The Next Games I Should Try

Well my wife and I will head to Las Vegas for March Break soon.

What new game should we try? My main plays are craps, blackjack, and 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker. We did play some full pay Deuces Wild a few years ago, but they just don't seem to be on the strip anymore. We tried Super Times Pay Jacks or Better last year and enjoyed that, but it sure seems like you need to hit those multipliers just to stay afloat.

We'll have a car so I'm thinking I'd hit vpfree2.com and see if there are full pay Deuces Wild games close to where we stay (we're at the Wynn again this year).

What other video poker games would you recommend? I'm intrigued by the Ultimate X video poker game after our experience with Super Times Pay.

What table game should I try out? I'm scared of Pai Gow as it seems fairly involved if I want to play it right so that I keep the house edge down. Baccarat seems like a slower paced game that I might enjoy.

I await your suggestions.

--helpmespock

Can't go wrong with baccarat. Easiest game to play in the casino.

Pai Gow still might be an option if you learn the elementary aspects of the game before you go. You can always ask the dealer to set your hand.

My favorite video poker game is MultiStrike poker... but I don't play slots/VP very often

Quote: helpmespock

What table game should I try out? I'm scared of Pai Gow as it seems fairly involved if I want to play it right so that I keep the house edge down. Baccarat seems like a slower paced game that I might enjoy.

First, don't be afraid of Pai Gow Poker. It's not that complicated. And if you're really stuck, just wait until all the other players set their hands, then ask the dealer for advice. They will typically suggest the "House Way", which is the same as the method they use to set their own hand. If they are a good dealer, they will also show you an alternative, if there is one, and suggest why you'd want to use one rather than the other.

Also, there are a LOT of hands that will push, so if the minimum is a $20 table, think of it as the same dollars per hour bet as a $10 BJ table.

If you can find it, play EZ Pai Gow.


My other recommendation is Free Bet Black Jack.


I hope I don't have to tell you why I recommend EZPG or FBBJ....

PGP - it's very easy to learn the house way, is slow, and is easy to play.

Play the practice game on WOO.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

First, don't be afraid of Pai Gow Poker.

I meant Pai Gow tiles not the poker variants. I understand the tiles game goes slowly so I'll be losing less per hour played which was my main interest.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

If you can find it, play EZ Pai Gow.


My other recommendation is Free Bet Black Jack.


I hope I don't have to tell you why I recommend EZPG or FBBJ....

Dan Lubin, a frequent poster here, invented one right? Did you have a hand in the other? 8-)

--helpmespock

Quote: helpmespock

Dan Lubin, a frequent poster here, invented one right? Did you have a hand in the other? 8-)

--helpmespock

No, Free Bet is Geoff Hall's (Switch) game. If you play that though, don't play it at Casino Royale because they still only offer 6:5 for BJ.

As for other games, Ultimate X is pretty popular, but it can be quite difficult to find a nice paytable. I have never seen one in person to be honest; VPFree2 says it exists with 9/6 DDB (~99.82% using the best single strategy for all multipliers) at SouthPoint but it's 10-handed quarters ($25 per round). Also it is quite swingy, and you are forced to play all the hands of a multihand game to play the Ultimate X bet. JB didn't compute a strategy for it yet either. :( But, I'm guessing its something like this: https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/video-poker/12230-ultimate-x-strategies/2/#post208607

Another video poker variant I like to play when visiting Vegas is 9/6 DDB Quick Quads (99.65%) at Ellis Island at 3-play nickels while waiting to eat their steak special ($7.99 after printing out a coupon with your player's card). They also offer 9/6 JoB QQ (99.61%) as well. They also have "Not So Ugly Ducks" for quarters.

https://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/quick-quads/double-double-bonus/9-6/
https://wizardofodds.com/games/video-poker/strategy/quick-quads/jacks-or-better/9-6/

Quote: helpmespock

Dan Lubin, a frequent poster here, invented one right? Did you have a hand in the other? 8-)

I'm good friends with Dan. I met Geoff (Free Bet's inventor) in October during G2E, and consider him a friendly acquaintance. I'm fairly certain we'd recognize each other if we bumped into each other.

The reason I recommend the games is not so much because they are my friends or friends of WoV, but because they are good games and deserve a try by all table games players.

Geoff Hall invented Free Bet.
I, (Dan Lubin), invented No Commission EZ Pai Gow.
Both are popular games, and very similar to the standard Blackjack and Pai Gow poker, - just updated with no-cost splitting and doubling (in Freebet), and no commission on EZ Pai Gow.
I also enjoy playing Ultimate Texas Hold 'em. All good games, when not throwing dice.

I suggest you stop in at MGM Grand; outside the high limit slots room is a well known slot, Lion's Share.

Google it and see ...

Quote: DJTeddyBear

If they are a good dealer, they will also show you an alternative, if there is one, and suggest why you'd want to use one rather than the other.

This isn't necessarily true. Where I work we can only show them how to set their hand our house way.

Pai Gow Poker for sure WoO site has details on 2-pair splits. When you get hands that are both Straight and Flush, make the best 2-card hand, Three pairs plays the HIGH pair to the 2-card hand.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

If they are a good dealer, they will also show you an alternative, if there is one, and suggest why you'd want to use one rather than the other.

When I dealt in Iowa and could actually give advice, I remember using the Wizard's strategy and giving it to players. I would also advise some more aggressive strategies, with the warning that's what it was.

It usually backfired.

Don't be afraid of Pai Gow Poker. It is fun to play and fairly easy provided your wife knows the ranks of the poker hands.

Yes I found Pai Gow poker fun, it's worth learning the basic way to play hands - the most important is whether to play or split two pairs - most the other hands options, it doesn't matter if you're not 100% correct as it's almost best just to go house way (for instance what's the chance of getting XXX 22 AK where you should usually play Full House, all other full houses are played as trips and pair!). The other weirdo is, I think, it's right to split KKKxxxx into KKxxx Kx if you don't have an Ace.

Pai Gow tiles is a very complicated game and takes quite a while to master (I haven't done it!) but eventually gives good time for money. There are a few threads on the forum about it and I put a useful update here (https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/gambling/tables/12950-easy-way-to-remember-unmatched-pairs-in-pg-tiles/#post218545). I would recommend having a piece of paper with the optimal way to play pairs and some of the optimal strategy.