Pai Gow poker fortune bonus bet

Through experience and reading of the wizard's site, I have learned to avoid this side bet. But I am curious, what percent of the time will this bet pay? (Straight or better)

Found a table on wizardofodds. Added up the apropriate perecents and you have a 19.194428 % chance to win on the fortune bonus. That sound right?

Yeah, that's right.

I've been playing a lot of pai gow poker lately. I just leanred the game last month and I like the low amount of variance. For example I played almost 6 hours yesterday, had 3 beers, and left exactly even. That is good for me because I am not an AP. I gamble entirely for fun with the chance of winning a few dollars.

My local casino has a progressive pai gow jackpot that is currently at $120k for the top payout of 7 cards straight flush. I know there is a small chance I could win a life changing amount. I play the progressive payout, but tend to stay away from the fortune bonus. I was just curious if any one here has hit this bet, or if not, what is the highest payout they have hit? I've played about 11 hours in the last two weeks and the biggest payout I have seen was 4 of a kind, which I was the one to win.... So any high hand stories out there or any other tips / strategies would also be appreciated since I am pretty green to pai gow. Thanks.

I've played a little bit, but the game is just too slow and uneventful for me. Best hand I've been dealt personally is straight flush.. Don't forget to Bank when you can to lower the house edge.. But it sounds like you'll only be able to when alone, cause you need enough to cover the bets of all other players at the table since YOU pay their hands..

Pai Gow Poker is my favorite for the reasons you mentioned. The best hand you can expect to get if you play regularly is a royal flush. I have gotten two.

You're not going to get a 7 card straight flush without a joker, or a royal match, or a 7 card straight flush with joker. You're not going to get 5 aces unless you devote a ton of time to it. I have never even seen anyone get 5 aces. To see 5 aces you probably need to be a dealer...

It's a lot of fun, and any casual card players I teach the game to love it. Have fun!

PGP is my favorite game, and I play $5-10 on the bonus. I've had many SF, and once at LVH had a 6 card SF, 7 card flush, no joker (was in low clubs; i can still see my hands trembling as I squeezed the last 3 cards) - the infamous "one-away". Was definitely the place to have it if I was going to, since their table aggregate was 75k at the time. No royal yet, but banking I've dealt them to fellow players 6 times (THAT can be controversial, let me tell you, moving the cards around as it does; thank God I haven't taken one from a player and put it into a dealer...yet). Had one run in Biloxi around 2004 where, in one 4 hour session, I had 4 4OAK and 4 SF's; never had the cards run like that before or since.

I got back to back 4 of a kinds once. That was real cool.

My friend got 7 bonus hands in a row. That was crazy. He lost the 8th and didn't play the 9th hand bonus - got a Straight Flush.

We used to play the fortune alot. There was one hand where my wife had a SF and I had a 4K. I've had the Royal a few times, but have yet to get 5As or above.

On my recent trip to Vegas the dealer made: 6-7-8-9-10 (all hearts) in the back and Q-K (all hearts) in the front. We demanded Envy payout to no avail.

Quote: slyther

On my recent trip to Vegas the dealer made: 6-7-8-9-10 (all hearts) in the back and Q-K (all hearts) in the front. We demanded Envy payout to no avail.

There is no logical reason I can think of why the dealer's hand can't be part of the envy bonus.

Quote: FinsRule

There is no logical reason I can think of why the dealer's hand can't be part of the envy bonus.

Casinos are greedy? :-)

Especially when player banking is allowed, I'd argue that the dealer's hand almost has to be included in the envy bonus - it's not even the banking hand!

But, Mystique in Iowa is the only casino I know of that pays envy on the dealer's hand.

I saw 5 Aces at the Golden Nugget 3 years ago. A lady sitting to my left hit it. Everyone was amazed...dealer, floor supervisor, other dealers...it was a big event. The lady got her chips and left the table. She tipped the dealer $25......dealer was less than amazed by that!