Walnuts, violent raises, and shutting the door - all a part of China's poker boom

The development of poker in China lately has become very exciting to watch, and that i desired to use this post to speak about a few of what I HAVE BEEN seeing happening as poker has become increasingly popular there. I LATTERLY was capable of play within the 2014 PokerStars.net Beijing Millions in China's capital city. After being there for a few weeks playing, I USED TO BE in a position to see first-hand the "boom" that's happening presently for poker within the country.

The vibe in China jogs my memory most of the way poker was after I first started playing -- back around 2005 or 2006 when the remainder of the sector was having its "boom." I remember back in college how everybody was playing poker, or no less than everybody knew somebody who was playing. Every Friday or Saturday night there could be someone having a "poker night."

Wu taking over the poker boom

There's something similar happening in China at the moment. The Beijing Millions ended up drawing a huge 2,732 entrants, but they might have easily had over 4,000 with more Day 1 flights. It was hugely popular, and helped show that there are numerous people there at the moment who need to play poker.

A lot of the brand new poker players in China are coming from the higher classes. That's a trend that have been growing for some time now. After I was in Beijing I stayed a couple of extra days and my father introduced me to a couple of his friends. He works in interior design and has designed some corporate offices for businesses, and so among these people I met were some chairmen and CEOs of giant corporations. They all were avid poker players -- each one. They did not know so much about strategy, but all of them were very captivated with the game.

Whenever the Red Dragon happens over in Macau, these businessmen all flock over to play. There's such a lot passion for the sport among these players. Back once I was in college, my goal with poker was simply to make some more money each week with the intention to buy some drinks. And as a pro, of course, creating a profit is a foremost concern. But for many these players in China -- particularly the businessmen with relatively deep pockets -- the goal isn't such a lot to earn money as to rejoice. They'll often lose, but they're enjoying themselves greatly.

That said, people in China need to learn the game, too -- similar to what was happening throughout the "boom" a decade ago. There is a huge demand for info concerning the game. It's fascinating, though, to peer how these new players are playing the sport now, and in addition how Chinese culture, which is able to involve numerous superstitions, sometimes reveals itself on the poker table.

One place where you spot the superstitions in evidence is with chip protectors. By far probably the most interesting are these 100-year-old walnuts players use. Essentially they're very expensive antiques -- walnuts which were dried and preserved, and so they more or less appear to be little brains. We call the most productive hand in poker "the nuts," and in reality the interpretation of the word into Chinese equals walnuts, so there is something uncannily appropriate in relation to this lucky charm.

There's one player particularly -- he's earned the nickname "Mr. Walnut" -- who will put his walnuts on his cards, then pull out an electrical toothbrush and brush the walnuts before he goes all in, praying for something good to happen. I AM NOT kidding! It is so hilarious, and he's only one of many characters you'll encounter. A TV table stuffed with these guys can be terrific to watch.

You run right into a lot of truly curious play on this environment -- play that probably would appear roughly crazy to a couple. It's important to see it to believe it, one of the most plays which can be made. There's also a large number of shouting and slow rolling and other things that would seem odd to many but actually fit throughout the culture and are quite normal there.

Wu in action in Macau. Not a walmut in sight

There's also numerous what chances are you'll call community-based pride some of the Chinese, too, with a purpose to comes out occasionally. Groups from particular cities or provinces will travel together to play in tournaments and room together once there. They'll wear similar shirts or badges and root one another on in tournaments. That's another cultural difference, I think, that's interesting to witness.

There was a small buy-in team event at the schedule in Beijing and it was hugely popular, largely for this reason "team" mentality that already exists among these groups. There is a version of WhatsApp in China called WeChat, and those were getting on there weeks before the tournament to banter backward and forward concerning the event. Each team had their very own name or even uniform, and it was very exciting and a fun solution to experience poker.

Going in conjunction with Chinese culture influencing how the sport is played, that still comes out in probably the most terms they're using to explain poker. They have already got their very own lingo to assist describe certain plays, including some terms that reflect style and strategy that may seem a little bit strange to a few folks.

For example, once they are dealt aces, they do not want action -- they would like you to fold, and so numerous times they'll just bet big and clear everyone out in order to not risk losing. If someone does lose with aces, say by slow playing after which having someone draw out, someone will say "YOU WILL HAVE closed the door on him." The loser might then say "I ATTEMPTED to near it," and the response can be "YOU WILL HAVE closed it harder."

You'll see numerous crazily big all-in shoves before the flop -- like 100 big blinds or more -- and it's often done with ace-king or queens or jacks. They'll say they do not need to play the hand post-flop, that is why they "close the door" with the large shove. Then they'll describe that raise as a "violent raise."

There are other terms which can be unique. They discuss with a flush as "gold," and so when you find yourself drawing to a flush you're "looking for gold." Also when someone has a combo-draw -- drawing both to a straight and a flush -- they'll call that a "scary draw." Literally they consult with it because the" intimidating draw," with the one who is ahead and hoping the opposite doesn't hit his draw being the person who finds it intimidating.

The atmosphere is so different. There aren't too many professional players and a lot of recent players who're real excited to be playing. Macau had its own poker "boom" a few years ago, you could say, that included numerous Chinese players coming over to play. But that is something different -- and larger. And it is only starting.

Raymond Wu is a member of Team PokerStars Pro.

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