The Star Wars universe is a vast and mysterious galaxy. With untold species and planets lurking out there, it’s an exciting yet daunting world. However, one thing which appears to unite the universe is its love of games of chance.
You may not know that card games have been some of the most popular pastimes for smugglers, bounty hunters, as well as Jedi. Below, we’ll introduce two of the most popular strategic card games which unveil a side to Star Wars characters which aligns neatly with the mindset of card sharks.
Introducing Planetary Poker
One of the best-known card games within the Star Wars universe, Planetary Poker brings together old-school card game dynamics with a hint of intergalactic flair. Players use a card deck which resembles the playing cards used on Earth. However, they’re tweaked to embrace the vast expanse of the galaxy, with symbols and suits from each fictional world incorporated.
There’s turn-based betting rounds too, much like the card games we play on Earth. Planetary Poker is said to have been played by smugglers during lengthy space voyages. Players used gold chips instead of multi-coloured chip stacks used in real-world poker. Following the Battle of Yavin, Chewbacca and R2-D2 indulged in a game of Planetary Poker on board the famous vessel Millennium Falcon en-route to Tatooine to bring supplies for Luke Skywalker and his super-vaporator mission.
The unpredictable Space Poker
Space Poker is another variant that’s typically played on starships or within busy cantinas brimming with interplanetary travellers. Unlike Planetary Poker, Space Poker uses holographic playing cards, as well as interactive betting interfaces, both of which add a cosmic twist to the game. There’s also greater unpredictability thanks to the use of random Galactic Wild Cards, which can emerge at certain stages, forcing opponents to alter their plans of attack mid-hand.
The best example of Space Poker being played in Star Wars was on Da’nor, when Granit and Stuart Zissu sat down for a game. The action involved phrases like “one propulsion” and “two turbos” which probably alluded to the wild cards. At the end of the scene, Granit completed a “full planetary system” against Stuart’s “three satellites”. The showdown mechanics of Space Poker are very much alive and kicking. Stuart was the man to beat on Yavin 4, with rebel pilots stationed here, such as Han Solo, often trying to knock him off his perch as top dog.
The structural similarities with Texas Hold’em
It’s fair to say that both Planetary Poker and Space Poker share similarities with real-world poker variants like Texas Hold’em, one of the most beloved card games of all time on Planet Earth. That’s according to PokerStars’ guide to all the rules, which also lists Omaha as one of the most popular poker games that humans enjoy.
Both Planetary Poker and Space Poker are clearly relatable to Texas Hold’em enthusiasts, with the blend of skill, strategy, and chance playing their part. The appeal of Texas Hold’em lies in its simplistic game mechanics. With two hole cards and up to five community cards, players need to make the best possible hand. In Planetary Poker and Space Poker, players must also decipher their opponents’ intentions and know when to fold. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing for money or a starship, the tension of a showdown is shared across both worlds.
What other card games would suit Star Wars characters?
There are plenty other card games which demand swift decision-making that could appeal to impulsive characters like Finn and Poe Dameron. Meanwhile characters which have a more considered personality, such as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, may prefer card games which offer more strategy and foresight, like bridge and gin rummy. Yoda is considered the smartest of all the Jedis and his disciplined mind and innate intelligence would make him a force to be reckoned with in such cerebral games.
If it’s pure chaos you’re after, look no further than the likes of Jar Jar Binks and Chewbacca. Both of whom would thrive in unpredictable, hectic card games like snap and crazy eights, where playing fast and loose is no issue.