hey guys - new to pai gow poker and had a thought about an angle. read every post we've had here (ton of great information) but only a grazed on this concept, tell me if this is sound or no:

preamble: LA based casino rules: Joker wild, A2345 low straight, House Rules on 2nd+ spot play. $10 min, $1 toke per play, $3 toke when Bank, can Bank 2 hands per orbit, when Bank dealer plays house rule, Corporation player covers jackpot & overlay.

Strategy: 3 team players at the same table with pooled bankroll taking the 2 hand banker turn every time it's available to us.

-$5/hand when active ($1 player toke x2 + $3 banker toke)
-$3/hand when banker option exhausted for orbit

Assuming optimal strategy and full ring, the opportunity to be against 3 players 6x an orbit and have the advantage on copies, does this build upside? How could I model EV?

thanks guys!

How does a player get the bank 2x/orbit? It's been some time since I've played Cali paigow.

every player at the table has the option to bank for 2 hands per orbit. the Corporation that funds/faux plays in the game is taking that option every time a player doesn't. before the shuffle the dealer offers the option.

Doesn't work. Your team's 6 banks each have a 1x advantage, while the corp's 2 banks each have a 3x advantage. It all washes out.

Assuming full ring - 6 players at the table, so 3 team members get 6 banks v 3 ops per orbit (Corp does not play a hand when player Banking)

I didn't realize the corp didn't play if a player banks, though that makes sense, otherwise what's the incentive for the corp. I also forgot to factor in the other opponents for your banks.

So assuming a full table and the other 3 players never bank...

Simple version - each of the other 3 players bet the same every hand as you do when the corp banks, lets say $100

Team is playing $1800 at a 1.3% advantage (+23.40)
Team is playing $600 at a 1.3% disadvantage (-7.80)
Team pays $36 in vig

Your net EV is -20.40 per orbit

Simple version - each of the other 3 players bet the same every hand as you do when the corp banks, lets say $300

Team is playing $5400 at a 1.3% advantage (+70.20)
Team is playing $1800 at a 1.3% disadvantage (-23.40)
Team pays $36 in vig

Your net EV is +10.80 per orbit

As you can see this just isn't practical. There needs to be a perfect storm of events for this to even be profitable, let alone profitable enough to be worth your time.

thanks Latt, back to the drawing board here. Maybe need to save this maneuver for the next vegas trip with no drop commission-based games.

In Vegas, I cannot bank unless I play when not banking.

Are you saying that in California, the corporation is allowed to play bank hands but skip non-bank hands?

Yes, and you can too. I forgot about that rule, so my math analysis above is incorrect, although my conclusion remains. Also if you habitually do that the casino will kick you out because you are cutting into too much of the corporation's action.