A Few Hands

Writers: Chelle, Emma
Date Posted: 22nd January 2009

Characters: E'rae, An'dr
Description: E'rae teaches An'dr the rules of the simplest type of dragonpoker.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 1, day 15 of Turn 5

E'rae sighed as he heard the rain falling outside. It made interesting sounds as it bounced off the stone, turning the sand into slush. It was also keeping many of River Bluff's riders and staff inside. With fall due the next day, many were hoping it would continue to rain, giving the wings a day off. The bluerider was sitting at an empty table, shuffling his deck of dragonpoker cards, hoping some brave soul would choose to join him, though he supposed he could simply play solitaire if he wished.

"Is there space here bluerider?" asked An'dr.

E'rae looked up and immediately glanced at the knots. Then he saw the young boy underneath them. Still, the youth might have been flying thread for a full turn so E'rae would not disrespect him. "Aye sure if you'd like to sit.....?" He fished for the boy's name.

"An'dr," said the youngster by way of introduction. "Pluserth's rider."

"Ah then, have a seat. I'm E'rae.. Leith's somewhere sleeping.." He gave a broad gesture, then immediately shuffled one more time, and brought the deck forward, gesturing for the boy to cut.

"I'm not very good at card games," confessed the youngster as his hand hovered over the pack.

"No problem. We all have to learn sometime. All I need you to do is pick a place in the deck and pick it up, splitting it." He made a small demonstration before reshuffling and offered it to An'dr again.

Which An'dr did, placing the few cards he held in his hand on the table as E'rae had done. "Like that?"

"Exactly." The bluerider easily stuck one on top of the other and shuffled once more, then began to deal. Each player received five cards and then he put the deck to the side. "Allright....basically, you try to match the cards as much as possible. The higher the number or the face, the better it is. Choose the cards you want to keep, then let me know how many you want to replace." E'rae wouldn't count the first few hands as the boy learned his way.

Picking up his cards, An'dr studied them. "So I get rid of the lowest ones? Even if I have two or more of them?"

E'rae smiled. "Well see...poker is all about gambling. Two of a kind and three of a kind are worth it. But if you had 3 fours, and I had 3 sixes, then you would still lose. On the other hand, if you have a pair of something and three of something else, that's called a Full Hold and is worth alot. Only three things can beat it. For these purposes, let me see what you have and we'll talk about your options."

An'dr turned over his cards. There were three labeled with a two, a six, and a ten.

"Ah very well so in this case, you're right. I'd keep the three twos and then trade in my other two to see what I might get." The bluerider tried to explain the hierarchy. "See..it's like this.." He set his own cards aside for a moment. "First you have pairs. The higher the pair, the more they're worth. Then you have three and four of a kind."

"Also, there are straights. This is when you have cards that come one after the other. Like say I have a 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 all of the same suit. Or maybe a 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Anything like that." He pointed to the little symbols in the corner of the cards. "That's the suit. Smith, harper, rider, or healer."

"So pairs can be of any suit, but a straight need to be all the same?"

"No. A straight wouldn't just be of the same suit. However, if it was, it would be called a straight flush. A flush would be five cards all of the same suit, but not necessarily in order. Lastly, there's a Leader Straight Flush that means you would have a Weyrleader, Weyrwoman, Wingleader, Wingsecond, and a 10, all of the same suit." E'rae hurried to show him what beat what.

"First you have a high card. Like a Weyrleader, Weyrwoman, something like that. If I have nothing, you'd win. Then you have a pair, 2 pairs, three of a kind, a straight, a flush, a full hold, four of a kind, a straight flush, and a Leader Straight Flush. Think you got it?" Maybe he should have a piece of hide, to write all this down.

"No," An'dr shook his head, confusion showing in his voice and expression. "It's complicated."

"Aye sure is.. Well let's just play and we'll see how it goes." E'rae took An'dr's two cards and replaced them with new ones. For himself, he turned in three cards and received new ones. "Allright, show your hand and we'll see who won."

"Okay..." An'dr turned the two new cards over. "A four, and a seven."

"Allright so you have three of a kind." E'rae laid his cards down. He had two pairs. "You've won, An'dr. Wanna try again?"

"Sure!" A grin spread over the lad's face. Maybe he could do this again. "Deal me some cards."

Last updated on the January 24th 2009

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A Few Hands