Blackjack vs. Pai Gow Poker

10 March 2022

By Royal Flushes

CINDY: I think the two of us have a relatively widespread liking and understanding of the games. Still, some games appeal to us more than others and some games are to be played at certain times and not at others.

ABBY: You don’t play blackjack when you are tired or nodding out. You have to play the “basic strategy” perfectly to keep the house edge at bay. Otherwise, you are asking for trouble.

CINDY: That’s why I think that players who are shaky in basic strategy should always bring a basic strategy chart with them when they play so they don’t make bonehead mistakes.

ABBY: Agree with that.

CINDY: Now, let’s make a comparison between two card games, blackjack and Pai Gow Poker. Maybe a contrast and an opinion?

ABBY: Me first! I love both games but they are totally different. Blackjack can be very demanding. You can get a fast dealer…

CINDY: Often!

ABBY: The tables are usually packed or almost packed on weekends and for many players those weekend minimums can be fairly high. The game is fast. Also, most players are basically convinced that the way they play is the proper way – even if it isn’t. So when you play you really have to train yourself not to care how other players play their hands.

CINDY: Pai Gow Poker is a different story. You won’t find many of these tables in the smaller casinos but in medium to large casinos this game does have a following.

ABBY: Somewhat small following.

CINDY: Like blackjack, you do get to make decisions on how to play your hands. But unlike blackjack, the basic strategy is easy. You can learn it or you can simply ask the dealer! You just ask the dealer how to play your hands and the dealer will explain the “house way” which is how the house would play that hand. My advice, play the “house way.”

ABBY: Blackjack can be very fast. But Pai Gow Poker is relaxed. There’s no rushing in the game. Sit back, relax, and play a leisurely game.

CINDY: Warning here! The game is not a huge money-maker for the house so they add in all sorts of extra bets to increase their take from the players. None of these “jackpot” bets is any good and I recommend that you just put them out of your mind.

ABBY: Other players can sometimes say, “Well, you should have bet the Dragon Bet and you would have won this amount of money.” Forget it. You do not want to bet wagers that come in with big house edges.

CINDY: What are the house edges of these games, if played properly? In blackjack, using “basic strategy,” the house will have about a one-half percent edge on you. The only drawback is how fast the game can go, so you want to play at full tables (or nearly full tables) to reduce the number of decisions you face. A small edge with many decisions can be as bad as a larger edge with fewer decisions.

ABBY: Pai Gow Poker has about a 2.6 percent house edge but the game does not have as many decisions as blackjack, way less than half that amount.

CINDY: My judgement is that I will play blackjack when I am energized but I prefer to play Pai Gow Poker if I have had a few drinks. I can’t really screw up that game.

ABBY: I am of the same mind.

CINDY: Good.