Table Games Pai Gow Poker Banking Etiquette

Last weekend, while staying at Wynn, I decided to replace my craps action with some time on the PGP tables. (Yes, I know that even with the lame 2X odds, craps is still the better game, but...principles and whatnot.) Anyway, it was the first time I had played PGP in ages and I not only had a good time, I never walked away from a table with anything less than my buy in.

I was usually playing heads up with the dealer and banking every other hand. I know I've read (somewhere) that some people don't look kindly upon those who bank. The dealers I played with confirmed this as well (because apparently people prefer the house to win more?) So when others would join the table, I would stop banking and usually leave shortly thereafter since I'm such a noob anyway and didn't want to give others a reason to let their inner DB out. By the next time I play, however, I'll have the strategy down pat and won't feel like such a neophyte. Therefore, I won't have to worry if I'm annoying the others at the table by making dumb mistakes.

So, do people actually get upset when you bank? Should I just ignore those poor irrational souls or will I be an outcast and kill the vibe at the table?

 

Just play your game. You are there to have fun. If you have enough to cover the other people at the tables bet than bank if you want.


I was playing PGP With a bunch and every time I bank the rest of the table of guys would double their bets.

First time. Most times people would lower not raise their bets. Oh. They were all betting blacks. But I had enough chips to cover it


It was a bunch of 20's. Guys. I ask why and they said they wanted the table to win. And not just me?

In the end. They left and I won mostly their money.


So play the way you play. Don't let others stop you Since I did't know them and they were drinking more than gambling

 

Some casinos seem to have confusion on how often you can bank...I won't name the casino since I'll be back there but it depended upon the pit boss as to how often you could bank. I was playing one-on-one with the dealer & as was the norm, I was allowed to bank every other hand. Another pit boss came over & told the dealer he had to move the bank chip from empty spot to empty spot & only let me bank every 8 hands. The dealer & I both looked at each other on this one...Pit boss #2 thought it was too much of an advantage to the player to let me bank every other hand...

 

I've played Pai Gow and I'm a fan, but I've never banked before. Good social game. Can someone explain banking to me?

 

When you bank, instead of just playing against the dealer's hand, you basically become the dealer - you're playing against the dealer's hand and all of the other player's hands. You have pay anybody who beats your hands, and you collect from anybody who loses to your hands.

Obviously, you have to have the bankroll to do it, but it carries some advantages such as:

As a player, your individual hands have to exceed the dealer's in order for that hand to be a "win."
So if your five card hand is the same as the dealer and your two card hand is better, it's a push, because the dealer "won" the five card hand..
If both your hands are the same as the dealer's, you lose, because the dealer wins both.

If you're banking, you get the benefit of that rule.

Wizard of Odds says banking reduces the expected loss by 90% from 2.72% to 0.25%

 

Makes sense. Also makes sense why you might only do it when you're heads up with the dealer. Thanks!

 

Players don't like it when people bank - it's just psychological.

It's similar to when you bet the opposite way from most of the table in baccarat.

Banking doesn't affect the odds that another player will win or lose but:

• Most people don't view losing to the dealer as a personal thing, but losing to another player gives them the opportunity to.
• If they're playing against your hands, and they push or lose, they can look at the dealer's hands and the result might have been different, which will piss them off.

 

When another player wants to bank, I always pull my bet back and sit out the hand...and I've noticed that other players do the same....basically allowing the player, who is banking, to go heads up against the house...my perception was everyone pulled their bets because no one wanted to takes that player's money, should he lose...

 

That's what I was afraid of.

I certainly don't want to piss off the table - especially if I'd be the only one banking. After all, gambling is supposed to be fun.

Guess I will continue to play heads up and just leave when I start annoying people (unless I'm winning big, then to hell with 'em). The more people playing, the less the benefit of banking anyway.

 

Wife and I will usually throttle down our bet to table mins when a player banks. We'd rather take money from the casino, not another player. It's hard to get excited against a fellow degenerate when you have an A-Q-J-8-6-4-2, but it's just enough to beat the bankers A-Q-J-7-4-3-2.

Also, The money we take away from the bet usually gets added on to the bonus side bet. So the actual amount of chips on the felt remains about the same.

 

What does banking mean? I've played PGP a few times but not sure if this Banking this is what I think it is.

 

At caesar's windsor I was at able whenever someone would bank everyone would put a min bet out. It was a blast. I usually bank when I can heads up but I usually do not have the $ to bank with others at the table

 

I probably didn't give enough consideration to different bankroll sizes. If others are betting significantly more or less that does change things, I suppose.

Thanks for all the responses, gang.

 

I say play how you want to play. If another player wants to bank, I'll pull my bet back and sit out the hand.

 

I usually bank when the dealer has had many huge hands. Basically to 'mix-it-up' and try to subconsciously throw off the dealer's hands (it does not work, but I feel the need to do it sometimes!!!).

Before banking I explain to the table what I am doing, and to basically ignore the dealer's hand that comes out, and only focus on my hand. This explanation generally does not go well, since they actually get to see what they would have 'beaten'. Then my hand goes up, and they normally throw a fit, since they knew that they could have beaten the dealer hand, but not mine.

Unfortunately, players don't understand what is going on, and many have left after my banking option, or go silent, and end our 'lovely' conversation. They don't realize that I am trying to help the table out, and mixing up the dealer's 'hot' hands.

Normally, my hand sucks bad, and then the player's are, of course, happy to see it go to the dealer. Then they encourage me to bank all I want.

In the end, it is your money and your decision. Just don't expect any other players to understand what you are doing.

 

I bank when ever I can which isn't too often anymore. I try to make it fun for everyone at the table even though I am playing them. Sorry to take their money and then say you got me when they win.
Most people are not aware you can bank and are surprised when you do. Play the game and enjoy your luck good or bad..

 

Agreed. I have played bacc with players who always bet agaimst the group. It becomes personal and sometimes you get to a point where you don't really care about the game. It becomes me vs you (other guy betting against you). it's like betting red/black, do/dont, banker/player. People get a little cocky and mouthy.

I have encountered it before many times. In my younger days, I use to not care and bet what ever i wanted, even against the table. People get pissed off then it becomes personal until someone leaves.

I don't think people understand you are still going against the casino when you bet opposite sides. They are always collecting commission with odds. I guess in the long run, the math says this. But in real life, a big player could do serious damage to a smaller.casino.

I guess the ideal casino would be having people bet against each other and collecting the commission without risking much money.

I guess the only benefit from this is that a player will go home as a winner whether it's you or the other person.

Its just nice when everyone wins or lose together. The game is alot better when you are taking the casinos money with a pack of people knowing they are down and you and the pack are up.

I didn't know about banking in pai gow. I think I will try it if I play with a bunch of d bags at a table. Be the bigger d bag

 

Actually, the benefit of banking goes way up when there are more people at the table...

Just think of it this way: does the house want one person playing at the table or seven? They want more because they take in more money that way...

When you bank, winning the copy hands gives you an advantage over everyone else so you want as many people playing as possible... Assuming your bankroll can cover everyone's bets of course.

 

I do hate it when a player would bank when you just won and he lost. You are on a roll and he doesn't care because he's the center of the universe. I don't mind if another player banks when we all lost to the dealer, but some people bank when only they lose. When that happens I push in a few big chips so if they can't cover my action they can't bank.