Heavy's Axis Power Craps Forum

This past year I started to learn how to play pai gow tiles. I bought a set and printed out a sheet with optimal strategy. Not gonna lie, it’s a VERY difficult game to master optimally. But, that challenge is what intrigues me about this game! If played optimally, you can actually achieve a player advantage when you bank. Only downside is casinos know this so they limit your betting when you bank. You cannot bet anything more than what you bet previously, with the exception that some places will let you bet no more than 10% more than what your last bet was. Shakelford says that when offered this proposition you should absolutely take it as it lowers the house edge/raises the player edge even more.

Another thing that I think makes this game great is the low volitility combined with a low house edge. It’s the perfect “chill & relax” game, imo.

I played it once a long while ago at MGM Grand in Vegas back when I had no clue how to play. The only other time was over a year ago at Palace Station when I finally knew how to play it. It’s funny because living in CT my whole life playing at Foxwoods & Mohegan this game is very popular in the Asian game pits, yet I never bothered to take an interest in it until now.

Anyways, anyone else out there play it?

I used to play a little bit of the Americanized version - Pai Gow Poker - years ago. Played very similarly, except with cards. It's been so long since I've even SEEN the game, much less played it, that I'd have to refresh myself on the rules before playing again. But I do remember that you should be the Bank as often as they will let you. I also remember that most of the new players at the table had the dealer set their cards for them because they couldn't figure out how to do it. That's about it. But it was one of the games John Patrick always recommended because of the low volatility and slow play.

Oh I’m very familiar with pai gow poker. It’s one of my favorite games. It was actually one of the first games I learned to play.

I play it when I can find it(Seldom in recent years). I use to play it more often as it seemed more casinos offered at least one of the versions.
Its a very fair, low H.E.,low SD game in my opinion. In the Midwest most casinos in recent years (corp and indian) don't offer either version. Midwest meaning mostly the casinos I frequently play in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Colorado. I have recently played it most often in Colorado. The Monarch in Black Hawk--Central City offers a variant:

Emperor’s Challenge Exposed is a commission free Pai Gow variant, where the dealer sets their hand face-up, allowing players to set their own hands in an optimal manner.
This game offers opportunities because the dealer sets their cards face up allowing for you to choose an optimal strategy!


Cheers,