reflection #11

This time I learned about a game called Kabu(nine). It’s a really simple counting hanafuda game.the whole point of the game is to get a score closest to nine. The number of players in this game can be around 5 to 6 people. This game closely resembles Black Jack or Twenty-one so if you’re like me and have played this before then learning Kabu should be simple to learn.

 In this game the rain and paulownia suits are removed, leaving 40 cards total. The value of the cards depends on the number of the month they represent. For example, january(pine) cards count as one, February (Plum) two, March (cherry) three, April(wisteria) four, and so on. October cards are counted as zero instead of ten though. The dealer is decided by having everyone pick a cards and the lowest card is the dealer. Everyone in the group gets a face up card including the dealer going from left to right. Each player bets the same amount as their face up card. If they have a 4, then they bet 4. After all the bets have been placed then then everyone gets a face down card.

The goal is to get nine. If the total is 10 or more, then the first digit is ignored. So a hand of 18 has a total of 8. There are two special rules about taking cards. First, players are not allowed to take a third card if their current total is 7 or higher. Second, players are required to take another card if their total is 3 or less. After everyone is settled with their cards, then they are revealed. The player with highest total closest to 9 wins the pot. If there is a ties, the players split the pot evenly, if all players have the same total, then the dealer wins the pot. If a player has three identical cards in their hand, then their hand count as a 9 and all players have to triple their bet. If the dealer’s first card is a 9 and his second card is a 1, they win regardless of what cards the other players have( even having a three of kind). It doesn’t apply if the dealer gets a 1 and then getting a 9.