Played the Pai Gow Tiles yesterday!
March 1st, 2012 at 8:55:00 AM
permalink
We went to Rustic Kitchen at Mohegan Sun Poconos for dinner last night, and afterward, while Mrs pushed the buttons, I went over to the tiles. There were 2 tables, $25 minimum, with one player at one table and none at the second. So I sat down at the empty table opposite Barb, who was very nice and helpful. (One thing I think I think, I think Pai Gow Tiles dealers probably have pretty quick minds; I was not disappointed.)
My intent was not to sit and play tiles all evening, but rather to understand the flow of the game and to get my feet wet, so I bought in for $100. I banked every other hand, and set the tiles according to the recommendations I learned from playing at Wizard of Vegas and reading Musante's book.
It's not that hard. A little confusing, I had to ask once if a couple of tiles made a pair, but otherwise I got it right from the get:
1) look for gee joon, then pairs, then wongs and gongs, then nines, then highest/lowest combo; pay attention to the "wild" tiles.
2) check to see if a more balanced hand could be made that has a better chance of winning both.
3) set and cross fingers.
Really, all the difficulty is in understanding and remembering the tile rankings. Once that's done, the rules are simple, the strategy is basic, and the amount that you can increase your chances is dependent on how many exceptions to the basic strategy you can remember. Which is then further a function of experience; how many hours you have played.
My results were what I would consider typical. I won two, lost three, and pushed seven times. I won once with a middling hand, 5/5 I think, and once with gong/pair, which was teen/yun/day/day, a nice hand! I lost with 9/wong (!!) and twice with crappy hands, stuff like 2/3.
I'd like to play a bit more before I sit down with other players at the table. But I'm OK with putting my money in front of the tiles, it's not so bad. It's a fun game, with all of the pre-reveal anticipation that I enjoy from card and dice games. And that's another reason to learn the tiles, for the enjoyment of instantly recognizing when you have something like teen/yun/day/day. Because as we all know, it's good to win, but it's not about the money; if I wanted to make money, I'd have gone to work and made lots of it. It's about FUN.
Highly recommended, for those who are looking for a change of pace. Two thumbs up.
My intent was not to sit and play tiles all evening, but rather to understand the flow of the game and to get my feet wet, so I bought in for $100. I banked every other hand, and set the tiles according to the recommendations I learned from playing at Wizard of Vegas and reading Musante's book.
It's not that hard. A little confusing, I had to ask once if a couple of tiles made a pair, but otherwise I got it right from the get:
1) look for gee joon, then pairs, then wongs and gongs, then nines, then highest/lowest combo; pay attention to the "wild" tiles.
2) check to see if a more balanced hand could be made that has a better chance of winning both.
3) set and cross fingers.
Really, all the difficulty is in understanding and remembering the tile rankings. Once that's done, the rules are simple, the strategy is basic, and the amount that you can increase your chances is dependent on how many exceptions to the basic strategy you can remember. Which is then further a function of experience; how many hours you have played.
My results were what I would consider typical. I won two, lost three, and pushed seven times. I won once with a middling hand, 5/5 I think, and once with gong/pair, which was teen/yun/day/day, a nice hand! I lost with 9/wong (!!) and twice with crappy hands, stuff like 2/3.
I'd like to play a bit more before I sit down with other players at the table. But I'm OK with putting my money in front of the tiles, it's not so bad. It's a fun game, with all of the pre-reveal anticipation that I enjoy from card and dice games. And that's another reason to learn the tiles, for the enjoyment of instantly recognizing when you have something like teen/yun/day/day. Because as we all know, it's good to win, but it's not about the money; if I wanted to make money, I'd have gone to work and made lots of it. It's about FUN.
Highly recommended, for those who are looking for a change of pace. Two thumbs up.
A falling knife has no handle.
March 1st, 2012 at 11:10:46 AM
permalink
good for you. If I could just find I could play it on the free games and understand what's going on at all....
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell! She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
March 1st, 2012 at 1:04:12 PM
permalink
Make 9. Gongs and wongs are 10s and 11s. Pairs trump all. Win top and bottom. The rest is learning the ranks of the tiles.
A falling knife has no handle.
March 1st, 2012 at 1:55:24 PM
permalink
Sounds like you had good, inexpensive fun. Good for you!
I don't remember reading that step on the Wiz' PG Tiles page...Quote: Mosca3) set and cross fingers.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
March 1st, 2012 at 2:31:33 PM
permalink
Congratulations on your modest success. Glad you had a good time!
March 1st, 2012 at 5:45:23 PM
permalink
Mosca - I wouldn't be too concerned about others - I have found that it seems that the dealer and players at the table are more than happy to assist you in a pinch - just remember they will probably tell you house way, and not the optimal way. No one has ever complained that I've taken too long at the table to set the tiles. They have laughed when I accidentally punt the tiles part way across the table when I flip them to set them however. ;)
-B
-B
