Do you know what is a katam-katam game?
Papaadmin September 22nd, 2007 | Viewed 2,749 views
Do you know what Katam-katam is? Now, let me explain in simple day-to-day English words. Do not worry. I am not using hard to understand English that you have to get the dictionary to translate it. Well, maybe, since English is not my best language. Isn’t it obvious I have poor English? Laugh at your own will here. 
Anyway, back to the topic. First, the term “katam” or “Ketam” is actually means “Crab” in English. The whole term of double “Katam” is probably derived from too many crabs on the board. Now, Katam-katam is not some sort of poker where you need proper poker tables to enjoy it. This board game is so easy to play and does not require expensive hardware to enjoy it. You just need a plain square table to put it on and many victims players / punters or whatever the right term for the person who bet on it.
If you look carefully the picture, there are only 6 logos or pictures. The red fish, red chicken, the green prawn and of course, the green crab, the tajau (jar) that look like the pumpkin and the bulan (moon) represented by the round chinese coin look-alike. You all got it. Next are of course the dices. You need three dices as portrayed below.
Now, from the picture above it shows two (2) red fishes dices and one green crab. This is called “The special one”. It pays you in multiple of five (5). Let say you put your $1 bet on the red fish alone, you get $6 in return. That includes your $1 bet. If only one (1) dice of red fish, you got $2 in return only. The maximum payout is in multiply of eight and the total amount can be big. I have seen in thousand the payout. Now, this total maximum payout is of course determined earlier by the “tauke” in charge. However, the usual procedure is setting the maximum amount you can bet. Let say, the person in charge of the board said “maximum bet is only $50″ then your maximum payout can only be $50 times eight equal to $400.
So you see, the game can be really interesting. I am not talking about joining the game but just by watching, you can hear and see the reaction of the crowd when someone’s strikes big. The picture above taken with permission and in no other way that I am promoting it to be played with real money or in anyway related that I agree with. Please read my disclaimer at the footer. This is merely an information gathering and sharing it to the mass. It is purely for leisure reading and that to show that such “katam-katam” game board does exist. Thank you
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
eh PapaJ..u forgot to add that this game is only played during funerals lah…hahaha
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:29 pm
We have a different version here. This Katam-Katam offer more combinations.
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:44 pm
@carolchs –
Oh yahkan Carol. but sometimes, i even see during wedding day!?!
@flsam –
flsam – Yeah, here they improvise it. Use to be only six squares.
September 22nd, 2007 at 12:57 pm
oyakah? haha…now’s that new to me. Later if i go weddings, i sure watch out for katam-katam…who knows im gonna be lucky of these days…hehe
September 22nd, 2007 at 1:31 pm
@carolchs –
Carol – I bet you are lucky. Yeah, why not, right
September 22nd, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Wuahh.. another post about “katam-katam” huh?? Mesti papaJ ni expert~!! Note to all.. don’t play “katam-katam” with papaJ or you’ll end up losing~! LOL!
September 22nd, 2007 at 4:20 pm
ouuh… i play katam-katam. there’s a system to play this. breakeven or small profit. klu greedy, sikijap ja tu ratus-ratus abis… hehe
i like to bet TAJAU-AYAM pair…
… and the table is look familiar la PapaJ…. same jocky kali…
September 22nd, 2007 at 5:50 pm
@Shemah –
Shemah – hahahha. hello… im not the tauke here… just a side
betteraudience.@Alb –
Alb – Probably same “jocky”. The tauke been around almost all Penampang.
Hahahhaa. I tend to ask friend to bet that too 
Tajau ayam eh
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:35 pm
1. I’d like to know where this game originated i.e. the game history
2. I am still kicking myself because I did not take a picture of a katam-katam game at its height at 3 am at a funeral wake in Penampang 3 yrs ago. Absolutely amazing – many people – chong needs an assistant. I CANNOT see the characters, money was a few inches thick – it’s a wonder how the “accountants” manage to keep up. I heard the taiko (whose identity should remain a secret) lost RM8K that night.
I’ve seen this game played during CNY. Different places, different rules. At my hometown in Kiulu/Tamparuli, it is totally taboo to play this (or any gambling) during funerals. But at Penampang professional “chongs” (because i see the SAME chongs to every funeral i go to) turn a wake into a casino. Seeing 10 tables is normal. When a prominent police officer in Penampang died a few yrs ago, I heard the CP himself gave special permission for 3 gambling tables to be in operation.
September 23rd, 2007 at 11:04 am
looks to me this has a bit of resemblance to the “BIG or SMALL” game that the chinese plays, if u ever know what’s that !!
oh ya, since english is not yr mother tongue, mind me ask, what is it then?
btw, thanks for sharing!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 2:51 pm
eh, first time i see such dice!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 7:54 pm
@ben –
Yeah Ben, Here in Penampang, they seems to be everywhere. No matter what occasion, no matter whose house. As long as you allowed them and some permission from the legal man, they’ll be in your house early and go back late one.
I also do not know where’s the origin of this game. I know I have seen it long2 time ago.
@jacss –
jacss – Yeah I know the big small game.. totally different..but still same need money to enjoy it
Mother tongue – Local Membakut Kadazan dusun language. Next is Malay.
@chinnee –
Chinnee – Hahaha, thanks for dropping by. Yeah.. its always the first time in everything
September 23rd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
I do ever win big in this game. Put RM 2 in one spot and got 8x payment. But if you are too greedy, you can lose all back. But remember, when you got some big money and decided enough is enough, the ‘chong’ will say that you ‘chicken’ out. Then your ego will kick in…. Hahaha…
September 24th, 2007 at 8:13 am
This is one addictive and fun game. I wonder where the origin is? When my grandpa passed away, this thing suddenly sprung up from nowhere..
September 24th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
@Bernard –
Bernard – Thanks for dropping by
Yeah… the chong always do that to whoever just won big. Most of the time I see people regret afterward. hahahaha.
@Kay Kastum –
Kay I saw the simple 6 squares back at kampung but when reached Penampang, alamak, evrything also got. no need to tell the chong where you wanna bet… every combo has its own square. Amazing stuff.
September 24th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Wohh!! ini ka game katam-katam yg durang panggil tu.. tapi ada ayam-ayam, siput-siput, ikan-ikan kenapa katam-katam durang panggil. I’ve never seen this game live in action, but it seems very interesting.. mcm main tikam-tikam ja nih!
September 25th, 2007 at 4:37 am
uik…se ada ni di rumah