Good Luck, Smart Planning, Miss Nevada

Captain!

It feels like ages since we last saw one another. I’d heard rumblings there was some interest in seeing an honest to goodness Belle poker game.

And since I can never resist a good game of poker, I thought I might make an appearance today and bring along with me a peek into one of the poker games which will be played during the War.

It involves a motley crew of Belles, just as the best games should...

******

Leberecht Maass: Kapitän? Kapitän, lend me a hand, if you have a moment.

Surcouf: S'il vous plaît, Capitaine. Remind me whose bright idea it was to make Leberecht Mess here the dealer?

Admiral Graf Spee: Surcouf, do not speak poorly of my fellow Walküren.

Surcouf: It can hardly be considered speaking poorly if I’m speaking the truth.

Admiral Graf Spee: Do not think for an instant that you have the liberty to...

Leberecht Maass: Really, you two, there’s no reason to fight on my account.

Nevada: Why don’t you both put any frustrations you might have into this game of poker?

Admiral Graf Spee: …

Surcouf: …

Kumano: Senchou. You’re regretting walking into this room just now, ne?

Captain: Well, I can’t say I’m particularly thrilled.

Kumano: Do go sit next to Maass-san. The two of you can be co-dealer together. And it will look very cute as well.

Captain: What’s the game?

Leberecht Maass: Nevada-san, how did you call it?

Nevada: The name of the game is Hold ‘Em. Houston taught me - apparently, it’s a local variant of poker in Texas.

Nevada: I mentioned the basics to you, Captain. Remember?

Captain: You’ve mentioned the basics of many card games to me, Nevada. But I think I remember this one.

Leberecht Maass: Perfekt. Between the two of us, I’m sure we’ll be able to carry out the dealer’s duties very cutely.

Leberecht Maass: Or, everything will go to hell in a handbasket twice as fast as it would normally!

Surcouf: That she’s so self-assured despite being well-aware of her personal failings is what’s most mystifying to me.

Admiral Graf Spee: Final warning, Surcouf.

Surcouf: You can say my name threateningly as many times as you wish, Mademoiselle von Spee. I just hope you don’t think it will provoke any sort of change in my behavior.

Admiral Graf Spee: …

Nevada: Let’s begin, shall we?

Leberecht Maass: So I… deal?

Kumano: The blinds first.

Leberecht Maass: Richtig!

Kumano: I still think the notion of blinds to be somewhat preposterous, but here’s a dime, for what it’s worth.

Nevada: And here are two dimes.

Surcouf: I can’t believe I was roped into playing a game with such small stakes…

Leberecht Maass: And now the pocket cards, richtig?

Nevada: Right-o, Leb.

Leberecht Maass: Let me give the cards just one more shuffle…

Admiral Graf Spee: …

Kumano: …

Nevada: …

Surcouf: …

Captain: …

Leberecht Maass: … What?

Nevada: Leb, you’re a… rather talented card shuffler.

Leberecht Maass: Oh, it’s nothing. A few of the men who constructed me grew up around Casino Wiesbaden. I might have picked up on a few things during their breaks.

Surcouf: Incroyable. Will wonders never cease? You know, Mess, I could teach you how to put that card mastery to good use.

Admiral Graf Spee: Nein! And you will stop calling her Mess!

Kumano: Minna, we are here to play. I remind you. Maass-san, please deal the first two cards.

Leberecht Maass: Ja!

Admiral Graf Spee: Hmm…

Kumano: Heh.

Nevada: Acceptable.

Surcouf: …

Nevada: Surcouf, you’re under the gun. What will you do?

Admiral Graf Spee: Fold, vielleicht?

Surcouf: It is not in my nature to fold, Mademoiselle von Spee. I will call.

Nevada: Very well. Admiral?

Admiral Graf Spee: I will call as well.

Nevada: Bear cub?

Kumano: I might be new to the game, but I know a yakunitatanai hand when I see one. I fold.

Surcouf: So quickly? I thought you were the game master.

Kumano: There are more rounds yet to be played, Surcouf. "I won't desire anything until victory is won", as they say.

Nevada: Hmmm. I check, which means Leb, we’re back to you.

Leberecht Maass: The community cards. Three, richtig, Kapitän?

Captain: If memory serves.

Leberecht Maass: Let’s see what Dame Gluck has in store for you all today…

Leberecht Maass: We have the Ace of Hearts…

Leberecht Maass: The Six of Clubs…

Leberecht Maass: And the Ten of Clubs!

Kumano: And I’m out, so, Nevada-san?

Nevada: … I check.

Surcouf: I expected more daring from you, Nevada. I bet two dimes.

Admiral Graf Spee: And I’ll match your bet.

Surcouf: Oh, a little competition from Mademoiselle Strait-Lace? What a pleasant surprise.

Nevada: …

Leberecht Maass: Nevada? How will you respond?

Nevada: This isn’t my hand either. But don’t be too disappointed, Surcouf - I’ll come for you in the next.

Surcouf: We’ll see about that.

Kumano: Your turn again, Maass-san.

Leberecht Maass: Richtig! What’s the fourth card called again?

Nevada: The Turn.

Leberecht Maass: Well, Belles and Kapitän, the next card at your disposal is… the Ace of Diamonds!

Kumano: Two Aces on the board?

Nevada: Things are getting exciting. Surcouf, you’re up.

Surcouf: … I’ll check.

Admiral Graf Spee: Playing it safe, Surcouf? I’m shocked.

Surcouf: Perhaps I’m simply lulling you into a false sense of security.

Admiral Graf Spee: I’m willing to test that theory. I bet four dimes.

Surcouf: There’s a bit of a shark in you, you know that? I’m just now seeing it. But no matter. I’ll match your bet.

Leberecht Maass: Things are getting a little tense in here.

Kumano: I know! Daisukidesu.

Nevada: Leb?

Leberecht Maass: The River! I remember the name of that card. Admiral Graf Spee, Surcouf, your fifth and final card is… the Queen of Clubs.

Nevada: There is some potential on the board, that’s for certain. Surcouf?

Surcouf: I bet four dimes.

Leberecht Maass: Admiral?

Admiral Graf Spee: … I raise her bet. Eight dimes.

Kumano: *claps* Oh, we have a game now, don’t we? I shall pour the sake.

Surcouf: I will happily call.

Leberecht Maass: So that means…?

Nevada: It’s time for a showdown. Surcouf, you’re up first. Your two cards, please?

Surcouf: A Queen of Diamonds… and the Ace of Spades. That’s a full house - bonne chance, Mademoiselle Spee.

Nevada: Admiral?

Admiral Graf Spee: That… Surcouf… that’s impossible.

Surcouf: Didn’t think you could lose to me, did you?

Admiral Graf Spee: Lose to you? I most certainly did not. You cheated!

Surcouf: Je vous demande pardon?

Admiral Graf Spee: Behold at my cards! The Queen of Hearts… and the very same Ace of Spades.

Admiral Graf Spee: Let’s be honest, of the two of us, who would be most likely to bring a few extra cards into the game, under her sleeve?

Surcouf: Un, I have no sleeves to speak of. Deux, perhaps you were banking on the others assuming I would cheat, and used that to your own advantage!

Admiral Graf Spee: I would never!

Surcouf: Or, maybe, the fault lies with someone who wasn’t even playing…

Admiral Graf Spee: …

Leberecht Maass: Who… me?

Surcouf: Let’s be honest. Would it surprise anyone if an extra card made its way into Mess’ deck?

Leberecht Maass: Nein, Nevada checked the cards before everyone arrived. There were no duplicates.

Surcouf: Your skill in shuffling leads me to wonder...

Kumano: Nevada-san checked the cards, you say...?

Surcouf: Enough! I deserve my winnings!

Admiral Graf Spee: I don’t think so. Cheaters don’t prosper, not as far as I’m concerned.

Surcouf: Why don’t we continue this conversation outside? Perhaps my torpedoes will change your mind.

Nevada: All right! That’s it. I will not have to two of you come to blows over a game of poker. Captain?

Captain: Nevada?

Nevada: You’re the Captain. We answer to you. We've got the makings of a regular mining-camp game here, and that means blood. How are we going to fix it?

Question:

Captain: 1: What if a ghost added the second card?

2: Don’t look at me. I wouldn’t gamble with any of you.

3: In the event of a dispute, the Captain takes the pot.

******

Typical cliffhanger.

I can’t wait to see how you’ll handle that particularly thorny situation, because all those choices sound like they end with some explosions.

As always, vote on your preferred option on the official forums:

http://academagia.invisionzone.com/index.php?/forum/32-general/

The most popular choice will be featured in the game. Of course, you’ll have to recruit all Belles present in the story in order to see how it all ends… so you have some work ahead of you!

As always, Captain, it’s been a pleasure.

Talk to you again soon!

Nevada