Ad Astra :: Star Trek Fanfiction Archive ^{Beam me up, Scotty.}

Joanna collected the cards and shuffled the deck to prepare for another round, adding a few flairs and fans.  The fancy tricks didn’t mix up the cards any better than a basic shuffle, but she had worked hard to master them and didn’t want to waste an opportunity to show off.

”Well, Maya, you’ve only known how to play this game for half an hour, and you’re on quite a winning streak.”  She began to deal another hand and gave Maya a sly look.  “You sure you don’t have enhanced luck?”

”it’s not luck.” Maya watched each card hit the table with her brows furrowed in an intense look of concentration.  “It’s strategy.  Chance is only part of the game.”

”Hit until your hand gets too high, this isn’t three dimensional chess.” Joanna shrugged.

”I wouldn’t call it a complex  strategy, no, but there’s more to it.”  Maya’s eyes were still on the cards on the table. “There are four cards of each value, once a card is in the table it’s out of play, and there are a set number of cards.  It’s a simple calculation each round to determine the more favorable choice.”

“So you’ve been counting cards?”  Joanna smirked.  “Some people might call that cheating.”

”I thought that simply how you played.”

”As did I.”  Saavik agreed.  “Without the added mathematical component, this game would be unegaging.”

Joanna gave Demora a sideways glance.  “Don’t tell me you’re a card counter too.”

“Well, no…” Demora shrank back in her seat.  “But I don’t think it’s cheating.  Is a skill anyone can learn, just like studying chess strategy.”

Joanna looked at the three women who sat across the table from her and sighed.  “Fine, but next time we’re playing Jenga.”