Pai Gow Poker Video

You guys were pretty brutal on my last video, so I'm apprehensive about going back in the lion's den. However, the second installment in my video series is ready on pai gow poker. With this one we meet our friend PaiGowDan, whom we know so well here.

Okay, let me have it.

Oh oh....I'm scared (seriously).....I gotta take a look.

Quote: Wizard

You guys were pretty brutal on my last video

I realize now you have no plans to go back and re-do these. My first reaction, outside of video quality, is that for this particular one, you are launching a little more into intermediate level than you [might] realize. It really is a rapid progression into deeper strategy without any comfort level for beginners being established, IMO. In future videos my personal vote is for more beginner stuff. For example, you might more emphasize that it is OK here to completely pick up the cards, a difference from most games. Just more basic stuff. Perhaps you decided against it for this video. It is good for someone who has played before, but not much or without any idea what they were doing, to get some strategy.

PS: there is a lovely view

I didn't notice--- were Dan and the Wiz in the video?

Serious critique- the cards were too small for me to see.... and I agree with odious---- definitely not easy for a beginner to pick up...

Quote: SOOPOO

I didn't notice--- were Dan and the Wiz in the video?

At least it has one positive quality.

That is a fair point about going too fast and the cards being too small. I've always said this project was a dry run. There is already talks of redoing everything, probably in the summer.

I didn't have a chance yet to listen, but I watched/scanned thru some of it.

You need more lighting and better camera angles. Too often Dan had his back to the camera. I mean he was doing the right thing by looking at you while talking to you, but there should have been a camera over the model's shoulder to get those shots.

Way too many times Dan had the bored look with his chin on his hand type of thing. I seriously doubt Dan ever does that when he's dealing. In fact, Dan's hands were all over the place. I think part of the reason he's doing it is because he's seated. As a result, he's forgetting that he's a dealer and has become a participant. Get rid of Dan's chair.

And SooPoo is right about the cards. But not necessarily larger - just easier to see.
Run down to Spinetti's or Gambler's Superstore. Get "Low Vision" cards.

1. Show the Banker puck being moved around the table.
Explain the Banker option in the beginning of the video, not the end.

2. Explain who gets the first hand and how that is determined.

3. Emphasize that the five card hand MUST be higher than the two card hand.
If it is not, you forfeit your hand.

4. Show the hands super imposed(?) like you did with your balloon comments.
This would give the viewer a better understanding of what the cards are and how you set them.

OK. I'm watching, and commenting while I watch.


Turn off or cover the electronic items in the background. OK, one of them is adverting the dragon bet, and maybe the company that is allowing you to use the room wants that seen, so I'll let it go. But there is also an electronic scroll display behind the model that we really don't need to have there to distract us.

The model is a professional. When she's not actively involved, setting her cards, her arms sit on the rail, fingers intertwined. She doesn't move. OK, she fidgets a little, but just a little.

I don't have to tell you about the errors do I? OK, you "fixed" them with the little text bubbles, but it's still no good.

You never specified that the low hand must RANK lower than the high hand. In fact, particularly when considering the other errors, one might think that, because the low hand is placed above the high hand, that you actually did screw up and are calling them by the wrong name.

There's one point where we can hear Dan counting out cards for the next hand. The cards should be pre-set. You're not in a casino. You're not risking money. It's OK if you rig the game for dramatic / educational purposes.

What you need is SCRIPTING.

I don't mean word for word, but have the cards pre-selected, and know what they are going to be and how they are going to be split, but also know what the challenge is on each hand so you know what to discuss when you see the cards.

On the third (fourth?) hand, Dan gets the joker and says he has "4 diamonds with the joker". I immediately thought that meant he could make a flush. I had to watch in slow motion to realize that he meant 4 diamonds if you count the joker as a diamond. He should have said he has "3 diamonds, the joker makes 4, not enough for the flush."

The two-pair point system wasn't adequately described.


I'm sure I can come up with other stuff, but I think I beat you up enough.

Besides, I'm not so sure I could do any better....

Quote: FatGeezus

1. Show the Banker puck being moved around the table.
Explain the Banker option in the beginning of the video, not the end.

I disagree with this. The vast majority of players are not interested in banking. Those that might bank would probably be confused by discussion of it until after they understand the basics of the game.

Quote: jml24

I disagree with this. The vast majority of players are not interested in banking. Those that might bank would probably be confused by discussion of it until after they understand the basics of the game.

1. Banking was downplayed as something that would throw a newbie, and banking is being removed in general use from casino PGP as an unproductive relic of the game in any case. Its ommission for the purposes of this video was appropriate, and was discussed.
2. By sitting down, it did feel more like a home game than a casino game; in any case, and for such a shoot, I wasn't going to stand stiff at "soup Nazi attention" for the demo. ("No Joker for YOU!") Most modern pit crew and dealers aren't that old school anal any longer.
3. The joker was explained as used for "aces, straights, and flushes." Saying "four diamonds with (including) the joker is too short for the flush" does explain its use as another card for the suit;
4. We didn't have a shuffler machine for the shoot. The "7-card packet" aspect was discussed as part of the process was all right. The machine would have helped, but we made do without. It was filmed at Gaming Networks former location at Amelia Earhart Drive.
5. Angela's lovely presence was a fine bonus. It would have been less appealing, (slightly, of course) if it were just me and Mike. Who wants to see a couple of guys, versus two guys and a hot chick?....
6. The shoot could have used a more scripted approach, true, but as a "102" type intro as opposed to a "101" type intro was all right.
It is what it is.