How I Almost Lost RM2,000 In A Card Game

Posted by : foongpc | Wednesday, February 25, 2009 | Published in

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Have you heard of this card game called In-Between? If you gamble, most probably you would have played this game before. If you don't, then let me introduce you to this simple and fun game!

I think I have mentioned somewhere in my earlier posts that I am not much of a gambler. I don't usually play card games and I find learning them a little confusing. But In-Between is different! It is easy to learn, fun to play and can be very thrilling! If you are like me who don't really gamble and who don't quite like to play cards, then In-Between is for you!



Here's how you play the game.

1. Each player receives 1 card face-up.

2. Each player is then dealt a second card, also face-up, starting from the player to the left of the dealer in clockwise direction.

3. Each player at his turn, is offered to bet on whether or not the next card on top of the deck will numerically fall between the two cards he was dealt with.

4. The amount of the bet must be equal to or lower than the size of the pot. (Before the start of the game, every player contributes an equal amount agreed by all to kick start the pot)

5. Players can also decline to bet.

6. If the player bets and wins, he collects amount equal to his bet from the pot. If he loses, he places his bet into the pot.

7. Now here's the killer. If however the third card matches one of the two cards dealt to the player, he not only loses his bet, but is required to pay double the amount of his bet.

8. The game continues until someone wins the entire pot.

That's it! Simple?



Well, just to understand it better, let's take a look at this example.

A player is dealt 2 cards, one is a 3 and the other an 8. If he bets RM5 that the next card on the deck will fall between 3 and 8, and the card is 6, then he wins the RM5 taken from the pot. If the next card is a 10, then he loses his RM5 which will be added to the pot.

However, if the next card is a 3 or an 8, he loses and pays double ie. RM10!

What happens if a player receives 2 matching cards? In this case, there is no possibility of any card that can fall between the 2 matching numbers!

The same goes for a player who receives 2 cards which are very close to each other numerically like 3 and 4, or 7 and 8. There's no way the third card will fall in between those 2 numbers!

In such cases, the players can decline to bet.

The best hand in the game is when the 2 cards are very far apart numerically like an Ace and a King. The probability of the third card falling in between Ace and King is huge!

So players who receive these cards usually bet the whole amount of the pot! And if they win, they win big and the game ends. But if the third card happens to match one of their cards (and this can happen although chances are lower) then they really lose big as they then have to pay double the amount in the pot!




This game can be very thrilling and nerve wrecking! I remember during the Chinese New Year last month, I played this game with my friends, we started out with a meagre RM5 in the pot. Everyone initially bet very small amounts like 50sen and some even 10sen! But halfway through the game, people became greedy and the pot shot up to RM300!

I still remember how thrilling it was at that time. One friend was so confident he would win when he had cards with number 2 and King. So he bet the whole amount in the pot! Guess what? The third card was opened up to reveal a King! So he ended up paying double that is, RM600! In this way, the pot was suddenly increased to RM900!!

At one point in the game, I was sweating like mad. The pot had breached the RM1,000 mark and I just received cards with number 2 and Queen. Should I? Should I bet the whole pot? I could be RM1,000 richer or I could be RM2,000 poorer!!

Guess what I did? Well, I'm sorry to say I'm no gambler and I do not have the guts to gamble big. So I just bet RM200. Yes, that's the highest amount I have ever bet in my entire life! I was thinking the most I would lose is RM400. The cost of a Mamma Mia ticket! Or 4 buffet dinners at Jogoya. Or a month's supply of petrol. Or .....Oh, just do it, for God's sake!

The result? The third card was a 5. Yay! I won! But not RM1,000! Just RM200. If I had been more daring, I would have been RM1,000 richer that day!

Even though I won that RM200, I lost quite a bit in some rounds, so on the whole I still lost some money on that day. See? I told you I'm not much of a gambler. But you know, it's fun. This game is fun and thrilling. You should try it one of these days. Just make sure you don't turn into a compulsive gambler!

(70) Comments

  1. khengsiong said...

    Looks like you are very 'lan tou' (-_-")

    These days I usually play mahjong, but very small amount.

    February 25, 2009 at 8:40 AM
  2. Anonymous

    Hahha...I agree with the first comment! Have never heard of this game before. Interesting.

    February 25, 2009 at 8:43 AM
  3. Anonymous

    yah, played this game before... and i think the story would be a lot more interesting if u did lose yr rm2k haha...

    February 25, 2009 at 9:19 AM
  4. Sherry Go Sharing said...

    gamble too much will be tough to win back $

    February 25, 2009 at 9:22 AM
  5. iamthewitch said...

    Oh I'm so like you! I am not much of a gambler myself and I don't dare to take such high risk! Haha.. Pathetic huh. Last time when I was in Genting, I only bet RM5 each round, and that also I had to 'tumpang' on other people's bets because the minimum was RM25. :P

    February 25, 2009 at 9:25 AM
  6. Anonymous

    i played this before...
    by most elderly don't likey it cos they find it's complicated wo..

    February 25, 2009 at 10:40 AM
  7. day-dreamer said...

    LOL. I'm kiasi so I won't bet RM200... if you add a decimal point after the 2, then it might be possible. Hahaha~

    February 25, 2009 at 10:57 AM
  8. foongpc said...

    khengsiong, I am not 'lan tou' lah. I hardly gamble and this is the first time I gamble RM200. LOL!

    Mahjong? I'm not good in that! Very very slow cos it's still a new game to me. No one will want to play with me! Haha!

    February 25, 2009 at 12:21 PM
  9. foongpc said...

    mei teng, you also think I am 'lan tou'? I'm not, OK? I hardly gamble! But I think you also don't play cards right? You should try this game - it's very fun!! : )

    February 25, 2009 at 12:23 PM
  10. foongpc said...

    nic, haha very funny! If I lose the RM2K, I will be too upset to blog about it! LOL!

    February 25, 2009 at 12:25 PM
  11. foongpc said...

    sherry, yeah it's always good to stop once you win cos if you continue to gamble, you will lose it all! I totally agree! : )

    February 25, 2009 at 12:26 PM
  12. foongpc said...

    iamthewitch, it's OK not to be a gambler. I think it's better to be a non gambler than a gambler. Don't bother to gamble in Genting, sure lose one! The odds are heavily stacked against you : )

    February 25, 2009 at 12:29 PM
  13. foongpc said...

    annant, complicated? I thought it's the most simple game to play! Easy to learn and understand. In fact, not much rules to remember : )

    February 25, 2009 at 12:31 PM
  14. Twilight Man said...

    I have played this since young and was surprised that even folks in India and Korea know this game. Is it International? It is easy and no need use brains except good observations. Many times my friends cheated by prying into the cards before the victim's turns, so that they wanna make him poor. Very often enemies were being made over this game. You and I will understand the reasons. Wanna play together?

    February 25, 2009 at 12:32 PM
  15. foongpc said...

    day-dreamer, aiyo so kiasi! No good lah! Think of how much you can win! LOL!

    February 25, 2009 at 12:33 PM
  16. lina said...

    Sounds complicated for me too. :D
    I only join office mates on games that invlove $$$ in very small amount like 10 sen. That one also never win! LOL
    (and I'm not supposed to gamble anyway. Hehehe)

    February 25, 2009 at 12:34 PM
  17. foongpc said...

    twilight zone, probably it's known internationally. Yeah, no need to use brains. Such a simple and fun game!

    Eh, how can you cheat by prying into the cards? Cannot allow such things lah! No, when we play this game, we don't make enemies. It's all for fun. Not so serious lah!

    Sure can play together, but my track record in gsmbling is not good at all. Must wait till I have excess money to play. LOL! : )

    February 25, 2009 at 12:42 PM
  18. Anonymous

    Foong, you're right. I was chided by friends coz I really suck at card games and never into them and neither do I gamble. Hehehhe...but I am not Ms Goody Two Shoes either..just that I prefer board games :)

    February 25, 2009 at 1:22 PM
  19. levian said...

    all those numbers made my brain goes all question marks. so far i've only managed to understand n play UNO. :p

    February 25, 2009 at 1:28 PM
  20. Josephine said...

    wah, u play 'so big' ar?

    February 25, 2009 at 1:44 PM
  21. JL said...

    That was seriously a big amount, only my Singapore relatives play that much in mahjong lol. Wins of up to SGD 200 if you Zi Muo wahhh....

    Maybe make it smaller la next time, if not everyone become compulsive gambler. We don't want that happening do we? XP

    That said, this in-between is quite interesting. I want to play chor dai di now haha (wonder if I spelt that correctly lol).

    February 25, 2009 at 3:06 PM
  22. Anonymous

    I love card games! My favorite is poker. I haven't played this game before but it sure sounds interesting. I'm not a gambler either. I just play for fun.

    February 25, 2009 at 4:23 PM
  23. LifeRamblings said...

    I’m not much of a gambler mainly bcoz I hate losing money like that.

    February 25, 2009 at 5:17 PM
  24. LifeRamblings said...

    i'm kinda stingy and i don't risk enuf to win anything anyway.

    February 25, 2009 at 5:20 PM
  25. LifeRamblings said...

    it takes plenty of tips, tricks and strategies to help you to become a smart gambler. :):)

    February 25, 2009 at 5:21 PM
  26. eastcoastlife said...

    Lost RM2000!? *heartache*

    I don't know how to play many card games, only Black Jack and that is with my relatives and some friends. We don't bet money, just for fun.

    February 25, 2009 at 6:29 PM
  27. [SK] said...

    i would never gamble with money, cos i know i will always lose when it comes to money, i only win the games when there's no money involved!! sigh~~ :(

    February 25, 2009 at 7:12 PM
  28. TZ said...

    I don't even gamble... Guess what? I was no choice but to entertain my team members in Uganda... we played mahjong in hundreds and thousand ... I won't 5,000 in two hours :p .... first timer luck i guess :p

    February 25, 2009 at 7:18 PM
  29. foongpc said...

    lina, it's not complicated at all. This is a very simple and fun game. Oh, yeah I forgot you are not supposed to gamble. Hehe.

    February 25, 2009 at 10:30 PM
  30. foongpc said...

    mei teng, oh I play board games too but very seldom play nowadays. Which board games you play?

    February 25, 2009 at 10:31 PM
  31. foongpc said...

    levian, I've never really played UNO before! Can you imagine that? But seriously, you should try this card game. It's so much fun!! : )

    February 25, 2009 at 10:32 PM
  32. foongpc said...

    josephine, very 'big' meh? Only bet RM200 only. That's the biggest amount I've ever bet in my life! And only because I can see I have a good chance of winning. I actually don't have the guts to gamble big : )

    February 25, 2009 at 10:34 PM
  33. foongpc said...

    JL, you mean 'chor tai ti'? That is quite a nice game too but I prefer 'In-Between' for its simplicity : ) The problem with 'In-Between' is the amount in the pot can suddenly increase to a huge amount, which is very thrilling! : )

    February 25, 2009 at 10:36 PM
  34. foongpc said...

    prettyfirefly, poker is a nice game too. You must give this 'In-Between' a try. It's fun and thrilling! Btw, thanks for dropping by! : )

    February 25, 2009 at 10:38 PM
  35. foongpc said...

    life ramblings, yeah me too. I don't feel it's worth losing all my money like that! Or should I say all my hard earned money!

    Is there such thing as a smart gambler? I really don't know, then again I'm not interested to know cos I'm not a gambler and not into gambling anyway! : )

    February 25, 2009 at 10:40 PM
  36. foongpc said...

    eastcoastlife, no I didn't lose RM2K. I didn't dare to take the risk! You should try 'In-Between' - it's so much fun! : )

    February 25, 2009 at 10:41 PM
  37. foongpc said...

    SK, you only win games when there's no money involved? That's a pity! Maybe you expect to lose, that's why you lost? Sometimes it could be the mindset. In any case, it's better not to gamble : )

    February 25, 2009 at 10:44 PM
  38. foongpc said...

    TZ, you won 5K in 2 hours? OMG! Is that Malaysian ringgit or Ugandan currency? Looks like you have talent in gambling! Haha!

    February 25, 2009 at 10:46 PM
  39. Pike-chan said...

    That's the most exciting game i ever played.. can lose or win a lot too... and the peak excitement when the opened card hits the 'tiang'... pay double...

    February 26, 2009 at 12:05 AM
  40. vialentino said...

    hey foongpc....its good that u r not greedy .... i understand how u feel...this is wat i feel when i lost rm1.2k in a single bet for a black jack game at genting

    February 26, 2009 at 12:12 AM
  41. Faisal Admar said...

    I'm not a risk taker (well it's different in business :P) so I don't gamble.

    I mean cards.

    I only gamble in soccer which most of the time, luck always on my side. The biggest amount I won in last Euro Cup was only RM600.

    Live with "if" is dangerous. Ask STP. LOL.

    February 26, 2009 at 1:34 AM
  42. Anonymous

    ahh...I pusing pusing blurr ledi!

    February 26, 2009 at 6:09 AM
  43. Anonymous

    You can still consider yourself lucky since you won some money. :o)
    When I went to Las Vegas many years ago, I walk around the slot machines and play each one time. I don't stay at one slot machine. I won $250 doing it while my husband who played poker in one machine didn't win anything. :o) I always put a limit on the money that I will spend on that trip and when I reach that amount, I stop.

    February 26, 2009 at 6:14 AM
  44. Anonymous

    I am not quite a gambler too. I think the biggest amount I ever lose in less than RM50. That was in Genting playing the coin slot machines. I never sat around a table in Genting. I would rather lose my money traveling elsewhere! Wanna join my China trip this August? Drop me a line if you are interested. I am currently 'recruiting' fellow bloggers to join me, haha!

    February 26, 2009 at 9:14 AM
  45. foongpc said...

    pikey, it's an exciting and fun game, right? Yeah, the most thrilling is when you get to pay double!! : )

    February 26, 2009 at 12:28 PM
  46. foongpc said...

    vialentino, wow! You have the guts to bet RM1.2K for a black jack game! Very 'lan tou' lah you! Haha! I won't dare to bet so big! : )

    February 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM
  47. foongpc said...

    faisal, it's good you don't gamble. I really think we should not gamble. But excuse me, gambling in soccer is also gamble. So much for not gambling! LOL!

    February 26, 2009 at 12:31 PM
  48. foongpc said...

    wuching, what is so blur about? You mean my guide how to play this game? Aiya, read slowly step by step. Very easy to understand lah. This is one of the simplest card games I've ever come across : )

    February 26, 2009 at 12:33 PM
  49. foongpc said...

    babette, so you have the gambling luck in you whereas your hubby does not. Haha! I never win in gambling, that's why I don't fancy gambling!

    It's good you put a limit to how much you want to gamble - in that way, you will never lose more than what you can handle. I also think that once you win, you should step out of the casino : )

    February 26, 2009 at 12:36 PM
  50. foongpc said...

    jam, yeah better spend your money on travels. More worth it than gambling away your money, right?

    Going China in August? Which part of China? You know how to speak Mandarin, right cos when I go China, I need someone with me who knows Mandarin, otherwise I'll be lost! LOL! OK, will let you know : )

    February 26, 2009 at 12:38 PM
  51. Anonymous

    Playing card is the game long time before!

    we loved play a game named "finding friends", That's a kind of funny game which can allow many people enjoy together, but can't gamble.

    Miss the days of "finding friends".

    February 26, 2009 at 12:42 PM
  52. foongpc said...

    iWalk, what is "finding friends" game? Never heard before! Why can't you gamble?

    February 26, 2009 at 1:04 PM
  53. Anonymous

    i played this game before too. instead of money, it was otard (the liquor) -_- and alot of drunkards vomiting every where that night itself. lol

    February 26, 2009 at 1:30 PM
  54. Monica said...

    sounds complicated :-D oh well..I don't gamble anyway..

    February 26, 2009 at 2:21 PM
  55. Lisa said...

    wei, dont lah gamble in this bad economy

    go save up =p

    gambling until rm2k........... whether win or not win.....still very risky ..lolx

    better save up

    February 26, 2009 at 3:27 PM
  56. molly said...

    I only gamble during Chinese New Year and only play black jack. This year no luck, lost some money but is ok because the money went to my nieces and nephew.

    February 26, 2009 at 9:20 PM
  57. Bengbeng said...

    in yr shies i would do the same thing. but i never gamble. for the simple i dont have the skill and more likely i dont have the luck :)

    February 26, 2009 at 9:40 PM
  58. Anonymous

    i just laerned to play this game during last cny.. :D quite nice too..

    February 26, 2009 at 10:27 PM
  59. foongpc said...

    xin, I am a lousy drinker. If I play this game using using liquor instead of money, I'll be out in no time! LOL!

    February 27, 2009 at 12:22 AM
  60. Pete said...

    Wooo, gambling is addictive... better stay away from it lorrrr!

    February 27, 2009 at 12:22 AM
  61. foongpc said...

    monica, it's not complicated at all! In fact, it's the simplest card game I've ever played. No need any brain power at all : )

    February 27, 2009 at 12:23 AM
  62. foongpc said...

    lisalicious, thanks for your advice. But I'm not a gambler as you can see. I only play for some fun during the CNY. And I didn't have the guts to bet big, so that's why I don't really fancy gambling! : )

    February 27, 2009 at 12:25 AM
  63. foongpc said...

    molly, oh you should try this game instead. Definitely more fun than black jack! Losing money to nieces and nephews are alrite I guess : )

    February 27, 2009 at 12:26 AM
  64. foongpc said...

    bengbeng, yeah me too. No gambling luck. Always lose. Better not gamble, but play for fun once in a while is OK : )

    February 27, 2009 at 12:28 AM
  65. foongpc said...

    cbenc12, just learned? Oh, it was nice right? So fun this card game! So did you win? : )

    February 27, 2009 at 12:28 AM
  66. foongpc said...

    pete, don't worry. I'm not much of a gambler and it's hard for me to be addicted to it. I just find this card game so fun - it's nice to play it once in a while. Just got to know your own limits, that's all : )

    February 27, 2009 at 12:30 AM
  67. eiling lim said...

    wow this game is fun. I will surely suggest this game the next CNY! Thanks for your detailed explanation!!!

    March 1, 2009 at 10:47 AM
  68. Tekkaus said...

    Hmm...never play this game before! War...RM2k? So big ar you play? =)

    March 2, 2009 at 1:44 AM
  69. foongpc said...

    eiling, you are welcome. This is really such a fun and thrilling game I'm sure you will have a fun time playing it! : )

    March 3, 2009 at 12:02 AM
  70. foongpc said...

    tekkaus, you should try this game - it's really fun! I didn't bet RM2K, only RM200 - didn't have the guts! LOL!

    March 3, 2009 at 12:03 AM