Banking in Pai Gow and Pai Gow Poker

Quote: rdw4potus

Yes, Pai Gow insurance is available to a banking player (at least at the Majestic Star in East Chicago). I hadn't thought about taking it because the HA is so high, but I guess it might be a reasonable hedge.

On the other hand it might increase your loses if you win a minority of hands while banking. That's the problem with hedging.

BTW I heard one dealer say almost no one takes the insurance bet because, in his words, "players feel they're inviting a bad hand." I wish I could say that surprised me, but it didn't.

Quote: Nareed

BTW I heard one dealer say almost no one takes the insurance bet because, in his words, "players feel they're inviting a bad hand." I wish I could say that surprised me, but it didn't.

That's the same reason I won't buy life insurance. It only pays off if you die. Who wants to bet on that?

Quote: PapaChubby

That's the same reason I won't buy life insurance. It only pays off if you die. Who wants to bet on that?

I don't know how to respond to rhetorical jokes.

I'm baffled. Why would etiquette require that a player sit out, or even ask, when another player is banking? This is utter nonsense. When a player chooses to bank, he is willingly changing the game from a ho-hum battle against the corporate casino to a spirited challenge to his fellow man, i.e. REAL gambling, as God and cowboys intended. In my view, nobody who would shy away from such a proposition has any business in a casino.

And remember, etiquette is precisely what you decide etiquette will be, no more and no less. Setting the boundaries of etiquette involves a formula of two parts leadership to one part class. You know you've successfully established it when everybody is still smiling.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I too find some aspects of banking confusing. Of course, I don't bank because I don't have the bankroll for it.

You do NOT place a bet when you bank. You're the banker. Much like when the dealer is the banker and the rack has to be sufficient to cover the player's bets, your stack has to cover the player's bets, as well as the dealer's bet. As has been discussed, the dealer will bet the same amount you bet the last time the dealer banked.

This confuses me as well.i play pgp not tiles. i have never seen the house make a bet against you. the houses sets up your hand for you as you when you are the banker. there is no bet by the house. is this in tiles only? or do you hAve to ask for the house to place a bet? super confused

Technically, the house is placing a bet against you, but really you are still placing the bet. You tell the house how much to bet against you so it is the same thing. You can have the house bet up to your prior bet (or I have heard as much as 5% over your prior bet).

The main difference in banking is not the amount of the bet or whether the house bets your or vice versa. the main difference is that you win "copy" hands. That is a "free" advantage. You should bank whenever possible. The only time I would recommend not banking is if you are at a table with players you do not know. You can not control what others bet against you and they may bet more than you are comfortable betting. If you are at a table alone with the dealer, there is absolutely no reason not to bank.

Read the Wizard's strategy for banking. As the number of players goes up, the banker's percentage advantage also goes up. If you can cover five other bets at the table, do it every chance you get. Anyone want to challenge this, I'm happy to learn.