"Mr. Song raises by 500,000. Mr. Yevgeny, it’s your turn to speak."
With raising another half a million US dollars even before the community cards were dealt, it was clear that Song Chaoge’s hand must be quite strong.
The Russian tycoon didn’t hesitate at all and chose to call without uttering a word, as if those half a million US dollar chips that fell into the pot were mere coins.
The right to speak circled back.
This is why Texas Hold’em is explicitly listed as a form of gambling.
It’s largely because the game is played with no-limit stakes.
Only when all players have bet the same amount of money can the next round proceed.
Smith glanced at the few opponents around the gambling table, eventually tossing out four chips.
Since he had already thrown in a hundred thousand in the previous round, he only needed to make up four hundred thousand this round if he didn’t raise again.
Song Chaoge chose not to continue raising, "Check."
Since it was he who first raised to 500,000 US dollars, he didn’t have to bet further if he chose to check.
The Russian tycoon Yevgeny followed suit, giving the croupier a look to deal the cards.
All six parties followed into the next round.
The croupier began dealing the three community cards.
With a blind bet of a hundred thousand from each player, plus the first round’s bets of half a million, the total amount of money in the casino had reached 3 million US dollars already!
And that was just the first round!
Compared to the large hall outside, it was like heaven and earth.
At the gambling table.
The three community cards were now laid out.
Spades A, Diamonds 7, Diamonds 6.
There were still two more community cards to be dealt.
Jiang Chen glanced at his hole cards.
Matched with the current three community cards, they amounted to nothing.
He could gamble on the two community cards still to come, but even with the best potential combination, all he could hope for was a straight.
Even as a first-time player, Jiang Chen knew that a straight was far from a strong hand in Texas Hold’em.
Above it were straight flush, four of a kind, full house, and flush.
His chances of winning this round had become exceedingly slim.
At the gambling table, it’s often courage that is a gambler’s biggest asset!
On this point, he had gained some profound experience at Li Shuru’s birthday last year.
So Jiang Chen kept his composure and didn’t rush to fold.
"Mr. Smith, please speak."
The croupier’s hand in white gloves lifted.
Of course, Jiang Chen was not going to raise either.
"I raise by 500,000."
The old Saudi man pinched his cane with one hand and nonchalantly tossed the chips out with the other.
Song Chaoge adjusted his rimless glasses, "I’ll raise another million."
The Saudi man looked sidelong at him.
The Russian tycoon Yevgeny rubbed the emerald on his ring finger and threw away his hand.
"Mr. Yevgeny folds. Mr. Smith, your turn to speak."
The British man leisurely took out a cigar, "I’m not calling."
Jiang Chen leaned back, "You all continue."
The Latina singer Gelei followed suit immediately after.
Thus, only the Saudi man and Song Chaoge were left.
500,000 US dollars fell into the pot as the old but spirited Saudi man accompanied Song Chaoge into the next round.
The fourth community card was dealt.
Jiang Chen’s attention was particularly focused on Song Chaoge.
The gazes of Smith and the others shifted between the Saudi man and Song Chaoge.
Knowing the enemy and knowing yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles.
Though they had folded and the outcome of this round was no longer related to them, observing an opponent’s reactions, like changes in expression, was definitely beneficial for the future rounds.
In reality, there are no superheroes with X-ray vision.
But a real master of gambling can guess the strength of an opponent’s hand based on their facial expressions, even a subtle frown, smirk, or shift in gaze.
That’s why those professional Texas Hold’em players typically have a "poker face," indistinguishable from one another, and some even deliberately wear sunglasses during professional competitions to prevent opponents from reading their emotions.
At this point, the four community cards were Spades A, Spades Q, Diamonds 7, Diamonds 6.
It was the Saudi man’s turn to speak.
He extended a hand that resembled tree bark, picked up a one million US dollar chip, and tossed it in.
"I raise another million."
Song Chaoge did not hesitate, casually throwing in two million US dollars.
At this time, some spectators began to gather around the gambling table.
Jiang Chen leaned back in his seat, pensively watching Song Chaoge.
Could his luck be this good in the first round?
The right to speak came back to the Saudi man.
It was clear that his hole cards were probably not bad, but the confidence displayed by his opponent made him hesitate nonetheless.
Those who make it into the VIP room are not short of money, but not being short of money and being willing to lose money are two different things.
In the end, the Saudi man chose to give up, even before the fifth community card was dealt.
All opponents folded.
Song Chaoge won by default.
There was no need for a showdown; he directly secured the 8 million US dollars in the pot!
million in one round!
"Thank you for the hand."
Song Chao Ge’s smile was serene as he drew the chips towards himself.
Jiang Chen subconsciously looked at Lan Peizhi, who was sitting next to Song Chaoge.
While Song Chaoge was off to an excellent start, her expression was still as calm as water, showing no sign of happiness.
To someone of her status, 8 million US dollars was probably nothing to fuss about.
He vividly recalled the time on the banks of the Pu River when he offered Pei Yunxi one billion US dollars to help free Yunfu, only to be flatly refused.