Welcome to DAILY SABACC!
Sabacc is a fairly easy game to learn, but the rules can be confusing at first. In this post I'm going to mainly post the rules so they are available. Then later on I'm going to break them down and explain what happens and offer clarifications.
 |
| Zabaka the Toydarian Toy maker |
At the moment the best set of rules for the game of Sabacc comes from Galaxy's Edge (GE). The Han Solo Card Game rules are mostly garbage and outdated. DO NOT USE THEM.
Unfortunately the only way to buy this game at retail is at Galaxy's Edge. But like I said, the Han Solo Card Game can work, just with some modifications. You can also buy the GE secondhand on sites like Amazon. You'll pay about double, but if you're into the game and want a better version it's not a bad option.
So in case you've lost your copy, can't read it because of the font size, or just don't have them. Here you go!
Unfortunately the only way to buy this game at retail is at Galaxy's Edge. But like I said, the Han Solo Card Game can work, just with some modifications. You can also buy the GE secondhand on sites like Amazon. You'll pay about double, but if you're into the game and want a better version it's not a bad option.
So in case you've lost your copy, can't read it because of the font size, or just don't have them. Here you go!
 |
| Remember! Green POSITIVE, red NEGATIVE |
Rules of Sabacc
There are 3 suits (called staves) – circles, triangles, and squares.
There are 20 cards in each stave (split between red and green) and 2 zero cards.
The 3 staves are of equal value.
The green cards have a positive value +1,+2,+3,+4,+5,+6,+7,+8,+9,+10
The red cards have a negative value -1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6,-7,-8,-9,-10
OBJECT
The object of the game is to score as close to zero as you can with your cards.
SETUP
Choose some to be the dealer. That player is the dealer for the first round, the player to their left is the dealer for the next round, and so. The dealer also plays.
1. The dealer shuffles the deck. Then deals two cards facedown to each player, beginning with the player to the dealer’s left.
Players can look at their cards but should not show them to the other players.
2. The dealer places the remaining deck face down in the center of the group. This is the Draw Pile.
3. The dealer takes the top card from the Draw Pile and places it face up next to the deck. This is the Discard Pile.
GAMEPLAY
The game is played in three rounds. Each players takes one turn per round.
The player to the dealers left always goes first.
Each player has the option to gain a card, swap a card, stand, or junk.
Players can never swap a card without receiving one in return.
1. Calculate your hand. Remember, green cards are positive numbers, and red cards are negative numbers. The object is to have cards with a score of zero. You should always have a minimum of two cards in your hand.
2. When it is your turn, choose one of the following options:
a. Gain – take the top card from the Draw Pile. You may keep the card or you may discard. If you pick the option of discarding, you must discard before you draw.
b. Swap – take the top card from the Discard Pile and place a card from your hand face up on the discard pile.
c. Stand – you do nothing. Stand if you do not wish to take a card or discard on this turn.
d. Junk – if you feel you cannot win with the cards in your hand then you can place all your cards face up in the Discard Pile and exit the game.
-If only one player is left they instantly win the game.
End your turn and the player to your left begins their turn.
3. After each player has taken their turn that is the end of the round. The dealer rolls the Sabacc Dice. IF the dealer rolls a double, all players cards cards are placed in the Discard Pile. The dealer then deals out new cards to all players. Each player receives the same amount of cards that they discarded. If the dice are different, players keep their cards.
4. After all three rounds are played and the Sabacc Dice have been rolled the third and final time, all players show their hands by placing their cards face up in front of them. The player to the left of the dealer reveals their cards first, followed by the player to their left, and so on.
5. The player with the best hand wins! (see Winning Hands pages)
(Disclaimer--- There are several errors, typos and just wrong information on these Winning Hands pages. I will briefly point these errors out, but I probably won't explain them in detail yet)
 |
| The example for FLEET is wrong. It lists a +- 6 instead of a 5 |
 |
The examples of Sabacc are wrong.
|
 |
| Focus on the Winning Hands of Sabacc and lower |
 |
| two errors on this page with hand totals |
I'll write up a full review of the rules and explanations another time. But for right now, here are the rules. There are several things that can be kind of confusing and there are known errors in the rule book (they're going to fix it at some point).
Feel free to comment on here or head on over to the Daily Sabacc Instagram page.
At last - a clear explanation of the rules! I have been wanting to try Sabacc for a long time. Finally ordered a GE version of the game. After reading the rules which came with the cards, the two most confusing things were the shift after the third round, and the gain. You explained the shift well, and I now understand it. As for the gain, you also explained that well, but I'm still a little unsure about the intent of gain based on the rules. On one hand, I can see how it might be useful to take a card from the draw pile, look at it, then decide if you want to keep it or discard that card. My thought is that the player should state upfront "gain only" or "discard then gain". In the draw-then-decide scenario, there is no risk to the player, so I think it's best to have the player state what they want to do first. As I write this, I think I just convinced myself what the rule should be. :-) Now the hard part is going to be remembering all the different types of hands, and what beats what. Thanks again for a fantastic and in-depth explanation!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has now reminded me to update that section. At the time I didn’t clarify the Gain rule. But it’s either taking the top card from the draw pile without a discard. Or if you choose the Discard/Gain, you must discard first. Many try to argue this rule. But I can say with almost 100% certainty that this is how it’s done.
DeleteIn Poker, a "One Pair" hand still has five cards. What makes it One Pair is only two cards match. Same goes for any hand that doesn't use all 5 cards; you throw out the ones that don't matter.
ReplyDeletePer my understanding of the rules, Sabaac and Rule of Two work the same way. In the Sabaac hand shown, the hand's total does not equal zero. But the subset of cards that equals zero contains one pair.
To better clarify what I mean:
The hand is +5 +5 +3 +3 -6. The +3 +3 -6 equals 0, and the +3 +3 is one pair. Since you have one pair (+3 +3) and you have another card that, with that one pair, equals zero (-6), you have Sabaac. The +5s don't matter, just like superfluous cards in Poker don't matter (for thinks like 4 of a kind, 2 of a kind, 2 pair, etc.).
In the first Rule of Two example, the whole hand equals zero and it contains two pairs. The +3 +3 counts as one pair for that hand, as does -5 +5. The extra -6 makes the hand zero. If the hand had a -3 instead of a +3, you would treat it like a Poker 2 of a Kind, and ignore the -6 to achieve Rule of Two.
The difference between these and "Sabaac with Most Cards" is the latter doesn't have any matching cards in it. The whole hand simply equals zero. If any cards in your hand can equal zero while using one pair or two pair, then it's Sabaac or Rule of Two (respectively). If your whole hand can reach zero but does not satisfy either of those, then it's Most Cards.
The "one pair" example shows two hands, separated by a vertical bar.
ReplyDeleteThe +5 / +5 is incorrect, it should be +5 / -5.