Plus, betting errors and what happens when you make a betting error...
LUCKY NUMBER! Those of you who know anything about the Far East will be aware that the number 8 is deemed to have great significance in places like China. It was in fact the inspiration for the big brand site 888.com. In order to show respect for the millions of Oriental poker players who hold the number 8 in such high regard the game of Kowloon-Jai was developed as a variation on Texas Hold’em. The main differences result from changes in the hand rankings. For example, the highest hand in Kowloon-Jai (which means “Lucky Money”) is four eights which beats any other hand and is followed by a straight flush and four of a kind. If you particularly want to find yourself playing a table full of Chinese gamblers, selecting Kowloon-Jai is probably the best way to go about it. This can give you a considerable edge as a Westerner. With so much mystique surrounding the “luck factor” in the game you may well find yourself in against a lot of irrational play which you can capitalise on. Give it a try. Why is the number 8 considered lucky in the Far East? Apparently it sounds like their word for “prosper”. As the Far West would say, “Go figure!”
BETTING ERRORS If you are beginning to play in “live” games as well as online there is an important rule you need to be aware of which doesn’t come into play that often but can be a bit of a shock when it does. What happens if you inadvertently “bet out of turn”? Immediately this occurs the action is frozen. If you bet, raise or call out of turn “freezing” is always the correct response. Usually it only occurs with betting when someone gets over enthusiastic. When the illegal bet is frozen all chips the offender has entered into the pot are frozen also until the illegal player’s turn comes round. At that point there are several possible outcomes.
OUT OF TURN SANCTION The player concerned is not allowed to remove any chips from the pot. All other players are allowed to continue as though the error never happened. When the illegal player’s correct turn arrives he or she will only be allowed to proceed in the following fashion: If the offending player had placed the bet, and there had been no previous bet in that interval, the rules say the bet must stand. If, however, a bet in the interval did take place then the offending player is judged to have “called”. If the illegal player’s out of turn bet was not enough to make the imposed “call” he or she must make up the shortfall, or fold and lose the chips contributed to the pot thus far. All in all, be extremely careful NOT to bet out of turn!
