Reason #1 why the Wizard likes Bovada:

Excellent customer support

The thing that separates Bovada from the rest is its customer support. Many other online gaming companies outsource their support. It can be difficult getting a response from them, and if you do it is often slow and handled by somebody with little understanding of gambling or even of English. But Bovada’s support is handled by Bovada, and their support staff is actually knowledgeable and helpful.

I’m so confident that you’ll have a good experience with Bovada that if you have a problem getting paid and you can’t resolve it with them on your own, I’ll talk to them myself. I personally have known the Bovada management for about three years and always found them to be professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. I have also personally visited one of their call centers so I could see first-hand how they handle customer issues. (More on my mediation service.)

If you have a problem with any other casino besides Bovada, I can’t help you. I get complaints from players of other online casinos every day who have difficulty getting paid. However that isn’t my job nor my problem. If you play at Bovada after clicking through my site I’ll stand behind you 100%. Any place else and you’re on your own.

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The House Way for Pai Gow Poker at the Trump Plaza

Last Update: May 20, 2011

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

No pair: Place the highest card in the back and the next twohighest cards in the front.
One pair: Place the pair in back and the next two highest cards inthe 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: Split unless holding a king or better, then playtwo pair in the back.
- Low pair and medium pair: Split unless holding a king or better, then playtwo pair in the back.
- Low pair and high pair: Split unless holding an ace, then playtwo pair in the back.
- Medium pair and medium pair: Split unless holding an ace, then playtwo pair in the back.
- Medium pair and high pair: Always split.
- High pair and high pair: Always split.
- Pair of aces and any other pair: Always split.
Three pair: Always play highest pair in front.
Three of a kind: Always play three of a kind in back unless they areaces, then play a pair of aces in back and one ace in front.
Three of a kind twice: Always play highest pair in front.
Straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flush:
- With no pair: When choosing whether to play a straight, flush, orstraight flush play the category which will allow the highest two cardsin front.
- With 6th or 7th card: Play the lower straight or flush in the backto place the highest cards in front.
- With one pair: Play pair in the front only if a straight, flush, orstraight can be played 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: Always split unless the pair is twos and you havean ace and a king to play in the front.
Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Play the highest pair in front.
Full house with three of a kind twice: Always 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 a king or better can be played in front.
Jack through king: Split unless an ace can be played in front.
Aces: 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: Split aces and play three aces in back and two aces in front unless youhave a pair of kings, then play five aces in back and kings in front.

Claridge (Atlantic City)

The house way at the Claridge in Atlantic City is published in their gaming guide. It is thesame as that of the Trump Plaza with the following exceptions:

Full house: Always play the pair in the low hand.
Four of a kind: If the rank of the four of a kind is 7 through 10 then the onlyexception to splitting is if an ace can be played in front. If the rank is jack throughking there then always split with no exceptions.

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.

The House Way for Pai Gow Poker at the Trump Plaza

Claridge (Atlantic City)

My Pai Gow Poker coverage

House Way for...