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== Rules ==
== Rules ==
The game is often compared to [[blackjack]] and [[poker]]. No definitive sabacc rules were ever published as there are differences in the rules of the officially licensed variants (the first of which was published in 1989) - for example, the Galaxy's Edge version for example contains no betting rules, likely with the aim to keep it "family-friendly".<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> Due to this, a number of variants exist. The game is generally described as a card game, but some variants, such as "Corellian Spike", also use dice,<ref name=":1" /> as depicted in the [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy]] and in ''Solo''.
The game is often compared to [[blackjack]] and [[poker]]. No definitive sabacc rules were ever published as there are differences in the rules of the officially licensed variants (the first of which was published in 1989) - for example, the Galaxy's Edge version contains no betting rules, likely with the aim to keep it "family-friendly".<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> Due to this, a number of variants exist. The game is generally described as a card game, but some variants, such as "Corellian Spike", also use dice,<ref name=":1" /> as depicted in the [[Star Wars sequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy]] and in ''Solo''.


In the original ruleset, the game can be played with two to eight players, and uses 76 cards divided up into four suits of eleven numbered cards. The suits are called Coins, Flasks, Sabers, and Staves, and the [[face card]]s are named Commander (value 12), Mistress (value 13), Master (value 14) and Ace (Value 1 or 15). In addition to those, there are also cards with values not usually found in blackjack or poker, such as The Idiot (value 0) or The Star (value -17). Players will place bets, aiming for the winning score of 23 or -23.<ref name=":0" />
In the original ruleset, the game can be played with two to eight players, and uses 76 cards divided up into four suits of eleven numbered cards. The suits are called Coins, Flasks, Sabers, and Staves, and the [[face card]]s are named Commander (value 12), Mistress (value 13), Master (value 14) and Ace (Value 1 or 15). In addition to those, there are also cards with values not usually found in blackjack or poker, such as The Idiot (value 0) or The Star (value -17). Players will place bets, aiming for the winning score of 23 or -23.<ref name=":0" />

Revision as of 09:38, 7 July 2021

Sabacc is a primarily-fictional gambling card game, compared to blackjack and poker, originating from the Star Wars space opera franchise, where it is a common pastime of such characters as Han Solo and Lando Calrissian. It has been described as "the most popular card game in the Star Wars galaxy".[1] It debuted in the 1983 novel Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu by L. Neil Smith,[2][3] and has also been portrayed in a number of other works of the franchise, such as Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018),[4][5][6][7] the first film to actually depict a sabacc game being played. The first sabacc ruleset was published in 1989, however several other rule-sets have been published since.

History

The game was first mentioned in the 1983 novel Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu by L. Neil Smith and over the years has made appearances in a number of other Star Wars media, such as "Idiot's Array", an episode of the animated TV series Star Wars Rebels; most notably it made an appearance in the Solo: A Star Wars Story 2018 movie, which featured Han Solo winning the Millennium Falcon from Lando Calrissian during a game of sabacc.[2][3][8][9] Despite this, the first mention of the game at which tables Han won his starship is one of a "sabacca game" in the second draft of the screenplay for The Empire Strikes Back. The game's first official (licensed) ruleset and physical release was in the Crisis on Cloud City (1989) supplement for the Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game published by West End Games.[2][3][8] A simplified version based on the 1989 ruleset was given a limited release in 2015 during the Star Wars Celebration fan convention.[10]

In 2015 a mobile gaming app Sabacc by Ren Ventures has become subject to two lawsuits and a trademark dispute between its publisher and Lucasfilm.[11][12][13][14][15][16]

In 2018 another physical version of the game was published by Hasbro. Due to licensing issues it was named Star Wars Han Solo Card Game.[17][18][1][19][8] Another version of the game, this one using the name Sabacc, has been distributed at Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge themed area. Despite both games being licensed, they use relatively different rule sets and both in turn have differences from the 1989 and the 2015 releases;[20][21] this is also sometimes rationalized with the fact that within the Star Wars universe there are a number of sabacc variants, none of which are clearly defined as official or main.[7][4][9][8]

Over the years, a number of fan-made versions of the game, and accompanying rulesets, have also been made.[21]

Rules

The game is often compared to blackjack and poker. No definitive sabacc rules were ever published as there are differences in the rules of the officially licensed variants (the first of which was published in 1989) - for example, the Galaxy's Edge version contains no betting rules, likely with the aim to keep it "family-friendly".[20][21][1] Due to this, a number of variants exist. The game is generally described as a card game, but some variants, such as "Corellian Spike", also use dice,[21] as depicted in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and in Solo.

In the original ruleset, the game can be played with two to eight players, and uses 76 cards divided up into four suits of eleven numbered cards. The suits are called Coins, Flasks, Sabers, and Staves, and the face cards are named Commander (value 12), Mistress (value 13), Master (value 14) and Ace (Value 1 or 15). In addition to those, there are also cards with values not usually found in blackjack or poker, such as The Idiot (value 0) or The Star (value -17). Players will place bets, aiming for the winning score of 23 or -23.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Star Wars' Sabacc Card Game Explained (& How To Play)". ScreenRant. October 19, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Star Wars: 26 Things Only True Fans Know About Lando Calrissian". ScreenRant. May 21, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Young, Bryan (September 18, 2018). "The 'Legendary' roots of Solo: A Star Wars Story". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "How SOLO's Card Games Change Star Wars Forever". ScreenRant. September 25, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "TheForce.net: Sabacc Is More Than Just A Card Game". www.theforce.net. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Han Solo wins the Millennium Falcon playing Sabacc, but what exactly is it?". Dork Side of the Force. February 21, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Solo: How Do You Play Sabacc, Anyway?". CBR. May 24, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d "Playing Sabacc: From The Classic Star Wars RPG To The Modern Day Han Solo Card Game". Geek and Sundry. July 11, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Betts, Eric (November 6, 2020). "The History Of The Idiot's Array In The Mandalorian Chapter 10". Looper.com. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  10. ^ "Solo: A Star Wars Story: What Is The Card Game Sabacc?". GameSpot. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  11. ^ "'Star Wars' Card Game Sabacc Sparks Lawsuit From Lucasfilm". The Hollywood Reporter. December 22, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  12. ^ "Hollywood Docket: 'Star Wars' Sabacc Game Sparks Another Lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter. May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  13. ^ Oller, Jacob (July 2, 2018). "Sabacc mobile game violates Star Wars copyrights, judge rules". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  14. ^ Sottile, Alexis (May 5, 2018). "The Game Company Strikes Back! Legal saga over Sabacc game continues". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  15. ^ Maddaus, Gene (December 22, 2017). "Disney Files Trademark Suit to Protect 'Star Wars' Card Game". Variety. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "Can the name of a fictional, intergalactic game evolve into a trademark protectable in the world of mere groundlings?". IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Patent Law. January 23, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  17. ^ "Star Wars: Han Solo Card Game". BoardGameGeek. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  18. ^ "You Can Start Gambling for Starships With Authentic Sabacc Deck From Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge". Star Wars. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  19. ^ "Star Wars: Han Solo Card Game review". Tabletop Gaming. October 19, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  20. ^ a b PolarisGames (July 21, 2019). "Sabacc (Review)". Polaris Games. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  21. ^ a b c d "How to play Sabacc, the epic card game from 'Solo: A Star Wars Story'". The Daily Dot. May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
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