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.

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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