Sabacc is a popular card game in the Star Wars universe that is played for high stakes. It is a game of chance, strategy, and skill, and it is often used as a form of gambling. The game is played with a deck of 76 cards, divided into four suits: Sabers, Staves, Flasks, and Coins. Each suit contains 11 cards, numbered 0 through 10, plus two face cards: The Commander and The Mistress. The game is played by two to eight players, who try to achieve a hand with a value as close to zero as possible.
The game begins with each player receiving four cards, which are kept hidden from the other players. The remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table to form the “Sabacc pot.” The first player then has the option to either “stand” with their current hand, or “draw” one card from the Sabacc pot. This continues until all players have either stood or gone over 23, at which point the round is over and the hands are revealed.
The value of a hand in Sabacc is determined by the sum of the values of the cards in the hand, with the following exceptions:
- If a player has a hand containing two cards of the same suit and value (known as a “pair”), the value of their hand is zero. This is the highest possible hand in Sabacc, and it is known as “Pure Sabacc.”
- If a player has a hand containing two cards of different suits and values, but with a total value of 23 or higher (known as a “spoiler”), the value of their hand is negative 23.
- If a player has a hand with a total value of more than 23 (known as a “bust”), the value of their hand is the difference between the total value of their cards and 23.
After the round is over, players reveal their hands and the player with the hand closest to zero wins the Sabacc pot. In the case of a tie, the player with the highest-valued card wins. If there is still a tie, the game goes into “sudden death” mode, where players draw cards from the Sabacc pot until someone wins.
There are several variations of Sabacc, including “Corellian Spike,” which uses a deck of 62 cards with only the values 1 through 6 in each suit, and “Crystal Sabacc,” which uses a deck of 78 cards that includes two additional face cards: The Falcon and The Idiot.
In order to play Sabacc, you will need a deck of Sabacc cards and a flat surface to play on. To begin the game, shuffle the deck of cards and deal four cards to each player. Place the remaining cards in the center of the table to form the Sabacc pot.
The first player has the option to either stand or draw a card from the Sabacc pot. If they choose to stand, the next player has the same option. If a player chooses to draw a card, they must discard one of their current cards and replace it with the drawn card. This continues until all players have either stood or gone over 23.
Once the round is over, players reveal their hands and the player with the hand closest to zero wins the Sabacc pot. In the case of a tie, the player with the highest-valued card wins.
Sabacc is a challenging and exciting game that requires skill, strategy, and a bit of luck. It is a popular game among gamblers and high rollers in the Star Wars universe, and it can be a lot of fun to play with friends. If you are interested in lplaying Sabacc, the game is availble for purcase on amazon here.