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. Intermediate Strategy for Pai Gow

Last Update: Jan 08, 2009

Follow the first rule that applies:

If there is only one way to play, play it. This includes playing two pairs.
Pair of 4's, 10's, 11's — never split.
Gee Joon — only split with 6-4, 6-5, 6-6.
Pair of 2's or 12's — Only split with 9-11, or to make 6-8 or better, except with 9-High 8.
Pair of 5's — only split with 2-12.
Pair of 6's — split all 6's with 2-11, 2-12, 11-12; and split Low 6's with 2-High 10 and High 10-12.
Pair of 7's — split to make 7/7 or better, except with Low 10-High 10 when banking.
Pair of 8's — split to make 8/8 or better, and with 9-11.
Pair of 9's — split to make 9/9 or better.
Play Gong or Wong with a low hand of 0 or 1.
Play a Low 8 Gong if the low hand is a 2, 3, 7 (unless it uses a Low 10), or 8.
Play 5/7, 6/7, or 7/7 if you have a 2 or 12.
Play High Nine.
Play all other Low 8 Gong, except when you also have a High 8 and a 6/wild.
3,4,5 points: play the best low hand
6 points: play 3/3 if possible, otherwise play the best high hand
7 points (banking): play best high hand
7 points (not banking): play best high hand if it separates the highest 2 tiles, otherwise play the best low hand
8 points: play 4/4 if you have two 7's and no 10, otherwise play the best high hand
9 points: play the best high hand if it is a 7, 8 or 9, otherwise play the best low hand
10 points: play 5/5 if possible, otherwise play the best high hand
11 points: play 5/6 if possible; otherwise play 4/7 if you have a Gee; otherwise play the best high hand
12,14,16 points: play the best low hand if it is a 5, 6 or 7; otherwise play the best high hand
13,15 points: play the best low hand
17,18,19,20,21 points: play the best high hand

Probabilities and House Edge -- J.B. Simple Strategy
Banking?	House Edge		Win	Lose	Push
Banking?	5% Comm.	4.76% Comm.	Win	Lose	Push
No	1.8097%	1.7398%	29.38%	29.72%	40.89%
Yes	-0.0173%	-0.0894%	30.26%	28.73%	41.01%

My other Pai Gow info

Pai gow main page
Pai gow game
J.B. beginner strategy
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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