.  

Break your flush and play the pair in your high hand is the following two conditions are met:

• Your pair is at least 99
• You can play at least a A,J in your 2nd high hand

If you cannot meet both of those conditions do not break up your flush.

Flush using the bug and a pair

If you can keep your flush in tact and get the pair to the 2nd high hand, the hand sets itself.  You should always do this whenever possible.  If you have an ace and the bug (your pair) and they are both needed to make the flush you should always keep the flush unless this forces your 2nd high hand to drop below Q,T - in which case you should play the pair of aces in your high hand and make the best 2nd high hand possible (Q,T or higher).

In all other cases, use the guidance above for playing a natural flush and a pair.

Flush and two pair

If you can play one pair in the 2nd high hand and still maintain your flush, then do it.   If you can't do that, then the best play is likely to be to ignore the flush and set the hand according to two pair guidance.  The exception (it's pai gow poker, of course there's an exception!) is if your two pair total 7 or less (5522, 4433, 4422, 3322) AND your best possible 2nd high hand becomes Q,T or worse.  In this case, play the flush in your high hand.

Flush and three pair

Always play as three pair

Flush and three of a kind

You should play the flush in the high hand and a pair in the 2nd high hand.  The lone exceptions comes when your three of a kind comes from holding two aces and the bug, and playing AA in the 2nd high hand breaks the flush.  In this case, play the straight and set an ace high 2nd high hand.