Walk The Plank (Card Game)
A raucous cheer went up from the crew's quarters, a common occurrence during quiet nights when the ale flowed freely and the card games ran late. But few games were as popular among the crew as Walk the Plank, and it was rare that you'd find someone who didn't have a rough idea of how to play.
You'd be hard pressed to find a harbour-side tavern that hadn't seen a round or two of the game, though they might have a different local name for the game.
History
Halflings are known for many things but they aren't usually associated with sailing. Despite this, one of the most widespread playing card games in port towns and on boats is one of halfling creation, known as "Walk The Plank".
The game was developed over many a year, across a variety of ships, by a Halfling named Danika Wavegrin who began her naval career as a cook aboard a Brightcove frigate and eventually came into possession of her own vessel, the Tall Tale.
Execution
Walk the Plank is a card game in which players try to reach a sum of thirty-one with a hand of three cards in a matching suit. Each card is worth their face value, with aces worth one or eleven, and Kings, Queens and Jacks worth ten each. Players pick a card, either from the deck or the discard pile, before discarding an unwanted card and moving on to the next player.
The game ends once a player hits thirty-one, usually signified by the winner exclaiming "WALK THE PLANK!", or after a final round following a "knock". This knock can occur at any time, given the player knocking has over ten in their hand, and play continues for a single round before all hands are revealed. In the event of a Thirty-One, all players place a third of the established bet into the pot, giving them three losses and a "stowaway" round to win. In the event of a "knock", the lowest scorers surrender their bet.
Components and tools
All that is required for a game of Walk the Plank is a deck of playing cards (comprised of four suits and thirteen cards in each), an established bet, and a pot for the winnings.
Participants
The game requires a minimum of two players, and though no upper limit exists an ideal game consists of four to six players.
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