http://halfman-lion.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] halfman-lion.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2011-10-23 10:48 pm
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Basic Strategy, Monday, Period 4

The class met in its usual classroom today; after the excitement of the break and Homecoming, Tyrion was rather eager to get back into the swing of classes for the last bit of the semester, and he was brisk as he addressed the group.

"In every culture," he began, "there are certain games of skill, though the details of how they're played vary. Mastering one has several benefits. They train your mind to think through possibilities. There's also a certain amount of value in dedicating yourself to rote memorization. In this world, chess is one popular such game; so is a board game named Risk."

"Today," he continued, as he gave a stack of handouts to the first student in each row for them to pass along, "we aren't playing either of those, since we only have an hour and I'm spending some of it talking. Instead, we'll be working on a game that may seem simpler -- a card game called Blackjack or 21. It works like this: You play against the dealer. Each of you starts with two cards: You can see both of yours, and one of the dealer's. Your goal is to get a score of 21 without going over -- or to make the dealer go over, before you do. "

He would have dealt a hand so the class could see what he meant, but he feared fumbling with the cards. They'd have to imagine. "You have a choice: Hit or stand. Hit means you take another card. Stand means you're content with what you have. You can also split -- break up a pair -- or double down -- increase your bet. There's much more to it, but those are the basic elements."

He talked through the handout's chart of options for different hands, then passed out a deck of cards and hundred dollars in fake money to each student. "Pair up today, and play the game. Take turns being the dealer and the player. If you leave with more fake money than you started with, consider it a job well done."

Re: Sign In [10/24]

[identity profile] squire-hand.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
James of Krondor
hasadestiny: ([pos] what up?)

Re: Sign In [10/24]

[personal profile] hasadestiny 2011-10-24 08:42 am (UTC)(link)
Lex Luthor

Re: Sign In [10/24]

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Re: General Class Stuff [10/24]

[identity profile] willbethenight.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Probably not surprising, but Bruce knew how to count cards. He was going to do just fine this week.

Re: General Class Stuff [10/24]

[identity profile] squire-hand.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
Not familiar with this game, but familiar with cards, James listened to the rules, blending what he knew of the pokiir cards back home with the cards here on the Island. This would be interesting.

Re: General Class Stuff [10/24]

[identity profile] batwaffles.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Stephanie knew the gist of the game, but she'd never really had much of a chance to play. She should probably learn, though, huh?

Okay, so she got a little distracted with the process of practice-shuffling her deck.

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Considering what had happened last time he played cards in school, Marshall was a little hesitant -- but, hey, he was shuffling away, ready for someone to sit down across from him.
notmyownage: (*is grinning*)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hit me!"

Oh, Claudia, he needed to shuffle first.

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 06:29 pm (UTC)(link)
And also, y'know, deal.

"So you're new to this game, then?" Marshall asked, smothering a grin. He dealt out the cards: seven of clubs for Claudia, six of clubs for himself.

[And because I totally actually have a deck handy for this: your pocket card is a two.]
notmyownage: (*is classy*)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[I was going to go with RNG, but you've saved me the trouble of keeping track of how many of each number had popped up!]

"What can I say? My misspent youth was made up of trying to master human teleportation." Claudia checked her card. "Do we place bets, or do I say 'hit me' again?"

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"... Was there a wormhole involved?" Marshall had to ask. "Because they're... finicky. Anyway, yeah, you can bet if you want. You only say 'hit me' if you want another card, though, and remember that if you go above twenty-one, you bust."
notmyownage: (*is bored*)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Gotcha." Claudia shrugged. "Ancient compass, actually. It's a long story. Hit me."

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 07:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Marshall dealt the Queen of spades to Claudia, then the three of diamonds to himself.

"Stand?" he asked her.

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

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Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

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Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

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Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] bigshoestofill.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Bart grabbed a deck of cards and started shuffling them. He really wasn't very good at it though and the cars went flying. Bart looked around, then there was a blur and all the cards were in a pile on the table in front of him.

He smiled innocently, then looked around for someone to play with.

Re: Talk to Kate or Tyrion [10/24]

[identity profile] withasword.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 09:32 am (UTC)(link)
Kate's experience playing cards was limited. She'd learned from a wererat, so the main rule she'd taken away from the experience was 'don't challenge a shapeshifter at cards'.

It was good advice.