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."
notmyownage: (Default)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Claudia flipped over who two. "Nineteen. Do I win?"

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Marshall made a face at his own seventeen. "Yup," he said. He held out the deck to her. "Your turn?"
notmyownage: (Default)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Cool." Claudia took the deck. "Wait, do I shuffle it, or just keep going from here?" Wasn't that where the whole card counting thing came from? Not messing with the deck?

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Marshall opened his mouth to reply, but shut it without saying anything. "... Huh," he said finally, a moment later. "I think you just keep going?"
notmyownage: (Default)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 08:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right." Claudia nodded and dealt out the four cards. "I feel like we should be wearing ties."

[ooc: you wanna keep using the deck you have on hand?]

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sure thing! You've got seven of spades face down.]

Marshall looked over at Claudia's six of hearts before examining his own cards -- queen of hearts showing. "Hit me," he said.
notmyownage: (Default)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 09:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Claudia dealt them both another card. "I'm starting to see some of the strategy here. It kind of just looks like luck on the surface."

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Marshall considered his card -- three of hearts to Claudia's three of clubs. "... Stand," he said, hesitantly, waiting for Claudia to stand or hit.
notmyownage: (Default)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"And I'll. . . ." Claudia drew the syllable out as she considered. "Hit." She dealt herself another card.

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
A jack! Marshall grinned -- what were the chances that her pocket card was a two or an ace? Probably not an ace, he didn't think she'd have hit if it were.

"And?" he asked, getting ready to turn over his three of spades pocket card.
notmyownage: (Default)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"Dammit," said Claudia, which likely answered that question. She looked over her worksheet for the right terminology. "Bust." She held out the deck for him to take.

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Marshall grinned. "This is a lot of fun," he said, dealing out the next set of cards. Queen of clubs for him, jack of diamonds with five of spades pocket for Claudia.
notmyownage: (Default)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, it's pretty cool." Claudia looked at her card and thought, going back over the other cards she could remember being dealt out. ". . . Hit."

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Marshall dealt her the ten of diamonds and grinned. "Don't suppose that's an ace you've got there?" he asked.

Like she'd have hit on a twenty-one, Marshall.
notmyownage: (Default)

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[personal profile] notmyownage 2011-10-24 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Claudia flipped over her five. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up."

Re: Play Blackjack [10/24]

[identity profile] wheeler-360.livejournal.com 2011-10-24 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Marshall flipped over his nine of diamonds and passed Claudia the deck. "If you want to keep going, that is?"