1. Card Values at a Glance
Every card maps to a single-digit point value. Memorize this table and you can score any hand instantly.
| Card | A | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | J | Q | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Quick memory trick: Number cards (2-9) equal their face value. Ace = 1. Everything with a face or two digits (10, J, Q, K) = 0. Suit does not matter.
2. Scoring Summary
Add your card values together. Only the last digit of the total is your score.
| Cards Dealt | Raw Total | Hand Score | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 + 2 | 9 | 9 (Shan!) | Natural nine on two cards = AutoShan |
| 6 + 2 | 8 | 8 (Shan!) | Natural eight on two cards = AutoShan |
| 5 + 3 | 8 | 8 (Shan!) | Natural eight = AutoShan |
| K + 7 | 7 | 7 | Strong hand — usually stand |
| 8 + 7 | 15 | 5 | Last digit of 15 = 5 |
| 6 + 6 | 12 | 2 | Last digit of 12 = 2 — weak hand |
| Q + K | 0 | 0 | Worst possible score |
| 4 + 3 + 5 | 12 | 2 | Three-card hand, last digit = 2 |
| 9 + 4 + 6 | 19 | 9 | Three-card 9 — strong but not AutoShan |
Critical rule: A score of 9 from three cards is NOT the same as AutoShan. AutoShan only applies to 8 or 9 achieved with exactly two cards.
3. Hand Rankings
Hands are ranked from strongest to weakest. Higher rank always beats lower rank.
| Rank | Hand | Description | Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shan 9 | Natural nine on two cards | 2 |
| 2 | Shan 8 | Natural eight on two cards | 2 |
| 3 | Normal 9 | Nine achieved with three cards | 3 |
| 4 | Normal 8 | Eight achieved with three cards | 3 |
| 5 | Normal 7 | Seven (two or three cards) | 2-3 |
| 6 | Normal 6 | Six (two or three cards) | 2-3 |
| 7 | Normal 5 | Five (two or three cards) | 2-3 |
| 8 | Normal 4 | Four (two or three cards) | 2-3 |
| 9 | Normal 3 | Three (two or three cards) | 2-3 |
| 10 | Normal 2 | Two (two or three cards) | 2-3 |
| 11 | Normal 1 | One (two or three cards) | 2-3 |
| 12 | Normal 0 | Zero — weakest possible hand | 2-3 |
Key takeaway: AutoShan (Shan 8 or 9) always beats any three-card hand, even a three-card 9. Two-card naturals are the most powerful hands in the game.
4. Third Card Decision Matrix
This is the most important strategic table in ShanKoeMee. Use it to decide whether to draw or stand.
| Your Points | Action | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Always Draw | Cannot get worse; any card helps or stays the same |
| 1 | Always Draw | Very weak hand; high probability of improving |
| 2 | Always Draw | Weak hand; statistically better to draw |
| 3 | Always Draw | Below average; drawing improves more often than not |
| 4 | Usually Draw | Slightly below average; still favorable to draw in most situations |
| 5 | Player's Choice | Borderline — risk/reward is roughly even. Consider opponent behavior and table position |
| 6 | Player's Choice | Decent hand. Draw only if you suspect opponents are strong; otherwise stand |
| 7 | Stand | Strong hand. Drawing is more likely to reduce your score than improve it |
| 8 | AutoShan — Stand | Natural 8. Automatically revealed; cannot draw |
| 9 | AutoShan — Stand | Natural 9 — the best possible hand. Automatically revealed |
The 5-6 zone is where skill matters most. With 5 or 6 points, your decision depends on context: how many opponents are still in, whether the banker looks confident, and your risk tolerance. Study this zone carefully.
5. Payout Quick Reference
Standard payout rates for ShanKoeMee outcomes.
| Outcome | Payout | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Normal win (higher score) | 1× bet | Standard even-money payout |
| Win with AutoShan | 2× bet | Double payout for natural 8 or 9 |
| AutoShan vs AutoShan (same value) | Push (0×) | Both players get their bet back |
| Shan 9 vs Shan 8 | 2× to Shan 9 | Higher AutoShan wins at double payout |
| Standard tie (same score, no AutoShan) | Banker wins | Banker advantage on tied hands |
| Normal loss | Lose bet | Full bet amount lost |
6. AutoShan Rules Summary
AutoShan is the most powerful mechanic in ShanKoeMee. Three rules cover everything.
Rule 1 — Trigger: If your first two cards total exactly 8 or 9, you have AutoShan. Your hand is automatically revealed — no choice involved.
Rule 2 — Payout: AutoShan wins pay 2× the normal bet. If both banker and player have AutoShan of different values (e.g., Shan 9 vs Shan 8), the higher value wins at 2× payout.
Rule 3 — Push: If both sides have the same AutoShan value (both Shan 8 or both Shan 9), it is a push — all bets are returned with no winner.
Put this cheat sheet to the test
Practice with real players and see how fast you can score hands.
7. Tie Resolution Quick Reference
When scores are equal, ties are resolved using these rules in order.
| Scenario | Result | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Shan 9 vs Shan 9 | Push | Identical AutoShan — bets returned |
| Shan 8 vs Shan 8 | Push | Identical AutoShan — bets returned |
| Shan 9 vs Shan 8 | Shan 9 wins (2×) | Higher AutoShan beats lower |
| Shan 8 vs Normal 8 | Shan 8 wins (2×) | AutoShan always beats normal hand |
| Normal 7 vs Normal 7 | Banker wins | Standard ties go to banker |
| Normal 5 vs Normal 5 | Banker wins | Standard ties go to banker |
| Normal 0 vs Normal 0 | Banker wins | Even the worst tie favors banker |
Banker advantage: In standard (non-AutoShan) ties, the banker always wins. This is the built-in house edge. Keep this in mind when deciding whether to take the banker role.
8. Common Terminology
Ten essential terms every ShanKoeMee player should know.
| Term | Burmese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Shan | ရှမ်း | A natural 8 or 9 on two cards (AutoShan) |
| Koe Mee | ကိုးမီး | Literally "nine fire" — a perfect score of 9 |
| AutoShan | အော်တိုရှမ်း | Automatic stand and reveal on a two-card 8 or 9 |
| Draw | ဖဲထုတ် | Take a third card to try improving your hand |
| Stand | ရပ် | Keep your current hand without drawing |
| Banker | ဖဲခင်း | The player who deals and has tie advantage |
| Push | သရေ | A tie where all bets are returned (AutoShan vs same AutoShan) |
| Point / Score | အမှတ် | The last digit of your card total (0-9) |
| Face Card | မျက်နှာဖဲ | J, Q, K — all worth 0 points |
| Natural | သဘာဝ | A hand scored with only the initial two cards (no draw) |
9. Top 5 Beginner Tips
Quick-fire advice for new players starting their first sessions.
- Memorize the card values first. Before you think about strategy, make sure you can instantly calculate any two-card total. This is the foundation of everything else. Practice by dealing random pairs and scoring them until it becomes automatic.
- Follow the decision matrix strictly at 0-4 and 7-9. The gray zone is only at 5-6 points. For all other scores, the mathematically correct action is clear — always draw at 0-4, always stand at 7, and AutoShan at 8-9. Do not deviate from this.
- Start as a player, not the banker. The banker role carries more risk and requires more experience. As a new player, play from the regular positions first to learn the flow of the game without the added pressure of managing the bank.
- Watch experienced players before betting big. Observe a few rounds before joining a table with significant stakes. Notice how experienced players handle the 5-6 decision zone and how they manage their bankroll across multiple rounds.
- Manage your bankroll. Set a session budget before you start playing and stick to it. A common approach is to never bet more than 5-10% of your total session bankroll on a single hand. This keeps you in the game long enough to learn.
Print this page. This cheat sheet is designed to be a quick reference. Bookmark it, save it as a PDF, or print it out to keep next to you while you play your first few sessions online.