Dear Mark, In Pai Gow Poker, do you ever recommend being the banker? Hector

can be the banker. A small plastic marker called a "chung" is placed on top of dealt cards indicating who the banker is.

If you wish to be a banker, Hector, all you have to do is tell the dealer before the cards are dealt that you want to bank the game, and he will automatically place the chung in your betting circle.

The advantage to being the banker is that you win copies. A "copy" occurs when a player and the banker have the same two-card hand, or the same five-card hand. For example, both the player and the banker have an ace and a seven as their two-card hands, creating a tie or copy.

The disadvantage to being the banker is that you must have the bankroll to book the action of all the players at the table. If your hand is a loser, you have to pay all the winning bets, including the dealer's. Additionally, you can only be the banker for one hand, after which the bank reverts to the dealer for the next hand.

Finally, as far as the five percent commission for each winning bet is concerned, the house still gets its take whether you're the banker or not.

So, Hector, is it smart to be the banker, even though, as just another player, BUT playing perfect basic strategy, you can lower the casino edge to 2.5 percent? Absolutely. Since the banker wins all ties, you might as well take advantage of being the bank and grinding away at the house edge even further
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However-pay attention now-if your bankroll is limited, bank the game only when you are the lone player at the table.

The reason for playing against the dealer is that the dealer's wager will be only the amount of your last bet. Consequently, you won't be at the risk of losing any more money than you would be as a regular player. Better yet, if you request it, the dealer will bet only the table minimum.