Poker Asian Tour
About the Asian Poker Tour (APT)
Asia PokerNews is the No. 1 source for poker news, poker events and information from Asia. It provides poker media news coverage of poker tournaments and events online and landbased; featured poker players including poker reviews, exclusive video coverage, and tournaments information in Asia and around the world. The Asian Poker Tour or APT for short was founded back in 2008 and has been growing from strength to strength ever since. To date, there have been more than 80 major APT events and lots of smaller tournaments in the Asia-Pacific region too. Asia Pacific Poker Tour: 2014 APPT Manila schedule drawing near June 16th 2014 For many new PayPal casino sites, June and July means the hot desert air of Las Vegas and eight weeks of the World Series o.
The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is fast becoming THE poker tournament series with which to be involved in the Asian Poker world. Already boasting the largest guaranteed prize pools throughout the whole continent, the series attracts poker players from all walks of life, from novice to professional, from those who relish the opportunity to face some of the poker world's big name players, to those who began their journey playing remotely - online in another part of the globe, and won the right to be at an APT Main Event! The Tour was acquired in 2008 by AsianLogic (AIM:ALOG) and has thus far held two successful events: one in the Philippines and the other in Macau. Titan Poker representatives, both players and staff, were present at both live poker events and 2009 looks like an even busier year for the organizers and more lucrative for Asia's most highly skilled players.
Details of all Asian Poker Tour events can be seen below:
Asian Poker Tour Macau 2010
Titan Poker offered its players a $7,000 prize package to the last leg of the Asian Poker Tour 2010 in exotic Macau from November 9th – November 15th, 2010. Players had a chance to play poker in the City of Dreams, the exquisite resort where this event is staged. Titan Poker produced the dream tournament package for Super Satellite winners. The Macau Hard Rock Hotel is the host of this special tournament and also the deluxe hotel where package winners will be staying. The $7,000 APT Macau prize package included the $4,180 + $320 Buy In to the Main Event, Nov 10th – Nov 14th, and 6 nights’ accommodation at the Macau Hard Rock Hotel, in the City of Dreams.
Asian Poker Tour - Macau, 2009
What is now considered by many to be the new gambling capital of the world - Macau, China plays host once again to the Asian Poker Tour - Macau, 2009. All of the action will take place at the five star Galaxy StarWorld Hotel and Casino between August 12th - 23rd. Titan Poker is making it possible for players to have the chance to turn their dreams of participating in this once in a lifetime event into reality EVERY SUNDAY with our APT Macau Super Satellites!!
Asian Poker Tour
Asian Poker Tour - Manila, 2009
The Asian Poker Tour touches down in Manila for the second time in January 2009 and is set to be the biggest Asian tournament in poker. Scheduled to take place between January 29th and February 1st, Titan Poker are offering players the chance to be there - a tournament seat making up just part of the sensational $6,000 prize packages up for grabs!
Read our players' story at APT Manila 2009.
Asian Poker Tour - Macau, 2008
Macau, China was the destination for the biggest tournament held in Asia to date. Vastly considered the gambling capital of the world, a massive $1,500,000 prize pool was on offer for those who managed to stay in the money at the end of the six-day event held at the StarWorld Hotel and Casino. Here is the report of Titan Poker's 17 players at this event.
Asian Poker Tour - Manila, 2008
With a whopping One Million Dollars in the prize pool, it's no wonder that the APT's inaugural event was a flourishing success. Staged between May 26th and June 2nd Titan Poker's 7-strong delegation had a fantastic time soaking up the atmosphere in the Philippines! Here is the story of Titan Poker at APT Manila 2008.
Along with the Asian Poker Tour, Titan Poker also sends talented poker players to other major poker events such as the World Series of Poker, the Irish Open, the Aussie Millions, and the Caribbean Poker Tour 2013.
On This Page
Introduction
Asia Poker is a clever variation of pai gow poker and a Chinese game called '13 cards.' I've been getting requests for information about it for years. I think it started in Atlantic City, and moved its way west. When I finally saw it at Harrah's Rincon in California, and the Rio and Gold Coast in Las Vegas, I couldn't keep ignoring the game.
Rules
- A 53-card deck is used, including one joker. The joker may be used to complete a straight, flush, straight flush, or royal flush, otherwise it is treated as an ace (the same way as in pai gow poker).
- After making a wager, the player and dealer each get seven cards.
- The player should arrange his cards into a one-card low hand, a two-card medium hand, and a four-card high hand.
- The low hand may not be higher in poker value than the medium hand, and the medium hand may not be higher than the high hand. A violation of this rule will foul the hand, resulting in a loss.
- There are just pairs and two singletons in the medium hand, no straights or flushes.
- The poker rankings in the four-card hand are the same as in conventional poker, except there are no full houses. One reader has disputed this rule, so this needs to be verified.
- The dealer shall set his hand according to the 'house way,' which is detailed below.
- The player's three hands shall be compared to the corresponding dealer's three hands. In each comparison, the hand with the higher value shall win. Ties shall go to the dealer.
- If the player wins at least two of the three hands, then he shall win even money on his wager. Otherwise he will lose. Note that no commission is charged on wins.
- In addition, a Bonus Bet may be offered, based on the poker value of the player's seven-card hand. The pay tables for the Bonus Bet are explained below.
Strategy
Most hands will be obvious. If you aren't sure what to do, I would ask the dealer to set your hand by the 'house way.'
House Edge
The game owner tells me the house edge is 4.82%. Based on my own analysis, I think this figure is correct.
House Way
The following house way is from the Gold Coast in Las Vegas. I have an unconfirmed report that Harrah's (I'm not sure which one) uses a different house way.
For purposes of the house way, cards are defined into the following groupings:
- 2-6 = Low
- 7-10 = Medium
- J-A = High
Garbage
Play the 3rd highest card in the low hand, the 2nd and 4th highest cards in the medium hand, and the rest in the high hand.
One pair
With a high pair, and either no high singletons or one high singleton lower than the pair, split the pair between the medium and high hands.
Otherwise, play the 2nd highest singleton in the low hand, the 1st and 3rd highest singletons in the medium hand, and the rest in the high hand.
Two Pairs
Split the two pair between the high and medium hands.
Exception: If you have a pair of aces or kings and no high singletons, then then play the lower pair in the high hand and split the high pair between the medium and low hands.
Three Pairs
If one of the pairs is aces or kings, and the singleton is low or medium, then play a card from the high pair in the low, the other ace or king and the singleton in the medium hand, and the other two pair in the high hand.
Otherwise, if the singleton is low or medium, then play a card from the highest pair in the low hand, the medium pair in the medium hand, and rest in the high hand.
Otherwise (with no ace/king pair and a high singleton), play the singleton in the low hand, the highest pair in the medium hand, and the other two pair in the high hand.
Three of a Kind
With three 2-10: Play the 2nd highest singleton in the low hand, the 1st and 3rd highest singletons in the medium hand, and the rest in the high hand.
With three jacks and no high cards: Play the highest singleton in the low hand, a jack and 2nd highest singleton in the medium hand, and the rest in the high hand.
With three jacks and one high card: Play a jack in the low hand, the two highest singletons in the medium hand, and the rest in the high hand.
With three jacks and two high cards: Play the same way as three 2-10.
With QQQ-AAA and one or two high cards: Play a pair in the high hand, otherwise maximizing the low and medium hands.
Three of a Kind Twice
Split up the high three of a kind between the low and medium hands.
Straight, Flush, Straight Flush, Royal Flush
If you can play the four-card hand in the high hand, and a pair in the medium hand, then play that way, except if the pair is aces and the singleton is a not a king, then split the pair between the low and medium hands.
If the hand contains two pairs, three pairs, or a three of a kind, then break up the four-card hand, and follow the appropriate rule for two pair, three pair, or three of a kind.
If you can make both a straight or flush in the high hand, then play the way that results in the better medium hand.
If the medium hand is the same either way, then play the way that results in the best low hand.
If the four-card hand contains three or four high cards, and no additional high card, then play according to the 'garbage' rule. With an additional high card, play the four-card hand in the high hand.
If the hand contains a pair inside the four-card hand, and you have an ace, king, or queen and jack, then retain the four-card hand in the high hand. Otherwise, with a pair inside the four-card hand, play the pair in the high hand.
Full House
The 'usual way' to play a full house is to play the highest singleton in the low, the pair in the medium, and three of a kind and low singleton in the high hand.
With three queens or higher, and the singletons are both low or medium, split the three of a kind into the low and high hands, retaining the pair in the medium hand. With at least one high singleton, play the 'usual way.'
With a pair of aces of kings, and no high singletons, split the pair between the low and medium hands, and the three of a kind in the high hand. With at least one high singleton, play the 'usual way.'
With a three queens or higher, and a high pair, and no high singleton, split up the three of a kind between the low and high hands. Otherwise, with at least one high singleton, play the 'usual way.'
In all other situations, play the 'usual way.'
Three of a Kind and Two Pairs
With no high pairs, split the three of a kind between the low and medium hands, and play the two pair in the high hand.
Otherwise, play a card from the high pair in the low hand, the low pair in the medium hand, and the rest in the high hand.
Four of Kind
Asian Poker Tour Taiwan
With a low four of a kind, and two high cards including an ace, play the four of a kind in the high hand.
With four aces or kings, and no high singletons, split the four of a kind into a pair in the high hand, and one card each in the low and medium hands.
Otherwise, split the four of a kind into a pair in the medium and high hands.
Four of a Kind and a Pair
With four aces or kings, play three of them in the high hand, and one in the low hand.
Otherwise, play the pair in the medium hand, and the four of a kind in the high hand.
Asian Poker Tour Vietnam
Four of a King and a Three of a Kind
With four queens or higher, and a low or medium three of a kind, play the three of a kind in the high hand.
Otherwise, play the four of a kind in the high hand.
Five Aces
Play an ace in the low hand, two aces in the medium hand, and the rest in the high hand.
Bonus Bet
Game literature shows four possible pay tables for the Bonus Bet. The following four tables show the probability and return for each one.
Asia Poker Bonus Bet — Pay Table A
| Hand | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8888 + Any 3 of a Kind | 5000 | 54 | 0.00000035 | 0.00175162 |
| 5 Aces | 800 | 1128 | 0.00000732 | 0.0058543 |
| Royal Flush | 200 | 26132 | 0.00016953 | 0.03390616 |
| Natural Straight Flush | 80 | 38728 | 0.00025125 | 0.02009977 |
| St. Flush with Joker | 40 | 146104 | 0.00094785 | 0.03791387 |
| Four of a Kind | 30 | 307418 | 0.00199437 | 0.05983103 |
| Full House | 5 | 4188528 | 0.02717299 | 0.13586494 |
| Flush | 4 | 6172088 | 0.04004129 | 0.16016517 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 7672500 | 0.04977518 | 0.14932555 |
| Straight | 2 | 11034204 | 0.07158417 | 0.14316833 |
| 9-High | 10 | 31080 | 0.00020163 | 0.00201631 |
| Nothing | -1 | 124525116 | 0.80785408 | -0.80785408 |
| Total | 154143080 | 1 | -0.05795704 |
Asia Poker Bonus Bet — Pay Table B
| Hand | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8888 + Any 3 of a Kind | 5000 | 54 | 0.00000035 | 0.00175162 |
| 5 Aces | 800 | 1128 | 0.00000732 | 0.0058543 |
| Royal Flush | 200 | 26132 | 0.00016953 | 0.03390616 |
| Natural Straight Flush | 50 | 38728 | 0.00025125 | 0.01256235 |
| St. Flush with Joker | 40 | 146104 | 0.00094785 | 0.03791387 |
| Four of a Kind | 30 | 307418 | 0.00199437 | 0.05983103 |
| Full House | 5 | 4188528 | 0.02717299 | 0.13586494 |
| Flush | 4 | 6172088 | 0.04004129 | 0.16016517 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 7672500 | 0.04977518 | 0.14932555 |
| Straight | 2 | 11034204 | 0.07158417 | 0.14316833 |
| 9-High | 10 | 31080 | 0.00020163 | 0.00201631 |
| Nothing | -1 | 124525116 | 0.80785408 | -0.80785408 |
| Total | 154143080 | 1 | -0.06549445 |
Asia Poker Bonus Bet — Pay Table C
| Hand | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8888 + Any 3 of a Kind | 5000 | 54 | 0.00000035 | 0.00175162 |
| 5 Aces | 800 | 1128 | 0.00000732 | 0.0058543 |
| Royal Flush | 200 | 26132 | 0.00016953 | 0.03390616 |
| Natural Straight Flush | 50 | 38728 | 0.00025125 | 0.01256235 |
| St. Flush with Joker | 40 | 146104 | 0.00094785 | 0.03791387 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 307418 | 0.00199437 | 0.0498592 |
| Full House | 5 | 4188528 | 0.02717299 | 0.13586494 |
| Flush | 4 | 6172088 | 0.04004129 | 0.16016517 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 7672500 | 0.04977518 | 0.14932555 |
| Straight | 2 | 11034204 | 0.07158417 | 0.14316833 |
| 9-High | 10 | 31080 | 0.00020163 | 0.00201631 |
| Nothing | -1 | 124525116 | 0.80785408 | -0.80785408 |
| Total | 154143080 | 1 | -0.07546629 |
Asia Poker Bonus Bet — Pay Table D
| Hand | Pays | Combinations | Probability | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8888 + Any 3 of a Kind | 5000 | 54 | 0.00000035 | 0.00175162 |
| 5 Aces | 800 | 1128 | 0.00000732 | 0.0058543 |
| Royal Flush | 150 | 26132 | 0.00016953 | 0.02542962 |
| Natural Straight Flush | 50 | 38728 | 0.00025125 | 0.01256235 |
| St. Flush with Joker | 40 | 146104 | 0.00094785 | 0.03791387 |
| Four of a Kind | 25 | 307418 | 0.00199437 | 0.0498592 |
| Full House | 5 | 4188528 | 0.02717299 | 0.13586494 |
| Flush | 4 | 6172088 | 0.04004129 | 0.16016517 |
| Three of a Kind | 3 | 7672500 | 0.04977518 | 0.14932555 |
| Straight | 2 | 11034204 | 0.07158417 | 0.14316833 |
| 9-High | 10 | 31080 | 0.00020163 | 0.00201631 |
| Nothing | -1 | 124525116 | 0.80785408 | -0.80785408 |
| Total | 154143080 | 1 | -0.08394283 |