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—Ace to Yumeko Jabami | ||
Poker Tournament is the 4th chapter of Kakegurui Trip, written by Hikaru Muno and illustrated by Tooru Naomura.
Summary[]
Yumeko joins the tournament. Ryota bets on her to win it all. Mary and him don't participate. Izayoi watches over them. She thinks to herself that she wants to become like Kirari. The tournament kicks off with 125 participants. They'll play Closed Poker. In the first round, five people will occupy a table. 25 players will be left for the second turn. In which, again, there will be tables of 5. The grand finale will consist of the five winners of round 2. The prize pool for the winner is 500 million yen.
Ryota watches Yumeko's table. She and one opponent keep on increasing the pot by 100,000. Yumeko doesn't falter. The boy shows signs of being stressed. But he still keeps raising. As they’re done, the pot is 1,000,000 yen. Yumeko wins and reaches the second round. She's the first to qualify. Ace and her are on the same table for round two. Students aren't sure about who's the favourite. Ace is well-known in the poker industry. When going up against him, a player admits he felt like he wasn't even allowed to compete. Ace’s plays were unreadable.
The match begins. Every player only pays attention to Yumeko. Yumeko doesn’t stop looking at him as well. Ace admits to himself that he speaks to opponents when he plays with them for the first time, even if the person doesn’t respond. The match begins before they sit at the table. He believes that Yumeko has already formed an impression of him at the beach. Poker's logic applies to his whole life, even the way he manages his money. He manages to pressure players out of bets. In a later round, Yumeko raises to 600,000, which shocks him. Ryota hears the spectators around him being excited. Ace has called the bet. Both hands are high cards. Ace wins. It shocks Ryota that the two of them bet so much on high cards. Ace finds Yumeko’s play to be insane. Only he, Yumeko, and another male student remain. Ace possesses more than half of the total chips of all players gathered. Desperate, the third party makes a bet. Yumeko goes all-in. The total bet is set at 32,000 yen. Ace tells Yumeko he doesn’t understand her play style. The third-party wants to fold but still calls. With a one-pair of 9’s, Yumeko defeats his one-pair of 7’s. Only Yumeko and Ace are left in this table.
Both go all in. Since Ace has more than double her chips, if Yumeko loses, it’s over for her. Yumeko wins with a full house. She keeps going all in. Ace realizes she’s as much of a gambling maniac as the rumours say. They put every chip on the line again and wish they’ll face each other again someday. The showdown begins. Yumeko wins. After the game, Ace walks up to Ryota and her. He thanks Yumeko for the game. Ace believes he lost because he got titled, but still acknowledges that Yumeko has won fair and square. Ace wishes her good luck for the finals and leaves.
Ryota believes very few people in the school can match Ace’s level. He also thinks many students have placed their bet on him winning. Ryota gathers that no players of renown besides Yumeko have made it to the finals. Yumeko explains that they shouldn’t be underestimated, having made it that far.
Plot[]
Part 1[]
Ryota approached a staff member in a black suit. Registration is open for the Poker Tournament. A maximum of 125 players can enter. A huge crowd is around. Yumeko joins it. As Ryota hears about the participation fee being one million yen, he definitely doesn’t want to participate. He believes his chances of winning are null and he’d rather try playing the games he hasn't played yet. However, Ryota is going to bet on Yumeko winning. Mary says she won’t participate as well, since she’s not short on money. Yumeko whispers something to Mary’s ears. Mary seems to reluctantly agree to something.
The tournament is going to start in an hour. They split off.
Part 2[]
A Kansankai member, dressed in black, announces to Izayoi that Yumeko will be participating. They’re inside a surveillance room that has cameras on the whole casino. The subordinate asks Izayoi if they should scheme to exclude Yumeko from the tournament. Izayoi refers to her as the ex-housepet and says she has no chance of winning anyway.
It’s Izayoi’s last summer as a high school student. She believes that the entirety of what was built up through her school life depends on today. While the Kansankai in itself doesn’t have any cash, they have lots of sponsors.
Since joining the Kansankai, she has sacrificed academic, sportive, and romantic success; and has spent energy, every day, on the project. She has done this for a better future, having once been a housepet.
Companies easily handed out money since the students came from Hyakkaou. To establish the casino, they needed a site, convenient transportation, and something that would convince the students to come. Ryouran Island was perfect for that. They had to ask the Student Council for permission.
After negotiations with Sayaka and a henchman, the student managed to meet Kirari in the Student Council room. Just being in the same room as Kirari, Izayoi was terrorized. She aspires to become someone like that. Izayoi explained how the project would benefit Hyakkaou. Kirari asks if she needs a loan. Izayoi replies that a lease is enough. The school president admits that she’s been dissatisfied with the fact that there’s no casino in such a school. She demands that Sayaka provide it free of charge. As Izayoi signs the contract, Kirari asks, out of curiosity, what the casino will be like.
A subordinate calls Izayoi out, as she’s been spacing out. She walks out.
Part 3[]
Ryota finds a large TV in the casino. The previous days, it displayed live sports and other events. Now, it’s going to show the tournament. He only intends on watching Yumeko’s games anyway. Visible on the screen, Izayoi announces that the tournament is kicking off with 125 participants. The room erupts in excitement. The poker variant is going to be Closed Poker.
In the first round, five people will occupy a table. 25 players will be left for the second turn. In which, again, there will be tables of 5. The grand finale will consist of the five winners of round 2. The prize pool for the winner is 500 million yen. Ryota is shocked and wonders where they can find this money if the entry fees combine to 125 million yen. A list of player names appears. Spectators can bet on who they think will win. Odds will be based on the number of players remaining at the point of the bet multiplied by the wager amount. So, Ryota, who bet 30,000 yen now, will receive 3,750,000 if Yumeko wins.
Part 4[]
Ryota finds Yumeko’s table. Red stanchion ropes are used to restrain the area so spectators don’t get too close to the players. Ryota calls out to Yumeko. Many students overhear him and know who Yumeko is. They decide to place a bet on her victory.
Five cards are distributed to each player. Each player discards any number of cards from his or her hand face down once. The same number of cards are added from the deck to the hand. The strength of the hand is used to determine the winner. In the case of equal hands, the strength of the cards and the suits are used to determine the winner.
The deck contains 53 cards (including one joker). High card < one pair < two pair < three of a kind < straight < flush < full house < four of a kind < straight flush < five of a kind (a four of a kind + a joker). Ryota figures out that the chances of getting a good hand are low since the players can only change cards once. The tables quiet down and the tournament begins.
Part 5[]
The dealer shuffles the cards and hands out five of them to each player. Someone who seems to be Yumeko’s underclassman tells her it’s an honour to face her. Yumeko replies that it’s an honour for her as well. The ante begins at 20,000 yen but doubles every round. Yumeko checks the cards she has by slightly turning the edges, face down, in order to avoid peeking. All the players are paying close attention to Yumeko’s movements.
Right after paying the ante, players must discard any number of cards. A male student and Yumeko discarded two cards. Yumeko raises by 300,000 yen. A boy is amazed and raises. Yumeko and him keep on increasing the pot by 100,000. Yumeko does not falter. The boy shows signs of being stressed. But he still keeps raising along Yumeko. The dealer is visibly confused. The player avoids eye contact with Yumeko. As they’re done raising, the pot is 1,000,000 yen.
Part 6[]
Yumeko has won the showdown and she ends up qualifying for the second round. Ryota explains how she dragged the opponent into going all in.
Part 7[]
Names of the winners of the first round are announced in the order in which they qualified. Yumeko’s name is said first. Ace has also made it. He tells Mary that if he wins, he’ll come back and pick her up.
Part 8[]
Each of the five tables is filled with players. The crowd is bigger than earlier. Ryota has found a spot to get near Yumeko. Ace calls him out and thanks him for the game they had earlier. Tension starts between Ace and Yumeko. The other three players observe seriously and are wary of Yumeko. A student next to Ryota speaks up. He admits his bet is on Yumeko, but isn't confident about her beating Ace. Ryota asks if he's that strong. The person explains that Ace is well-known in the poker industry. When going up against him, he felt like he wasn't even allowed to compete and Ace’s plays were unreadable. The match begins.
The dealer distributes the cards quickly. Ace doesn't even peek at his cards. He doesn't pay attention to the players aside from Yumeko. Ace explains that his win rate is 96 percent in poker. During the game, Yumeko doesn’t stop looking at Ace.
Part 9[]
Ace actually rejects the notion of win rate in poker. He speaks to opponents when he plays with them for the first time, even if the person doesn’t respond. The match begins before they sit at the table. He believes that Yumeko has already formed an impression of him at the beach. Poker's logic applies to his whole life, even the way he manages his money.
At the table, he reads a female student to be nervous. She bets 100,000. He raises by 300,000 to pressure her out of it. Two male students fold quickly. Ace is looking forward to Yumeko’s move. She just folds, which disappoints him. The other player folds as well, giving Ace the pot. Next round. Ace can tell other players are tense without even looking at them. Yumeko then raises to 600,000, which shocks him.
Part 10[]
Ryota hears the spectators around him being excited. Ace has called the 600,000 yen bet. Both hands are high cards. Ace wins. It shocks Ryota that the two of them bet so much on high cards.
Part 11[]
Ace finds Yumeko’s play to be insane. Only he, Yumeko, and another male student remain. Ace possesses more than half of the total chips of all players gathered. Desperate, the third party makes a bet. Yumeko goes all-in. The total bet is set at 32,000 yen. Ace tells Yumeko he doesn’t understand her play style. The third-party wants to fold but still calls. With a one-pair of 9’s, Yumeko defeats his one-pair of 7’s. Only Yumeko and Ace are left in this table.
Part 12[]
Ace has made it far through poker alone. He comes from a single-parent household and hasn’t received much of an income outside of poker. Hyakkaou Academy is the best environment for him. He attributes his success to the fact that, no matter how weak the opponent is, he never cut corners and never lets his guard down. Ace compares his duel with Yumeko to a fistfight.
Both go all in. Since Ace has more than double her chips, if Yumeko loses, it’s over for her. Yumeko wins with a full house. She keeps going all in. Ace realizes she’s as much of a gambling maniac as the rumours say. They put every chip on the line again and wish they’ll face each other again someday. The showdown begins.
Part 13[]
Yumeko has won. Ace walks up to Ryota and her. He thanks Yumeko for the game. Ace believes he lost because he got titled, but still acknowledges that Yumeko has won fair and square. He remembers that poker isn’t just about winning or losing, it’s also about having fun. Yumeko and Ace plan the next time they’ll play poker together. Ace wants them to bring sandwiches to eat while playing. Yumeko adds that they should invite Mary and Ryota. Ace wishes her good luck for the finals and leaves.
Ryota believes very few people in the school can match Ace’s level. He also thinks many students have placed their bets on him. Ryota gathers that no players of renown besides Yumeko have made it to the finals. Yumeko explains that they shouldn’t be underestimated, having made it that far. Yumeko and Ryota go take some ice cream as Yumeko wants to eat something sweet.
Quick References[]
Character Appearances[]
- Ryota Suzui
- Mary Saotome
- Yumeko Jabami
- Kansankai staff
- Izayoi Kifune
- Ace
Gambles[]
Location[]
- Ryouran Island
- Resort hotel
- Hotel lobby
- Surveillance room
- Casino Dominium
- Resort hotel
Chapter Notes[]
- Yumeko wins the first round of the Poker Tournament. So does Ace.
- Yumeko defeats Ace in the second round and reaches the finals.
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| Light Novels |
| Kakegurui Trip | ||
| Prologue • Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Epilogue | ||
| Kakegurui Joker | ||
| Prologue • Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Epilogue | ||