Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes

1. Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes Set
2. Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes 1
3. Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes For Sale
4. Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes
5. Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes Free
6. Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes Play

Make Nine!

1. Pai gow is a Chinese gambling game, played with a set of 32 Chinese dominoes. It is played in major casinos in China (including Macau); the United States., Chinese dominoes are used in several tile-based games, namely, Tien Gow, Pai Gow, Tiu U.
2. Pai gow is a Chinese gambling game, played with a set of 32 Chinese dominoes. It is played in major casinos in China, Macau, Las Vegas, Canada Australia and New Zealand. The name “pai gow” is sometimes used to refer to the card game Pai Gow Poker.

Pai Gow: Pai Gow is played with a set of 32 Chinese Dominoes. The dominoes are a bit larger and a bit thicker than American Dominoes. In addition, the pips for the number 1 and the number 4 are in red, the rest are in white. There are 32 dominoes used in Pai Gow which are mixed or shuffled by the House Supervisor. The dominoes are placed in eight (8) stacks of four (4) each. The Player/Dealer and up to seven (7) players are dealt one stack (four dominoes).

Pai Gow is an ancient Chinese game which, loosely translated, means ‘make nine’.

How To Play

The player plays against the House.

The game is played with 32 prescribed tiles (dominoes), three dice and a shaker.

Each individual and specific combination of tiles is given a ranking; some are coloured red but this does not affect the score or ranking of a tile or pair.

The top ranking hand is called the Supreme Pair and consists of [2-1] and [4-2]. These are wild tiles and can be used as either 3 or 6.

The next tier of hands is called Pairs and is in order of rank as shown in the diagram on the reverse.

The next tier of hands is called Wongs and consists of a nine paired with a double one or double six.

The next tier of hands is called Gongs and consists of eight paired with a double one or double six.

If the player or dealer cannot obtain any of the specific combination of tiles, then the number of points on the two tiles (dominoes) that form the hand will be added to form a total. This value shall be a single figure (0 – 9) inclusive should that sum exceed 9 (as nine is the highest possible value) then ten is subtracted from this figure to form the hand value. For example, 6 and 5 = 11, subtract 10 = 1.

Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes Set

Prior to the start of the game all players will place an initial bet. The dealer will mix up the tiles face down, arrange them into stacks of four then tumble the dice to determine which player will receive the first stack of tiles. Players may play more than one betting position.

The Dealer and players are dealt 4 tiles each and must form two hands of two tiles each; a high and low hand. When all hands have been set the dealer will reveal his tiles and must form their hands in a set way called the ‘House Way’ before comparing their two hands against each opposing player’s two hands in turn.

For players to win, both their hands must out rank the dealers hands.

If the player’s High hand beats the dealer’s equivalent High hand, but their Low hand does not beat the dealer’s Low hand, (i.e. one wins and one loses) the player’s bet is a stand off (Tie/push) and is returned to them.

If there is an exact match between the player’s High Hand and the dealer’s High Hand, the hand will then be determined by the higher ranking domino in each hand, if there is still an exact match the dealer will win the High Hand. Similarly, if there is an exact match between the player’s Low Hand and the dealer’s Low Hand, the hand will then be determined by the higher ranking domino in each hand, if there is still an exact match the dealer will win the Low Hand.

If both the player’s High Hand and their Low Hand lose to the dealer, their bet is lost to the House.

Winning bets are paid 19:20 Odds.

• House Way Strategies
• Player Strategies
• Miscellaneous

Introduction

Pai gow is the oldest of the casino games. It easily pre-dates roulette and baccarat. How such a complicated game ever got started, I have always wondered. Indeed, pai gow is a difficult game to learn. The concept is the same as pai gow poker, where both player and banker make high and low hands, and then compare against each other. What makes pai gow difficult is there is order of hands and tiles seems largely random, and is difficult to memorize.

What I love about pai gow is that for bankroll preservation, there is nothing that beats it. The pace is slow at about 30 hands per hour, and 41% of hands result in a push. If you are a pale-face, like me, you'll impress the dealer and some other players that you even understand it. However, some Asians immediately leave the table when I sit down, as if I'm unlucky. Don't be scared to try the game, even if you know nothing about the rules. You can always ask the dealer to set your hands according to the 'house way.' Better yet, keep reading to learn more about the game.

Rules

Following are the primary rules when it comes to pai gow. Each casino may have some its own fine points when it comes to player banking and prepaying the 5% commission.

1. Pai gow is played with a set of 32 dominoes displayed below.
2. Each player and dealer will be given four tiles.
3. The player will separate his tiles into low and high hands. The player does not need to specify which is higher, as this will be obvious.
4. Each pair of tiles will have a ranking order as follows:
   • Pair: There are 16 pairs, as shown in the image above. The tiles are pictures in rank order, starting at the upper left, and reading like a page to the bottom right.
   • Wong: This is a 2 or 12 tile with any 9 tile.
   • Gong: This is a 2 or 12 tile with any 8 tile.
   • 9 to 0 points (the more the better): For all other 2-tile hands, the total number of dots will be taken, and the terminal digit is used to determine the number of points (as in baccarat). For example, a 10 and 9 tile is worth 9 points; a 4 and 7 tile is worth 1 point.
5. An exception to the above rule is that the two tiles in the highest ranking 'Gee Joon' pair are semi-wild and are worth either 3 or 6 points, whichever results in a higher total. For example, when combined with a 4-point tile, a Gee Joon tile counts as 3 points to make a 7-point hand, instead of counting as 6 points to make a 0-point hand.
6. The player's high hand will be compared to the dealer's high hand, and the player's low hand compared to the dealer's low hand (as in pai gow poker).
7. If both player and dealer have a Wong, Gong, or 1 to 9 points, the tie will be broken according to which hand has the higher-ranked high tile.
8. If the high tile does not break the tie then the win will go to the banker.
9. A 0-0 tie always goes to the banker.
10. When using high tiles to break a tie, the rank order is the same as the pair order (see picture above), except the two tiles in the highest 'gee joon' pair are ranked lowest individually and will therefore never be a hand's high tile.
11. If the player wins both hands he will win even money, less a 5% commission. If the player wins one and loses one then his wager will push. If the dealer wins both then the player will lose his wager.
12. At most casinos, the turn to be banker rotates around the table. At some casinos, such as Foxwoods, the turn to be banker zig-zags between the player(s) and dealer, meaning that the dealer must bank at least every other hand.
13. The player may invoke his turn to bank whenever it is his turn, although most players decline.
14. The banker plays against every other player at the table and the dealer. The dealer will wager the same amount the player wagered the last time the dealer was the banker. More often than not, other players will sit out the hand when another player is banking, letting him or her take on the dealer alone.

Strategy

My assistant and I have spent lots of time studying and developing pai gow strategy. Here are the strategies we have come up with so far:

• Wizard Basic Strategy (added Oct. 25, 2017)

A reader known as Charlie combined various parts of these strategies to create a nearly optimal strategy he could fit on a sheet of paper. He was nice enough to share it with us.

For a graphic version, click the image above for a larger version. I also have a PDF version (149K).

We also have the following strategy charts showing the correct play for every possible combination under three banking scenarios:

The next table shows the possible outcomes and house edge under various strategies, banking or not banking, and whether prepaying the commission. The table assumes the player is playing against the Foxwoods house way and a 5% commission. If the player prepays the commission, which is sometimes allowed, the house edge is reduced by 0.07%.

Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes 1

Pai Gow House Edge

Your Strategy	Banking?	Prob. Win	Prob. Loss	Prob. Push	House Edge
House Way	No	29.21%	30.18%	40.61%	2.44%
House Way	Yes	30.18%	29.21%	40.61%	0.53%
Wizard Basic Strategy	No	?	?	?	1.98%
Wizard Basic Strategy	Yes	?	?	?	0.08%
Wizard Way	No	29.07%	29.5%	41.43%	1.88%
Wizard Way	Yes	30.03%	28.55%	41.42%	0.02%
J.B. Simple	No	29.29%	29.72%	41.00%	1.90%
J.B. Simple	Yes	30.18%	28.76%	41.06%	0.10%
J.B. Advanced Strategy without exceptions	No	29.37%	29.74%	40.89%	1.84%
J.B. Advanced Strategy without exceptions	Yes	30.26%	28.77%	40.97%	0.03%
Optimal	No	29.42%	29.60%	40.98%	1.66%
Optimal	Yes	30.21%	28.52%	41.27%	-0.20%

Inefficiencies in the standard casino house way cost the casino about 0.75% compared to optimal house strategy. If both player and dealer played optimal strategy, the house edge to the player when banking would be 0.54%, and when not banking 2.38%. For more on this topic see JB's optimal house strategy comparison table (24K). To see an enormous document on the actual optimal house strategies see JB's optimal house strategy charts (735K). I'm quite sure this is the first time it has ever been put in writing.

Prepaying the Commission

Some casinos let the player prepay the 5% commission. For example, betting $105 to win $100. This lowers the overall commission to 1/21, or 4.76%. The effect on the house edge is a reduction of 0.07%. This is an option the player should always invoke when available, yet many don't.

Betting 10% Extra as Banker

Some casinos let the player bet up to 10% more than he wagered against the dealer the last time the dealer was the banker. Assuming the player is banking every other hand, this lowers the combined house edge between banking and not banking by 0.07%.

Co-Banking

The player may make a back wager on the player acting as banker up to the amount he bet against the dealer the last time the dealer was banking. However, the player will forfeit his own turn to bank if he invokes this option. This rule will not have an effect on the overall house edge if the player is trying to maximize his action as banker (which he should), but can make the game more enjoyable if playing with friends. Rather than sitting out a hand where your friend is banking you can co-bank with him, so you're always in the game.

Calculator

My pai gow calculator will tell you the expected value and/or strategy for any hand, with lots of other features including the effect of tiles known to be held by other players or your opponent.

Power Ratings

The following table shows the power ratings for each hand. There are four columns of power ratings, according to whether the hand is high or low, and whether the player is acting as banker or not. The power ratings are on a 0 to 100 scale, which represents the probability an opponent playing the Foxwoods house way will beat that hand.

A practical application of this table is to add the two power ratings for the three ways to set a hand, and set it the way with the highest power rating sum.

Power Ratings in Pai Gow

Hand	Low Hand Not Banking	High Hand Not Banking	Low Hand Banking	High Hand Banking
Gee joon	100	99	100	100
6/6 pair	100	98	100	99
1/1 pair	100	97	100	98
4/4 pair	100	96	100	97
1/3 pair	100	95	100	96
5/5 pair	100	94	100	95
3/3 pair	100	93	100	94
2/2 pair	100	92	100	93
5/6 pair	100	90	100	92
4/6 pair	100	89	100	90
1/6 pair	100	88	100	89
1/5 pair	100	87	100	88
Mixed 9 pair	100	86	100	87
Mixed 8 pair	100	85	100	86
Mixed 7 pair	100	84	100	85
Mixed 5 pair	100	83	100	84
Wong with 6/6	100	80	100	83
Wong with 1/1	99	78	100	80
Gong with 6/6	99	73	99	78
Gong with 1/1	99	67	99	73
9 with 6/6	98	61	99	67
9 with 1/1	97	54	98	61
9 with 4/4	97	53	97	54
9 with 1/3	96	50	97	53
9 with 5/5	96	49	96	50
9 with 3/3	95	47	96	49
9 with 2/2	94	45	95	47
9 with 5/6	94	44	94	45
9 with 4/6	93	43	94	44
9 with 1/5	92	42	93	43
8 with 6/6	90	40	92	42
8 with 1/1	89	39	90	40
8 with 4/4	88	38	89	39
8 with 1/3	87	35	88	38
8 with 5/5	86	35	87	35
8 with 5/6	84	33	86	35
8 with 4/6	84	32	84	33
8 with 2/3	82	31	84	32
7 with 6/6	82	31	82	31
7 with 1/1	81	30	82	31
7 with 4/4	81	29	81	30
7 with 1/2	79	28	81	29
7 with 5/5	78	26	79	28
7 with 3/3	76	25	78	26
7 with 2/2	75	24	76	25
7 with 5/6	72	22	75	24
7 with 4/6	71	21	72	22
7 with 3/6	69	20	71	21
6 with 6/6	68	19	69	20
6 with 1/1	67	18	68	19
6 with 4/4	66	17	67	18
6 with 5/5	61	15	66	17
6 with 3/3	60	15	61	15
6 with 5/6	59	14	60	15
6 with 4/6	56	13	59	14
6 with 1/6	55	12	56	13
6 with 3/6	54	12	55	12
5 with 4/4	52	11	54	12
5 with 1/3	51	10	52	11
5 with 5/5	49	10	51	10
5 with 3/3	48	9	49	10
5 with 2/2	47	8	48	9
5 with 4/6	45	8	47	8
5 with 1/6	44	7	45	8
5 with 1/5	43	7	44	7
5 with 3/6	42	7	43	7
5 with 2/6	40	6	42	7
4 with 6/6	40	6	40	6
4 with 4/4	37	5	40	6
4 with 1/3	33	5	37	5
4 with 5/5	31	4	33	5
4 with 3/3	30	4	31	4
4 with 2/2	29	4	30	4
4 with 1/6	27	3	29	4
4 with 1/5	26	3	27	3
4 with 3/6	25	3	26	3
4 with 2/6	24	3	25	3
3 with 6/6	24	3	24	3
3 with 1/1	23	2	24	3
3 with 4/4	22	2	23	2
3 with 1/3	21	2	22	2
3 with 3/3	20	1	21	2
3 with 2/2	19	1	20	1
3 with 1/6	18	1	19	1
3 with 1/5	18	1	18	1
3 with 2/6	17	1	18	1
3 with 3/4	17	1	17	1
2 with 6/6	16	0	17	1
2 with 1/1	16	0	16	0
2 with 4/4	14	0	16	0
2 with 1/3	14	0	14	0
2 with 3/3	12	0	14	0
2 with 2/2	12	0	12	0
2 with 1/6	11	0	12	0
2 with 3/4	11	0	11	0
1 with 1/3	10	0	11	0
1 with 5/5	9	0	10	0
1 with 3/3	8	0	9	0
1 with 2/2	7	0	8	0
1 with 5/6	6	0	7	0
1 with 1/5	5	0	6	0
Zero	0	0	5	0

The following graph shows how often the House Way will make each type of hand out of all 35960 combinations.

The House Way

I'm proud to provide the following pai gow house ways. Most of them were rewritten into my own words. The one from the MGM is taken directly from their own rules and procedures on the game:

• MGM Grand (PDF -- 1,180 K)
• Marina Bay Sands (Singapore) (PDF -- 483K)

Where to Play

The following is a list of games I am aware of in the U.S.. I'm sure there are some I don't know about. Feel free to tell me if you are aware of others.

• Las Vegas: Aria, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Encore, Harrah's, Lucky Dragon, MGM Grand, Mirage, Palace Station, Palazzo, Paris, Rio, Venetian, and Wynn. The Treasure Island and Mandalay Bay don't staff a table on a regular basis any longer, but may open one if a whale requests it.
• Atlantic City: Most, if not all, casinos.
• Connecticut: Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods.
• Indiana: Hammond Horseshoe, Southern Indiana Horseshoe.
• Lake Tahoe: Harrah's.
• Maryland: Horseshoe Baltimore. (unconfirmed)
• Pennsylvania: Sands Bethlehem, Mount Airy Casino in Mt Pocono (unconfirmed), Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs near Scranton (unconfirmed), Sugar House Casino in Philadelphia (unconfirmed), Valley Forge Casino near King of Prussia, and Parx Casino near Bensalem (unconfirmed).
• Reno: Peppermill, Silver Legacy.

Play for Fun

Pai gow is a game that cries out for a way to practice before making a fool of yourself and blowing your money in a casino. For this reason please try my pai gow game.

Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes For Sale

Internal Links

• The Legend Behind Pai Gow — The story behind the game.
• Bonaza Pai Gow — Side bet seen at the Crown Casino in Melbourne.
• Pair Fortunes — Side bet seen at the Palace Station in Las Vegas.
• Pai Gow Game.
• Pai Gow Calculator.

External Links

Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes

• Pai Gow rules in Macau at WizardOfMacau.com.
• Where to play Pai Gow at Harrah's properties.

Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes Free

Acknowledgements

• Pai Gow Without Tears by Bill Zender. The author kindly gave me a copy of his booklet to help with my research on pai gow. If you are interested in the book it may be purchased from the Gambler's Book Club for $20.00.
• A Detailed Study of Pai Gow by Dr. John M.Gwynn, Jr. This study appears in the book Finding the Edge (Edited by Olaf Vancura, Judy A.Collins, and William R. Eadington).
• The many people who supplied me with house ways, which are not easy to get.

Casino Game Played With 32 Chinese Dominoes Play

Written by:Michael Shackleford