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(Completely rewrote it. I believe it is better now but of course feel free to tweak it.)
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* There are 5 suits: yellow, blue, white, green, and red.
* There are 5 suits: yellow, blue, white, green, and red.
* Each suit has 12 cards: the numbers from 2 to 10, plus three "investment" cards marked with a handshake symbol.
* Each suit has 12 cards: numbered cards from 2 to 10, plus three "wager" cards marked with a handshake symbol.
* The entire deck is shuffled and used in each round.
* The entire deck is shuffled and used in each round.


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* On the board is a separate discard pile for each suit.
* On the board is a separate discard pile for each suit.
* Played cards will go on your own side of the board, always in the appropriate column for the suit. A group of one or more played cards is called an "expedition"; players will not necessarily have all five in each round.
* Cards you play go to your side of the board, below that color's discard pile. A group of one or more played cards in a suit is called an "expedition".
* To the side of the board is a draw pile shared by both players (the number of cards remaining is shown).
* To the side of the board is a shared draw pile.


== Play ==
== Play ==


* You hold 8 cards in hand.
* You hold 8 cards in your hand.
* Each turn has two steps:
* Each turn has two steps: first, either play or discard a card. Then take a card, either from the draw pile or from the top of any discard pile.
*# First either play or discard one card.
* For each expedition of a separate color (suit): If you have a wager/handshake card, it can be played first, but is not required. Numbered cards are played in increasing order, but do not have to be in perfect sequence (consecutive). Once you've played a numbered card, you may no longer play any lower-numbered card or wager card. Cards must match the expedition color.
*# Then take one card, either from the deck or from the top of any discard pile.
* Within a particular expedition (suit): once you've played a numbered card, you may no longer play any lower-numbered card, nor any investment card. That is, numbered cards must be played in increasing order, and investment cards must come before them all.
* When the draw pile is empty, the round ends instantly.
* When the draw pile is empty, the round ends instantly.


== Scoring ==
== Scoring ==


Each expedition you started is scored separately, and the results totaled. Suits in which you played no cards at all score nothing. For each one:
Each of the (up to five) expeditions in front of you is scored separately and the results totaled. (Skip scoring a suit where you played no cards.) For each one:


# Add up the values of all numbered cards played.
# Add up the values of all numbered cards played.
# Subtract 20. (You might get a negative number.)
# Subtract 20. (You might get a negative number.)
# If there are N investment cards present, now multiply by (N+1). (At most this can quadruple your score, and it will do so even if your score is negative!)
# If there were N wager cards played, now multiply that result by (N+1).
# Finally, if the exhibition has eight or more total cards, add 20 points.
# If the expedition has eight or more total cards, add 20 points.


The basic idea is: if you start an expedition at all, then you need to reach 20 just to break even. Investment cards magnify your winnings OR losses relative to that target. And playing a large number of cards (whatever they may be) is worth a bonus.
The basic idea is: if you start an expedition then you need to reach 20 just to break even. wager cards magnify your winnings OR losses relative to that target.


Since BGA displays a running total as you play, this alternative (equivalent) explanation might seem more fitting:
Since BGA displays a running total as you play, this alternative (equivalent) scoring explanation might seem more fitting:


* When you begin an expedition (play your first card of a suit), lose 20 points.
* When you begin an expedition (play your first card of a suit), lose 20 points.
* When you play an investment card, lose (perhaps *another*) 20 points.
* When you play an wager card, lose 20 points.
* When you play a numbered card, gain that many points, plus that many points again for each investment card present.
* When you play a numbered card, gain that many points, plus that many points again for each wager card present (total: number x (wagercards + 1)).
* If that was the eighth card of the expedition, gain another 20 points.
* If that was the eighth card of the expedition, gain another 20 points.


== Rounds ==
== Rounds ==


A game may last either one or three rounds. If three, scores are simply added. In rounds two and three, the player with the higher score plays first.
A game may last either one or three rounds. If three, the round scores are all added. In rounds two and three, the player with the higher score plays first.

Latest revision as of 03:17, 22 July 2024

The Deck

  • There are 5 suits: yellow, blue, white, green, and red.
  • Each suit has 12 cards: numbered cards from 2 to 10, plus three "wager" cards marked with a handshake symbol.
  • The entire deck is shuffled and used in each round.

The Board

  • On the board is a separate discard pile for each suit.
  • Cards you play go to your side of the board, below that color's discard pile. A group of one or more played cards in a suit is called an "expedition".
  • To the side of the board is a shared draw pile.

Play

  • You hold 8 cards in your hand.
  • Each turn has two steps: first, either play or discard a card. Then take a card, either from the draw pile or from the top of any discard pile.
  • For each expedition of a separate color (suit): If you have a wager/handshake card, it can be played first, but is not required. Numbered cards are played in increasing order, but do not have to be in perfect sequence (consecutive). Once you've played a numbered card, you may no longer play any lower-numbered card or wager card. Cards must match the expedition color.
  • When the draw pile is empty, the round ends instantly.

Scoring

Each of the (up to five) expeditions in front of you is scored separately and the results totaled. (Skip scoring a suit where you played no cards.) For each one:

  1. Add up the values of all numbered cards played.
  2. Subtract 20. (You might get a negative number.)
  3. If there were N wager cards played, now multiply that result by (N+1).
  4. If the expedition has eight or more total cards, add 20 points.

The basic idea is: if you start an expedition then you need to reach 20 just to break even. wager cards magnify your winnings OR losses relative to that target.

Since BGA displays a running total as you play, this alternative (equivalent) scoring explanation might seem more fitting:

  • When you begin an expedition (play your first card of a suit), lose 20 points.
  • When you play an wager card, lose 20 points.
  • When you play a numbered card, gain that many points, plus that many points again for each wager card present (total: number x (wagercards + 1)).
  • If that was the eighth card of the expedition, gain another 20 points.

Rounds

A game may last either one or three rounds. If three, the round scores are all added. In rounds two and three, the player with the higher score plays first.

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