Odds for the low-ball are as follows:
9-hi 150:1
10-hi 50:1
J-hi. 20:1
Q-hi 10:1
K-hi 4:1
A-hi 1:1
I've come across a curious little bet on Fortune Pai Gow Poker and Face Up Pai Gow called the Low-Ball bet. I was curious in how this plays out in relation to the main bet. It seems like a way one might hedge their losses. The tables in question also include a fortune bonus.
Odds for the low-ball are as follows:
9-hi 150:1
10-hi 50:1
J-hi. 20:1
Q-hi 10:1
K-hi 4:1
A-hi 1:1
Very quickly and with low precision:
Unlike standard Pai Gow wherein pushes occur about 40% of the time, the Tie bet and the Bonus bet in Bonanza Pai Gow result in a decision every hand. Also, in standard Pai Gow the house edge is vastly reduced if the players bank every other hand, whereas the house edge on the Bonus bet and the Tie bet never changes whether the players bank or not. One reason Pai Gow Poker is so relaxing is because there are quite a few ‘push bets’ in this game. This is because the only way to win is to beat the house with 2 winning hands, while the only way to lose is for the house to beat you with 2 winning hands.
A- Hi occurs with a frequency of 9.4%K-Hi: 4.1%
Pai Gow Poker Online
Q-Hi: 1.8%
J-Hi: 0.6%
T-Hi: 0.2%
9-Hi: <0.1% (don't remember the exact number)
So, I think the House edge is about 18%.
Pai Gow Poker Bonus Odds
Pays | Probability | Return |
150 | .000 201 631 | .030 244 627 |
50 | .001 613 047 | .080 652 339 |
20 | .006 250 556 | .125 011 126 |
10 | .017 642 699 | .176 426 992 |
4 | .041 435 139 | .165 740 557 |
1 | .093 619 383 | .093 619 383 |
-1 | .839 237 545 | -.839 237 545 |
1.000 000 000 | -.167 542 520 |
I've come across a curious little bet on Fortune Pai Gow Poker and Face Up Pai Gow called the Low-Ball bet. I was curious in how this plays out in relation to the main bet. It seems like a way one might hedge their losses. The tables in question also include a fortune bonus.
Odds for the low-ball are as follows:
9-hi 150:1
10-hi 50:1
J-hi. 20:1
Q-hi 10:1
K-hi 4:1
A-hi 1:1
I see you corrected the payout to 2-1 later. So 'only' 7% house edge. When you say 'hedge your losses', while that may be sort of correct, 'hedge your losses' then also includes 'diminish your wins'. And the 'diminish your wins' will be 7% greater than the positive of 'hedging your losses'. Someone with better math skills than me can show that you will be decreasing variance by making that side bet. And remember, when playing a negative EV game like Pai Gow, if your goal is to try and eke out a win, variance is your friend.
I personally have hit 3 perfect 9 high hands in my illustrious pai gow career. None were on tables with the side bet offer.