RULES FOR CLASSIC SABACC
Sabacc was the most widely recognised and played gambling game across the galaxy. It’s roots went back millenia, with origins in ancient oracular and cartomancy practices. The Ryn species claimed to be its original inventors. The oldest known forms of Sabacc, Centran and Classic, have spawned more than 80 variant forms across the Galaxy.
The goal of Classic Sabacc is to assemble a hand of cards as close as possible to the value of 23, as a positive or negative value. The stake for the game was split between two pots, the Hand Pot, which was won by the best hand, and the Sabacc pot, which could only be won with a ‘Pure Sabacc’ - a hand of exactly 23. The other distinctive element of Sabacc was the ‘Sabacc Shift’ - a mechanism whereby the value and suit of a card could change at random during play, according to the roll of a dice or an electronic scrambler.
THE SETUP
Sabacc Deck: The deck comprises 76 cards. The deck has four primary suits of 14 cards: Coins, Flasks, Sabers and Staves.
Each of the main suits contains:
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Numbered cards: Valued from 1 to 11
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Face cards: The Commander (120, Mistress (13), Master (14), Ace (15)
Additionally, there is a special suit of 16 cards with 8 card types, which have negative or neutral values:
(x2) The Idiot: 0
(x2) The Queen (of Air & Darkness): -2
(x2) Endurance: -8
(x2) Balance: -11
(x2) Demise: -13
(x2) Moderation: -14
(x2) The Evil One: -15
(x2) The Star: -17
SABACC DICE
The game utilizes two six-sided dice. These dice are rolled during the game to introduce an element of unpredictability. If the dice display matching numbers, a Sabacc Shift occurs, causing all players to discard their hands and draw new ones of the same size.
STASIS FIELD
Players may use the Stasis Field to protect specific cards from being affected by a Sabacc Shift. At any point in their turn (prior to a Sabacc Shift), players may place a card face up into the Stasis Field. It is protected, but visible to all players.
GAMEPLAY
A Each player has a stock of credits or credit chips. Players compete in successive hands to win a portion of these credits.
Each Hand opens with an Ante and the Card Deal.
Each hand is played through successive Rounds until a Player calls.
Each Round has three phases: the Card phase, Betting phase, and the Dice phase.
At least two rounds must be played before a player can Call.
Once a player has called, the hands are revealed to determine the winner of the hand. The game is played until someone takes everyone’s credits, or players cash out of the game.
THE HAND
1. Determine Starting Player: The starting player rotates clockwise each round.
2. Ante: Each player contributes an ante to both the Hand Pot and the Sabacc Pot.
3. Deal: Each player is dealt two cards face down.
THE ROUND
Each Round has three phases: the Card phase, Betting phase, and the Dice phase.
At least two rounds must be played before a player can Call.
1. BETTING PHASE
Players bet based on the strength of their hands, with options to Check, Bet, Call, Raise or Fold.
2. TRADE PHASE
Players may:
GAIN - Draw the top card from the draw pile
CHANGE - Discard one card from your hand and draw the top card of the draw pile
STAND - Take no action
At any time in their turn they may:
PLAY TO STASIS FIELD - Add or remove one card from the Stasis Field.
CALL - Declare the end of the hand if at least one (or more) rounds have passed. Remaining players in turn have a chance to improve their hand before round concludes.
Note: If you Call and do not win the hand, you will ‘bomb out’ (see below).
3. DICE PHASE
The dealer rolls the dice. If the symbols match, a Sabacc Shift occurs, and all players discard their hands (excluding cards in the Stasis Field) and draw new ones.
WINNING THE HAND
After a player Calls and the final Trade round is concluded, players reveal their hands.
Hand values are ranked in the following ways, from best to worst:
The Idiot's Array
A special hand consisting of The Idiot (0), a 2, and a 3 (a literal 23). This hand beats Pure Sabacc and can collect the Sabacc Pot.
Pure Sabacc
A hand totaling exactly 23 or -23 wins both the Hand Pot and the Sabacc Pot.
A negative integer beats the positive integer: -23 beats +23.
-23 beats +23
Nulhrek - Closest to 23 or -23
If no one has Pure Sabacc or Idiot's Array, the hand closest to 23 or -23 without exceeding these values wins the Hand Pot.
A negative integer beats a positive integer.
22 beats 21
-20 beats 20
-10 beats 9
The Fairy Empress
A special hand consisting of two Queens (-2) making a literal '-22'. This hand beats a -22 or +22 (or lower) but not an Idiot's Array or Sabacc, and can only collect the Hand Pot.
Bomb-Out
Hands totalling over 23, under -23 or exactly 0 at the reveal are considered 'Bombed Out' and are disqualified. Players with bombed out hands must pay a penalty to the Sabacc Pot.
TIEBREAKING
In case of a tie, a Sudden Demise occurs, where tied players draw an additional card to add to their hand and determine the winner.
CONCEDED HANDS
If a player wins the pot because the other players have all folded before the reveal, it does not matter what cards that player is holding - they take the hand pot. However, this also means that they cannot win the Sabacc pot, even if they are holding a Pure Sabacc or an Idiot's Array.
WINNING THE GAME
The game continues for a predetermined number of rounds or until only one player has credits left in their stock. The player with the most credits at the end of the game is declared the winner.
