pai gow

Is this game unbeatable or do you have a small edge verse the other players when your banking?

You're still at a disadvantage due to commission being taken.

Quote: frisbee25

Is this game unbeatable or do you have a small edge verse the other players when your banking?

The game is beatable if you can bank a lot more action than you are playing against the dealer when he banks, and the players you're banking against do not set their hands optimally.

Also the game is beatable via dealer errors.

What do you mean by the first part of the first comment. You mean your minimum bet as non banker verse total bets of other people when your the banker?

Quote: frisbee25

What do you mean by the first part of the first comment. You mean your minimum bet as non banker verse total bets of other people when your the banker?

Are you asking about California, with player banks, or Vegas table play?

Are you playing commission-free, like a few casinos in Washington State? (Not EZPaiGow, with Queen high push)

Both things matter to answer your question.

Quote: frisbee25

What do you mean by the first part of the first comment. You mean your minimum bet as non banker verse total bets of other people when your the banker?

Say you're betting $20 against the dealer, and you are taking your turn to bank every other hand. You're at a table full of gamblers who are willing to bet $1500 against you when you're banking. They set their hands poorly and you set your hand optimally. You are now beating pai gow tiles or poker.

Quote: sodawater

Say you're betting $20 against the dealer, and you are taking your turn to bank every other hand. You're at a table full of gamblers who are willing to bet $1500 against you when you're banking. They set their hands poorly and you set your hand optimally.

Assuming you're allowed to play your hand optimally against the other players. Some casinos will reset your hand houseway to play against the players.

Quote: Deucekies

Assuming you're allowed to play your hand optimally against the other players. Some casinos will reset your hand houseway to play against the players.

Never seen that. Not saying it doesn't happen, but never seen it when I've banked.

75 bets is a big spread. If they all settle on house way to set their hand for them is that still beatable or do they have to set it worse than that even. Seems to ridiculous to win at this game.

Quote: Deucekies

Assuming you're allowed to play your hand optimally against the other players. Some casinos will reset your hand houseway to play against the players.

I'm confused as to why. Wouldn't the house make the same amount either way assuming no pushes?

Quote: hwccdealer

I'm confused as to why. Wouldn't the house make the same amount either way assuming no pushes?

The argument is that it's out of fairness to the other players. If the banker is somehow tipped off that a player has a pai gow, that banker could split his pair of aces to get a slimy win. The players know the houseway, so they're playing against what they would have played against anyway. I personally do not agree with this logic. I think if the banker is putting up the prize money, he should get to determine his own "houseway", just like the casino determines their own houseway when it's their money at stake.

Collusion is also a factor. Yes, you can have an English-Only or No-Discussion policy during banking time, but there's only so much a casino can do to enforce that.