Vigil
Played in the open. The only secret is what you mean to do.
A duel for two players with one standard 52-card deck. One player takes all the red cards (Hearts and Diamonds), the other all the black (Spades and Clubs). Aces are high, or low in A-2-3.
Setup
- Each player shuffles their 26 cards into their own draw pile.
- The player who opens the Vigil draws 7 cards; the other draws 6. Both hands are played face up.
- Leave room for five Thresholds in a row between you.
A turn
Play one card from your hand to your side of any unclaimed Threshold that holds fewer than 3 of your cards, then draw one card. You must play if you can.
Claiming a Threshold
When both sides of a Threshold hold 3 cards, compare them:
- A suited run (three in sequence, one suit) beats a run (three in sequence), which beats suited (all one suit), which beats plain.
- If both sides have the same formation, the higher total wins. An Ace counts 14, or 1 in A-2-3.
- A tie goes to the player who did not place the last card there. The vigil holds.
Winning
The first player to claim 3 Thresholds wins.
Strategy
- Everything is visible except the draw. Read your opponent's hand before you commit.
- Finishing a Threshold first can cost you a tie. Sometimes the strongest move is to wait.
- A low run beats a high plain hand. Don't spend Kings where 4-5-6 will do.