1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Table Games Pai Gow Poker

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by boofmichael, Oct 16, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. boofmichael

    boofmichael Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2014
    Messages:
    435
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    3
    Hi Guys,

    Just looking for a little info on Pai Gow Poker. Do they still play it at NYNY or would the Luxor be my best bet for low limit games?

    Also, how does it work in terms of the banker...is the dealer always the banker? If so, can someone confirm what the following outcomes result in (from a players perspective):

    1. Tie/Lose (Player Lose)
    2. Win/Lose (Push)
    3. Tie/Tie (Push)
    4. Win/Win (Player win)
    5. Lose/Lose (Player Lose)

    Any others that I've missed?

    My question is really if the dealer is the banker all the time, then surely they've got a significant advantage given that two outcomes (1 & 5 above) results in the banker winning, but only one outcome (4 above) results in the player winning? I appreciate the majority of hands will push, but just wanted to double-check.

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. bjpcyclone

    bjpcyclone High-Roller

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2013
    Messages:
    949
    Location:
    NE Oklahoma
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    I played $15 Pai Gow at NYNY in August so they definitely have it. From what I remember, dealer is always the banker (I think this is right but no one at the table asked to be banker either) and they have the dragon hand.
     
  3. sindustry

    sindustry VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2013
    Messages:
    3,172
    Tie/tie is a lose. Win/tie is a push.
     
  4. WrongWayWade

    WrongWayWade VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2010
    Messages:
    1,151
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    27
    It's simpler than that because there are no ties. If both the dealer and player have identical (low or high) hands, the dealer wins that hand. Win/Win is a win, Win/Loss is a push, Loss/Loss is a loss.

    Because of this feature (ties go to the dealer) it is advantageous to be the banker, because you get to win the ties. Of course, you have to have enough cash to cover all the bets you'll be fading and you have to want to have that extra action.

    The dealer always deals the cards, but you can be the banker and play against the dealer and all the other players for that hand. There is a pattern (different at different places) that determines how often it becomes your turn to have the opportunity to bank. It's quite common to see tables where no one ever banks. You'll also see superstitious players that will refuse to play if you become the banker. I never have found out if they don't want to win money from me or lose money to me. Not sure what the objection is.
     
  5. GeorgeJ.

    GeorgeJ. VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2011
    Messages:
    1,384
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    I don't see anyone banking too often where I go (Boulder Station & Aliante). If I'm playing one-on-one with the dealer, I do often ask to bank every other hand (the most they'll let you do). Rather than winning ties, I usually do it because I'm getting crap cards & the dealer is getting good hands..
     
  6. hillwood24

    hillwood24 High-Roller

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2012
    Messages:
    773
    Location:
    Fort Worth, TX
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    13
    They do offer banking at NYNY. The only time I played there I banked every other hand.
     
  7. pokerbum

    pokerbum Tourist

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2013
    Messages:
    17
    Location:
    Outside Boston MA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    2
    I was went to both last Sat- Luxor had 2 or 3 tables with alot of spots, and I think both were $15. I think NYNY had only one table open at $25 and was very crowded I could not get an open seat. Also they are kind of hidden at NYNY I had to walk around the casino a couple times to find them ....although the Vodka and Cokes I was drinking prob didn't help that situation!
     
  8. dutchvelvet

    dutchvelvet VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2014
    Messages:
    1,123
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    4
    Pai Gow Poker is one of my favorite games. On the strip I've played at Mandalay Bay and Bellagio. Mandalay Bay has all their Pai Gow Poker in the Lotus room, with the other Asian games. You can definitely bank there, and usually people will pull back if you do. The tables are always set at $25 min, which is pretty typical of the strip. Your money lasts a lot longer at Pai Gow than something like blackjack, so keep that in mind. Bellagio had a table with the Dragon side bet, which is nice.

    As far as real low minimum I can't really speak to it. Even downtown I see primarily $15 tables. I know Pai Gow Poker at the D is $15 min. A $5 Pai Gow table seems like it would not be really profitable for the casino. I can't imagine it going lower than $10 (that would put commission lower than .50).
     
  9. pokerbum

    pokerbum Tourist

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2013
    Messages:
    17
    Location:
    Outside Boston MA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    2
    The GF wants to stay at Mandalay to use their pool in the Spring....so I will prob hit up that Lotus room then. It sounds like a nice place to play some Pai Gow while she is sitting by the pool!

    Downtown Grand has one Pai Gow table that is $5 min even on the weekends. I played on Friday night a couple of weeks ago and most of the table was betting between $10 and $30 with 5 on the Bonus Bet. There were some people playing $5's and they were charged a quarter commission for a win....

    I think they make alot on the side bets so prob do the low limits to lure players in..since their clientele seems to not be the hardcore gamblers found in most of the other places Downtown. But Downtown Grand is a nice little place with low limits, friendly dealers and light on the cigarette smoke- which is hard to find Downtown!
     
  10. GeorgeJ.

    GeorgeJ. VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2011
    Messages:
    1,384
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    Most or all of the Station Casinos have $5 minimum PaiGow all day. Aliante does too, although they can sometimes close the table on the graveyard shift and move the dealer over to a Blackjack table if they need another table open. But they will usually reopen PaiGow for me if I come in at 6AM and they don't need 2 Blackjack tables open at that point (meaning that during the week at 6AM there's maybe 1 person playing in the pit and they can easily reopen Pai Gow).
     
  11. doug2288

    doug2288 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2013
    Messages:
    138
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    I like commission free pai gow poker, the Palace Station has this game.But if house gets 9 high then it's a push.
     
  12. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2012
    Messages:
    2,241
    Location:
    Pergatory
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    9 high on the 2 card hand, right?

    There are two versions of Commission Free PGP, that one and one where it's a push if the dealer has a Queen high Pai Gow.

    I played the Queen high version last night at Caesars Windsor for hours and I loved it! It's so much cleaner without having to deal with commission, and they often go 150+ hands without a queen high push hand (there is a tracker on the display screen that lists how long it's been since the last one).
     
  13. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2014
    Messages:
    7,484
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    I believe the Q high bonus bet is $100 as well correct? I only played the Qhigh game.
     
  14. ams722

    ams722 Side Bet Shunner

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2012
    Messages:
    2,241
    Location:
    Pergatory
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    The side bet at Caesars Windsor for when the dealer gets the Queen High Pai Gow pays 50-1.

    In addition to that one, they have two other side bets on those tables. All massive sucker bets.
     
  15. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2014
    Messages:
    7,484
    Location:
    Chicago
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    17
    Oh yeah. I actually like commission free pai gow cause I never get $1 chips so I never play any bonus bets. On regular I usually will just play a buck here or there.

    Once night I was playing pai gow with 21 year old on her birthday. She dropped a grand on the tables and was playing $25 a hand on the bonus and I think 100 on regular hand.
     
  16. Dtyst1

    Dtyst1 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2012
    Messages:
    110
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    13
    In June we (group of 5) were at Ballys staring at an empty $20 Pai Gow Poker table. We had two new players in our group that weren't comfortable learning at that limit, as they were playing earlier in the day at the D for $10. We asked the pit boss if he'd lower the limit to $10. He did without thinking twice. We played, drank, and had a good couple of hours. They offered banking but the marker was passed counter-clockwise around the table, so you could only bank every six or seven hands.
     
  17. doug2288

    doug2288 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2013
    Messages:
    138
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    yeah, you are right.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.