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

J.B. Easy Strategy for Pai Gow

Last Update: Jan 09, 2009

Follow the first rule that applies:
  1. If there is only one way to play, play it. This includes playing two pairs.
  2. Pair of 4's, 10's, 11's — never split.
  3. Gee Joon — only split with 6-4, 6-5, 6-6.
  4. Pair of 2's or 12's — Only split with 9-11, or to make 6-8 or better.
  5. Pair of 5's — only split with 2-12.
  6. Pair of 6's — split all 6's with 2-11, 2-12, 11-12.
  7. Pair of 7's — split to make 7/7 or better.
  8. Pair of 8's — split to make 8/8 or better, and with 9-11.
  9. Pair of 9's — split to make 9/9 or better.
  10. Play Gong or Wong with a low hand of 0 or 1.
  11. Play a Low 8 Gong if the low hand is a 2, 3, 7, or 8.
  12. Play 5/7, 6/7, or 7/7 if you have a 2 or 12.
  13. Play High Nine.
  14. Play all other Low 8 Gong.
  15. 3,4,5 points: play the best low hand
  16. 6 points: play 3/3 if possible, otherwise play the best high hand
  17. 7 points: play best high hand
  18. 8 points: play 4/4 if possible; otherwise play the best high hand
  19. 9 points: play the best high hand if it is a 7, 8 or 9, otherwise play the best low hand
  20. 10,11,12,14,16 points: play the best low hand if it is a 5, 6 or 7; otherwise play the best high hand
  21. 13,15 points: play the best low hand
  22. 17,18,19,20,21 points: play the best high hand
Pai Gow House Edge
Your
Strategy
Banking?Prob.
Win
Prob.
Loss
Prob.
Push
House
Edge
J.B. Simple No 29.29% 29.72% 41.00% 1.90%
J.B. Simple Yes 30.18% 28.76% 41.06% 0.10%

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My other Pai Gow info

Pai gow main page
Pai gow game
J.B. Intermediate Strategy
J.B. advanced strategy
Wizard Way strategy
Pai gow calculator
Foxwoods house way
Taj Majal house way

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