Pyramid Poker

In this Death Match, win poker hands by removing cards from the top of a pyramid constructed at the start of the game. (Original design by Aaron Weissblum & Norman Woods)

Designer(s): Non-original Game	Match Type: DM (for 2 players)
Featured in: The Genius: Code Red

dmM - Pyramid Poker

Summary

Use randomly drawn bricks to build a pyramid, and then use the pyramid to beat the opponent at poker!

Background

This game requires knowledge of 5 card poker hands. If you want to learn more, refer to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poker_hands.

Note that the game will be played with a 40 card deck, with Jacks, Queens and Kings not included. In addition, Ace is the low card, which means the highest possible hand is 6-7-8-9-10 of the same suit.

Gameplay

The game is divided into 2 phases: Construction and Deconstruction.

Before the game begins, @Chaotic, as the player with higher priority, will choose who will be the First Player for the DM.

The Construction phase of the DM is first. This phase of the DM will be played exclusively in private channels.

Starting with the first player, and then alternating, players will draw 1 brick and placing it into the pyramid.

There are 40 unique bricks, each of which correspond to a playing card with value A-10 in one of the 4 standard suits.

💡 You will be able to see the values of the bricks you have placed, but not the values of the bricks the opponent placed.

The Pyramid is a triangular playing board, shown below.

You can only place bricks on the unoccupied spaces of the pyramid. You can always place bricks on the lowest row of the pyramid. To place on higher rows, the 2 bricks right below have to be present (in other words, no overhangs).

After 30 bricks are placed, the construction phase ends. The 10 not drawn bricks will not be used.

The Deconstruction phase of the DM is second. This phase of the DM will be played exclusively in the public game room.

Starting with the first player, and then alternating, players will draw 1 exposed brick from the pyramid and then place it into one of their three poker hands. You may not skip placing after drawing.

A brick is exposed if the spaces directly above it are empty.

After a brick is taken, it is publicly announced what the value of the brick is. Afterwards, the player will be prompted to place the brick into one of the three hands they have. You may not add a 6th brick to any of your hands.

🔍 Example Turn

This is a possible board state during the Deconstruction phase. It is currently Digory’s turn. It draws C3, which it doesn’t know the value of because the brick was put in by the opponent. Afterwards, it is revealed that C3 is 9 of Diamonds. Digory decides to put it into Hand 2.

Game End

After all 30 bricks are drawn and both players construct 3 hands each, the game ends.

Players compare the contents on their Hand 1. The player with a better poker hand wins the hand. If the hands are equal, the hand is tied.

Afterwards, players compare Hands 2 and 3 in the same manner.

The player that wins more hands will win the Death Match. If the number of wins is tied, Chaotic will win.

The winner of the DM will receive 2 garnets.

💡 Available information.

During the construction phase of the DM, all information is revealed in your submission channel. Before your turn begins, you will receive the image of the board with all of the bricks currently placed, with ones you placed being revealed.

You will also learn which brick you drew and now have to place into the pyramid.

✏️ To place a brick, say on which coordinate you want to place it.

At the end of the Construction phase, you will privately receive the full board with all of your bricks revealed.

During the Deconstruction phase of the DM, all information is revealed publicly in the game room. Before your turn begins, you will receive the image of the board with all of the bricks not yet removed; all of them hidden.

✏️ To draw a brick, say from which coordinate you wish to take one from.

After drawing a brick, the host will announce which brick was drawn. The player whose turn it is will be prompted to put it into one of their hands.

✏️ To place a drawn brick, say which of your hands you wish to add it to.

After a brick is placed, their turns ends and the turn is passed to the opponent.

⌛ Time Controls.

Players will have 1 minute per turn + 5 minutes of reserve time to take their turn.

During the deconstruction phase, both drawing and placing has to be done within 1 minute.

📌 Wording change

The win condition changed from "win 2 out of 3 hands" to "win more hands"

📌 Allowed tools

During the DM, taking non-automated notes is allowed. Paper notes, notepad++, excel sheet with no formulas are all allowed.

📌 Clarification: Bad example turn

In the example, the cards that players have collected have duplicated (the 7s). There are no duplicate cards in the game.

Pyramid Poker

Tags