Reason #2 why the Wizard likes Bovada:

No-hassle practice games

Most online casinos spend more effort trying to separate you from your money than they do trying to give you a good experience. They have all kinds of popup windows, they usually make you download their software, and if they do offer play-in-browser games then you have to register an account before you can play. And if you register they start sending you emails trying to get you to deposit real money.

But Bovada is different. They have no popup windows at all, and their practice games play right in your browser, with no download, and no registration required. You don’t even have to give up your email address. It couldn’t be simpler: just one click and you’re playing the game.

I wish all online casinos showed this much respect for their players. Other casinos practically ask for your first born child to play for free. Meanwhile Bovada is patient and does not twist anybody’s arm to play for real money. You can play as long as you like for free with no obligation. The real-money games are available if that’s your preference, but if not, you can play the free practice games for as long as you like without hassle.

Visit Bovada

Claridge, Atlantic City House Way

Last Update: May 20, 2011

The "front" refers to the two card hand and the "back" refers to the five card hand.

No pair: Place the second and third highest cards in the front.
One pair: Place the two highest singletons in the front.
Two pair: Use the following groups to determine how to play a two pair:
2 through 6: Low pair
7 through 10: Medium pairs
Jack through king: High pairs
- Low pair and low pair or low pair and medium pair: Split pairs unless holding a king singleton or better.
- Low pair and high pair or medium pair and medium pair: Split pairs unless holding an ace singleton.
- Medium pair and high pair or high pair and high pair: Always split.
- Pair of aces and any other pair: Always split.
Three pair: Play highest pair in front.
Three of a kind: Play three of a kind in back unless they are aces, then play a pair of aces in back and one ace in front.
Three of a kind twice: Play a pair from the higher three of a kind in front.
Straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flush:
- With no pair or one pair: Play the highest hand possible in front while maintaining at least a straight in the back.
- With two pair: Use two pair rule.
- With three pair: Use three pair rule.
- With three of a kind: Play pair in front.
- With full house: Use full house rule.
Full house: Play pair in front.
Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Play the highest pair in front.
Four of a kind: Play according to the rank of the four of a kind:
2 through 6: Always keep together.
7 through 10: Split unless an ace can be played in front.
Jack through ace: Always split.
Four of a kind and a pair: Play pair in front.
Four of a kind and three of a kind: Play pair in front from the three of a kind.
Five aces: Play pair of aces in front unless a pair of kings can be played in front.

My Pai Gow Poker coverage

Rules, strategy, & house edge
Dealer Probabilities:Shows the probability the dealer will form any given hand orless. Useful for making accurate strategy decisions.
When to split a two-pair:My advice on when to split a two pair.
Side Bets: Analysis of variouis side bets such as Fortune, Jackpot, and Emperor's Challenge.
No Push Pai Gow Poker:My analysis of this PGP variant.
Pai Gow Mania:My analysis.
Washington State pai gow poker: In Washington often there is no commission charged if the player makes the Fortune bet. I address this rule variant in my "Ask the Wizard" column.
New game. Play my new and improved Pai Gow Poker game.
Old game. Play my classic old Pai Gow Poker game.

Claridge, Atlantic City House Way

My Pai Gow Poker coverage

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