COMET

A FRIENDLY GUIDE TO COMETS

Hey there! Let me tell you a fascinating story about comets that might just blow your mind. You see, a while back, a clever scientist named Edmund Halley came along and changed the way we think about these cosmic wonders. He had this wild idea that many of the comets spotted throughout history were actually the same object zooming past us! Can you believe it?

Before Halley shared his brilliant theory, people used to view comets as these mystical signs, full of mystery and wonder. But Halley’s calculations turned everything upside down. He suggested that the comets spotted throughout history were actually just one comet, making its way back to us every once in a while.

Here’s the crazy part: Halley predicted that this very same comet would pay us another visit in late 1758 or early 1759. And guess what? Just like clockwork, on Christmas in 1758, Halley’s Comet made its dazzling appearance in the night sky.

When a comet makes its appearance, it’s always an exciting event. But back in the day, when people found out that this particular comet had a scientific meaning behind it, it caused quite a stir. And guess what? They turned that excitement into a card game called Comet. Can you believe it? And the best part is, even after more than 250 years, Comet is still a fun game that everyone can enjoy!

LET’S GET STARTED

Before we start playing, we need to decide how many rounds we want to play. It has to be an even number so that each player gets the same number of turns.

To play the game, we need a special deck made up of two regular decks of fifty-two cards each. It’s easier if both decks have the same back, but it’s not necessary.

First things first, let’s sort out the deck of cards. Put all the black suited cards together in one pile. But hold on, we don’t need the aces, so let’s take them out. Also, get rid of one black nine and replace it with the 9 of diamonds. Now we have a deck of forty-eight cards.

Now, pay attention to the 9 of diamonds because it’s known as the Comet, and it’s going to shake things up during the game.

Now it’s time to deal the cards. Give each player eighteen cards, making sure to shuffle the deck really well beforehand. The remaining twelve cards will be put aside for later.

Here’s how to play

When we play this game, the person across from me goes first. They start by putting a card in the middle of the playing area. This card starts the pile we will discard from. After that, they can keep getting rid of cards one by one, but they have to go in order from lowest to highest. We don’t have to worry about the suits of the cards in this game. So if they start with a 2, they should play a 3, then a 4, then a 5, and so on. They keep going until they can’t play a higher card.

Once they can’t play a higher card, it’s my turn. I take over as the dealer, and I have to keep building the pile from where the last player left off. So if the last player stopped at an 8, I have to play a 9.

So, here’s what happens: when we have a discard pile that’s full of cards and topped with a king, we say it’s “stopped.” And then the player who put down that king gets to start a new round. They can play any card they want and they have to build up the stack in order from lowest to highest.

We keep playing like this until one of us manages to get rid of all our cards. Or, if we both get stuck and can’t play the next card in order, then we’re both “stopped.”

But wait, there’s more:

The 9 of diamonds is called the Comet. It’s a special card that can be played at any time during my turn. When I play it, the Comet also acts as a stop. This means that if I don’t have the next card in a run, I can play the Comet to stop the run and start a new one with any card I choose.

Now, if I have all four copies of a card, I can play them all in one turn. For example, if I have four 4s, I can play them along with other cards to build a run. The same goes for having all three black 9s.

Let’s talk scoring. Kings (K), Queens (Q), Jacks (J), and 10s are worth ten points each. The value of cards from 2 to 9 is the same as their face value. And if I manage to shed all my cards by the end of the round, I earn points based on the total value of my opponent’s remaining cards.

When a round ends and both players are unable to make any more moves, I win if my remaining cards have the lowest value. I’ll subtract my hand value from your own and earn that many points. It’s a simple way to determine who comes out on top.

But here’s an interesting twist: If I win the round and you still have the Comet card in your hand, I’ll score double the amount of points. It’s a nice bonus for me when luck is on my side.

Now, let’s talk about the Comet card. If I win the round by playing the Comet, my score is doubled. It’s like a magic boost that propels me towards victory. But here’s the real kicker: If I win the round by playing the Comet as a sequential nine, my score is quadrupled. That means I’ll earn four times the points! Imagine the excitement of playing that winning move.

Each round, we take turns being the dealer. And at the end of the agreed number of rounds, the player with the highest score wins the game. So it’s not just about winning individual rounds – it’s about building up that total score and coming out as the ultimate champion.