Pai Gow Tiles question / advice
I've been reading the Wiz' Pai Gow Strategy, using his Odds Calculator, and playing his Pai Gow Practice Game.
I've been doing OK. By 'OK' I mean that I was never ahead or behind more than $30, and played hundreds of hands. Of course, I never wavered my bet. $5 every time. It seems like a nice, slow pace game with low volitality.
Although reading the strategy text makes it seem very complicated, I seemed to pick it up kinda quickly playing the practice game. Thanks Wiz!
I'm confused about one thing: It seem like it doesn't matter if the two tiles selected are the high or the low. The simulator figures that out and positions them accordingly. I read somewhere that there are only 3 ways to set the hand. If it mattered which was high and which was low, that would be six ways.
So my big question is this: Can a hand be fouled in Pai Gow Tiles by placing the low hand horizontally, and the high hand vertically?
I have a feeling that I may screw that part up - particularly if both hands have the same value, but breaking the tie means I set them wrong.
Although it only happened once, I did foul my hand in this manner in Pai Gow Poker by having a high pair in my two card hand and just a low pair in my five card hand.
Quote: DJTeddyBearThe recent talk about Pai Gow Tiles in other threads got me interested.
I've been reading the Wiz' Pai Gow Strategy, using his Odds Calculator, and playing his Pai Gow Practice Game.
I've been doing OK. By 'OK' I mean that I was never ahead or behind more than $30, and played hundreds of hands. Of course, I never wavered my bet. $5 every time. It seems like a nice, slow pace game with low volitality.
Although reading the strategy text makes it seem very complicated, I seemed to pick it up kinda quickly playing the practice game. Thanks Wiz!
I'm confused about one thing: It seem like it doesn't matter if the two tiles selected are the high or the low. The simulator figures that out and positions them accordingly. I read somewhere that there are only 3 ways to set the hand. If it mattered which was high and which was low, that would be six ways.
So my big question is this: Can a hand be fouled in Pai Gow Tiles by placing the low hand horizontally, and the high hand vertically?
I have a feeling that I may screw that part up - particularly if both hands have the same value, but breaking the tie means I set them wrong.
Although it only happened once, I did foul my hand in this manner in Pai Gow Poker by having a high pair in my two card hand and just a low pair in my five card hand.
When you split your tiles into two hands, one will automatically be higher and one lower. The dealer will figure this out and play them accordingly, just like the Wizard's simulator. You cannot foul your hand the way you can in Pai Gow Poker. Any way that you set your tiles so it is clear to the dealer how you want the hands separated is acceptable.
Quote: DJTeddyBearThanks Papa. Now I'm looking forward to freaking out a bunch of Asians when I park my lilly white ass at a PG Tiles table. :)
I'd suggest just freaking out a dealer until you get used to it. It's generally pretty easy to find an empty table.
For one thing, if you're playing at a table with other players, you need to keep your tiles concealed while you set your hand. This can be a little unwieldy if you're not used to actually handling tiles, plus the dealer and other players cannot help you as readily as they can in Pai Gow poker. If you happen to get brainlock while you're playing alone, you can always just flip over your tiles and ask the dealer how the house would play the hand (and why).
The first time I played the tiles in a casino I was quite intimidated, despite all the hours I'd logged on the Wizard's simulator. Something about holding, examining and arranging real tiles instead of just clicking on the computer screen. I bought a set of tiles for around $20 from Amazon to practice with at home, and it helped out a lot.
Quote: PapaChubbyI'd suggest just freaking out a dealer until you get used to it. ...
or he gets used to it? [g]
what if you said you would go two-way for the first few hands?
Quote: odiousgambitor he gets used to it? [g]
what if you said you would go two-way for the first few hands?
I'm not sure I understand your terminology. Are you talking about toking the dealer? If so, I'm all for it! I pretty much always have a dollar on the felt for the dealer (it's an effective way to bleed off some of the change that results from the house taking its commission). I have always found pai gow dealers to be as friendly and helpful as I could possibly want. I think they genuinely enjoy the novelty of having a caucasian at the table.
Yeah, I wasn't sure what was meant either.Quote: PapaChubbyI'm not sure I understand your terminology.Quote: odiousgambitor he gets used to it?
For the record, when I've needed the dealer's help at PG Poker, I've known to always wait until everyone else sets their hand.
And I would certainly steer towards an empty table the first time or two, so that I can play at my own pace, face-up, ask questions, etc.
Quote: DJTeddyBearYeah, I wasn't sure what was meant either.
I mean to split all winnings with the dealer. At first. Perhaps this term is only used in craps?
Quote: odiousgambitI mean to split all winnings with the dealer. At first. Perhaps this term is only used in craps?
Two way hard eight? That's what I thought you meant. I've never heard it used in any other game, but I'm sure I'm no authority.
