Games Similar To Pai Gow Poker - Slow, Low Risk, Pushes, etc

Today was my first day playing a poker table and I played Pai Gai. I am new to gambling in general and in the past have only played minimum Roulette ($5) with some decent success. After looking up how to play Pai Gow this morning, I decided to try Pai Gai Poker with a minimum $5 bet. I loved it! I played for about 45 minutes and ended up winning $5 and really like it due to its slow nature, many pushes, and since I am not a big money gambler, I don't spend it all very fast. I left Pai Gai Poker and tried craps for the first time, betting the $5 minimum on the pass line twice and lost both times and won my money back on Roulette, having the same amount I started with when I left. Are there any other table games similar to Pai Gow Poker in that it is slow and your money lasts longer with possible lower risk or pushes or where can you bet the minimum just once?

The answer to your question is no, not that I can think of. Maybe penny slots, but it's pretty unique in that it's a slow game AND you push 1/3 of the time. The only redeeming part of it, from the house's point of view, is that the build-in house edge is pretty high for optimal play and you've got peer pressure to make the crappy Fortune bet.

I mean, Pai Gow Tiles is similarly played, but that's kind of a tongue-in-cheek answer.

Quote: Gamesetmatch4

Today was my first day playing a poker table and I played Pai Gai. I am new to gambling in general and in the past have only played minimum Roulette ($5) with some decent success. After looking up how to play Pai Gow this morning, I decided to try Pai Gai Poker with a minimum $5 bet. I loved it! I played for about 45 minutes and ended up winning $5 and really like it due to its slow nature, many pushes, and since I am not a big money gambler, I don't spend it all very fast. I left Pai Gai Poker and tried craps for the first time, betting the $5 minimum on the pass line twice and lost both times and won my money back on Roulette, having the same amount I started with when I left. Are there any other table games similar to Pai Gow Poker in that it is slow and your money lasts longer with possible lower risk or pushes or where can you bet the minimum just once?

There aren't many games, or any, that will be as slow with as many pushes as you had seen in pai gow. Video poker would be your best bet if you play optimally. But that isn't a table game obviously...

My other options at this particular casino with a minimum $5 bet is Caribbean Stud, Crazy Four, Let it Ride, Three Card, and Mississippi Stud. From what I researched about them, it looks like I won't be able to play with just a $5 minimum bet as I think all of these will require me to put the $5 as an ante and then have to raise $10 more just to play? I would like to stick with $5 and that's it.

Let it ride is he only game on that list where each hand can end up costing you only $5, if you pull back the two other wagers and don't place any side wagers.

You will probably like let it ride, if you have a set hand you can leave all the money out there and win "a lot" and you can still stick to your $5 desire with weak hands by pulling back the other two wagers...

While it is true you can pull your bets back in Let it ride, just be aware you can lose many many hands in a row.I have lost 27 in a row before.

I would not recommend LIR at all as a game you can lose slowly playing. You just get killed on it. JMHO.

I genuinely can't think of one you'd like as well, but PGP is my favorite anyway. So enjoy it while you can still play for $5. :)

Quote: beachbumbabs

I would not recommend LIR at all as a game you can lose slowly playing. You just get killed on it. JMHO.

I genuinely can't think of one you'd like as well, but PGP is my favorite anyway. So enjoy it while you can still play for $5. :)

I never said he would lose slowly ;)

I've never grown to hate LIR as much as a lot of others. That being said, I still don't play very often. But it can be a "slow game" simply talking about the wagers being required combined with the hands per hour...

I know this wasn't part of the original question... Out of that list he had posted, I would probably sit at crazy four card. I had a few incredible runs at the Aria and Mandalay bay the last time I was there. But I've also had some very VERY bad runs.

I don't really have patience for PGP these days...

With pai gow I like how after an hour of play only betting $5 a time, I could be up $5 or $10, still have my original $20 in chips or be down $5 or $10. It just doesn't seem like it would take my money fast and as a small money gambler, I woukd prefer to stick with my original $20 or break out another $20 once. I read that blackjack might be good if I learn a basic strategy? I would try the other games I listed above that have minimum bets of $5 which I like but if all of them require a raise of $10 besides let it ride , that's just like playing $15 minimum games

What about jacks or better and deuces wild on video poker?

Quote: Gamesetmatch4

With pai gow I like how after an hour of play only betting $5 a time, I could be up $5 or $10, still have my original $20 in chips or be down $5 or $10. It just doesn't seem like it would take my money fast and as a small money gambler, I woukd prefer to stick with my original $20 or break out another $20 once. I read that blackjack might be good if I learn a basic strategy? I would try the other games I listed above that have minimum bets of $5 which I like but if all of them require a raise of $10 besides let it ride , that's just like playing $15 minimum games

The other table games are at a minimum of 3 to 4 units (15-20$) just to play out the hand... That 40 bucks can be gone instantly...

As far as basic strategy for blackjack and video poker, you can go on the wizardofodds website and pull up the basic strategy for both. Unfortunatky at any game, including BJ it can go very fast. I have many times lost several hands in a row at PGP. The good thing about video poker is that you can play very low denominations. Depending on the house, which it sounds like you are in a lower stakes one, you can probably play 25 or 50 cent hands (5 or 10 cent denomination at the total of five credits bet per hand, playing the max credits) which will most likely be the safest place to prolong your playing experience on such a low bankroll. And you could start winning and increase the stakes at any time...

The only catch with video poker is that you don't get any of the live dealer/play action as in table games. If of course that is what you are looking for.

But if you are simply looking to prolong your small bankroll as long as possible, video poker is you best bet. Additionally, you will probably get rated better if you have a players card playing VP versus playing the minimum bet on a low house edge, low hands per hour table game like PGP.

The only game that is similarly slow with a lot of pushes would be ... Pai Gow Tiles.

The problem is it's difficult to learn, but the dealer can set your hand via House Way.

It gets even slower then PGPoker because of the tedious mixing and stacking of the tiles.

I am guessing you'd prefer to be at a table game, perhaps have the free coffees, talk to other players etc. If you can find a $5 Blackjack and play perfect strategy, the house edge is lower although the hands per hour is higher than PGP and the variance higher. I guess there won't be a Pai Gow Tiles game at $5 and it takes a long time to learn (if you fancy the challenge it's a rewarding game to play). Thus I agree for a nice relaxed game I think PGP is a good choice.

As has been said avoid the sucker side-bets.

How many accounts is Kentry allowed to make?!

I played pgp again last night - this time losing 40. I love it but haven't lost in a casino game till tonight lol. I didn't think I would lose that much on pgp but the dealer was in a hot streak.

Quote: phendricks

How many accounts is Kentry allowed to make?!

Awe you beat me to it. Although I was going to be sly about it like mentioning florida oranges.

I prefer the tiles. You can bank more easily since there is a lot of one on one with the dealer. Also, you are allowed to cut the tiles and the dealers will do different deliveries as well. Plus, I always feel pressured to make the side bet in PGP. I'd feel foolish if I got a big hand and didn't make that bet. I've heard Palace station has side bets for tiles. But, I've never seen them anywhere else. It does take some time and effort to learn tiles. But, the wizardofodds site walks you through a simple strategy. For me, learning the rank of the tiles was the hard part.

Quote: Wulfgar1224

For me, learning the rank of the tiles was the hard part.

Once I realised they were essentially normal dominoes and there were four sections of four, it was easier.

(i) You just have to learn the first five
(ii) The doubles are all in the top row, so after Hi4 the rest are double 5 3 2 (remember this doesn't include double 4 as that was 4th).
(iii) The bottom row starts with the tiles that appear twice and are in numerical order (11 10 7 6).
(iv) The last four are the tiles that have two versions and, again, are in numerical order (9 8 7 5).

There are a couple of variations of Pai-Gow Poker discussed here.
Both versions are 'commission-free', you get paid even-money.
One of them (EZ IIRC) Players push if Dealer has a Queen-high Pai Gow hand.
The other is a push if the 2-card hand is 9-high IIRC.

Both are ok substitutions for the original game, if found.
Like others have said, a $5 Pai Gow Poker game is a good find.

Craps only playing pass line would work. 1.4% edge per pass bet made, and it typically takes several rolls for that bet to be decided, so you're making something like 35 low-variance bets per hour at a fairly low edge. Look for a busy table, because it's more fun and also the busier the craps table, the slower the game.