Fan Tan Explained: Rules, Bets, Payouts, and Odds

Covering more outcomes can make some individual wagers win more often. It also changes the amount staked and the size of each payout. Compare the whole-round result before deciding what a layout costs.

Worked Example: Two Bets in One Round

Suppose you place 10 units on Fan 1 and another 10 units on Odd. The total stake is 20 units. Using the reference payouts above:

Result 3 wins the Odd bet, yet the round loses 0.50 units overall. This is why a highlighted winning position can be misleading when several bets are active.

Under the equal-outcome assumption, the average net result for this example is (38 − 20 − 0.50 − 20) / 4 = −0.625 units per 20-unit round. That is an expected cost of 3.125% of the total amount wagered.

Can You Cover All Four Numbers?

Four separate 10-unit Fan bets cost 40 units. Exactly one wins and returns 38.50, producing a 1.50-unit loss on every settled round under this paytable. Buying every result does not remove the commission.

Can a Fan Tan Strategy Predict Results?

Recent-result displays record what has happened. A long run of 1s does not establish that 2, 3, or 4 is due. Counting the exposed beads explains the current result after betting has closed; it does not provide a practical forecast for the next selected pile.

Bet selection changes the expected cost. In the reference model, 100 total units wagered have an expected loss of 3.75 on Fan or 1.25 on Ssh. These are averages across many rounds, and an individual session can finish far above or below them.

Increasing stakes after losses cannot remove a negative expectation. It increases the amount committed, and the bankroll or table limit can stop the sequence. Set a spending limit and a time limit before starting, track the total stake, and avoid chasing losses.

Four Live Fan Tan Versions on LiveCasinos

Our game reviews cover the following implementations. They are starting points for comparing the game formats. Confirm the current rules, limits, and availability in the table you can actually access.

The card-based version needs separate calculations. The way card totals are generated and any additional bets must be accounted for before quoting its probabilities or RTP. The bead-game table above is not a verified RTP table for Super Fantan Macau.

Before choosing a live table, open its Help panel, confirm the meaning of every selected position, and check the displayed limits. On a smaller screen, make sure you can read the layout and total stake clearly. Availability depends on the casino and your location.

Fan Tan FAQ

What is Fan Tan?

Fan Tan is a casino game with results numbered 1 to 4. In the traditional version, the dealer counts a selected group of beads in batches of four. Bets settle according to the size of the final batch.

What happens when the bead count is divisible by four?

The result is 4. A selected total of 44 beads, for example, leaves a final group of four after the earlier ten groups have been removed. There is no separate zero result on the standard board.

What is the difference between Nim and Kwok?

A Nim position has one winning number and a second number that returns your stake. A Kwok position has two winning numbers. Check the labels on the position because the win and push roles matter.

Does a 5% commission mean a 5% house edge?

No. A commission charged only on winning profit has a different effect on different bets. Under the reference paytable, the calculated house edge ranges from 1.25% to 3.75%. The active game rules determine the applicable payout.

Can you beat Fan Tan by following previous results?

Previous results do not establish a reliable prediction method. Doubling stakes or covering more numbers does not remove the cost built into the payouts. A lower expected cost still leaves the possibility of losing the whole amount set aside for play.

Is Fan Tan the same as the card game Sevens?

The bead-based casino game is a separate game. The card game also called Fan Tan or Sevens involves building suit sequences. A casino adaptation such as Super Fantan Macau can use cards to generate its result, but it has its own casino rules.

Verdict

Fan Tan becomes easier to follow once you separate the four possible results from the different ways a bet can settle. Check the winning positions, any push, the profit payout, and the total amount placed across the board.

The commission model explains why frequent wins can still produce losses. Use the provider-specific rules when comparing tables, and keep gambling within limits you can afford. Our responsible gambling guide covers practical tools for controlling time and spending.