Story 13: The Kaissa of Pakra

But I won't gamble on my heart. That is truly a fool's game. A no-win situation where all the players end up as losers. The game is rigged and only the delusional think they have a chance at winning.

I prefer calculated risks, gambling where my knowledge and skills will help me prevail. And I have devoted much time and effort into learning and honing my skills.

But, I learned such deceptive ways only so I could discern who might try to cheat me. A good gambler will know his potential adversaries. Keen observation skills are crucial to success. When wagering is involved, there will always be men who wish to "bend" the odds in their favor through various unethical methods.

Card games are my favorite game of chance. Luck is often minimized in many varieties of card games so that one's skill is often what determines how one fares. Card games also possess a deep psychological component that appeals to me. The art of the bluff is such a thrilling skill.

But I will wager on nearly any type of game. Though what I am willing to bet will vary considerably with the type of wager I am making. In a card game, I would bet my very life. And I have done so several times in the past.

"Pakra" is probably the elite of all card games. It is designed to accommodate significant wagering during each individual game. It is also a game of strategy and bluff. A skilled player should be able to defeat less skilled ones on a regular basis.

Being perceptive in Pakra is crucial as you must be able to read your opponents. You must be able to discern the tiny actions, the "tells," that betray their cards. And you must attempt to minimize your own such tells so that others cannot read you as easily.

There are numerous varieties of Pakra but the most popular version is Merchant's Pakra. The Merchant Caste has contributed to maintaining a single unified version for ease of play throughout civilized Gor. This is a similar situation to the establishment of Merchant's Kaissa. As numerous Merchants travel frequently, and many have money they enjoy gambling in their spare time and Pakra appeals to them. I always thought Pakra should become part of our Codes.

I began to hear rumors of a special Pakra tournament soon to be held in Ar. Merchant's Pakra. The entry fee was to be 25,000 gold tarns, a staggering amount. No previous fee had ever been more than 10,000 gold tarns.

This would be a legendary tournament, one talked about for many years to come. In addition, the tournament would only accept players that had previously proven their skill. Money alone was not supposed to be able to purchase you a seat at this game. It would be a battle of champions, the elite of the elite.

My skills were well known so that was not an issue. I simply needed to raise the stake money. That merely required some loans, at exorbitant interest rates, but it was doable.

So I journeyed to Ar, consulted a few money lenders and purchased entrance into the tournament. After that, I began to scope out the competition.

As expected, nearly all of the players were Merchants. They were generally the only ones with sufficient money to join the game and who were willing to risk so much on a mere card game.

The tournament was limited to twenty-five players. After the hosts took their fee from the pot, the final winner would receive 500,000 gold tarns. The winner could buy himself a small city for that much money. But, as lucrative as the prize might be, the ecstasy of simply winning, of being the best of the best was the most potent lure.

I recognized many of the other players. Nestor of Turia, Tallus of Ko-ro-ba, Landrosian of Port Kar, Xandrac of Thentis, Andryn of Tabor and Helvius Trantor of Ar. All fine Merchants and excellent players. There were a few non-Merchants as well. Karabbas of Schendi was of the Caste of Players. Cheng of Turia was of the Caste of Scribes, an accountant. Timorius of Ar was of the Caste of Warriors.

For some reason, Slavers were not usually intrigued by Pakra. And if they were, they still usually avoided the high stake games. This tournament was no different. None of the players were Slavers.

There was one very unusual entrant though. This was the first time such a player had ever been permitted into such a tournament. There were no actual rules that would deny this player admittance into the tournament but it did settle uneasily with a number of the other players. It was unconventional. But, the hosts had permitted it. Maybe they thought it would spice things up a bit.

During these tournaments, the players could make optional side wagers among each other. This often proved interesting, sometimes even more interesting than the tournament itself. And the rules of Pakra even provided for a mandatory side wager in a special circumstance.

This new player did have much to offer in a side wager. I am sure that despite their uneasiness, most of the players were thinking of the potential side wagers posed by this unusual player. None of them were really worried about the skill of the new player.

Melina of Ar. Merchant Caste. Dealer in rare and exotic goods. Very wealthy, with business interests in over a dozen major cities of Gor. Also known to be unconventional. Strong willed, opinionated, intelligent. She pushed the envelope of permissible behavior but also knew her limits as well.

It was said that she was quite beautiful beneath her veils. It was also said that she simply sought a man strong enough to conquer her. But that she had yet to meet that man.

Melina's rise to Pakra fame had taken only a year. At first, Melina had somehow gained entrance into some small Pakra games. Maybe it was just the novelty at first. Pakra was traditionally a man's domain but Melina soon proved her skill at the game and was begrudgingly accepted into larger games.

She was soon enough accepted as a top Pakra player though a number of men still saw her as only a novelty. Most hoped only to get her involved in a side wager where if she lost, she would become their slave.

Due to her unconventional behavior, the women of high station within Ar generally shunned her. But, as Melina was often traveling on business, the shunning had little practical effect.

I heard how she trounced Landrosian of Port Kar, winning two heavy round ships from him. I am sure he wanted to even the score during this tournament.

The tournament would use a standard elimination system. Five games would go on at once, each game consisting of five players. Each player would possess their stake of 25,000 gold tarns. A game would continue for two days, with breaks, unless one player had won all of the money at the table before the expiration of the time limit. When the time limit was reached, the holder of the most money at the table would be declared the winner of that table.

Those five winners would then all play in a Final Game, each with a stake of 125,000 gold tarns. The game would continue, with breaks, until one person had won everything. That usually took three days though had been known to last as long as seven.

Cheating was illegal but it required the word of two officiates to verify such an infraction. Each table was assigned three officiates whose sole job was to detect any cheating and to ensure the rules of the game were enforced. An officiate could not testify about a game they were not assigned to observe.

The players were generally aware of those officiates who were especially keen-eyed. And they were aware of those who were more easily duped. Thus, cheating was possible at these tournaments but very dangerous. If you were caught, you would be expelled from the game, forfeit your stake money and be blackballed from tournaments indefinitely. It was a great risk to cheat at these tournaments and only the desperate might make the attempt. I would never even consider cheating at such a tournament. It would stain the victory.

The day of the tournament arrived and the pairings were announced. I would be competing against Nestor of Turia and Timorius of Ar. The other two players were Handras of Vonda and Plencius of Cos. Plencius was an odious man, disliked by most of the other players. He had never won a tournament and in fact, never seemed to win much at all. But, he kept on playing. The only reason he was permitted in such a tournament was because he sponsored several other Pakra tournaments. The players wanted to remain in his good graces and they did not mind taking his money. He was the only man present who had purchased his way into this tournament without having the requisite skill level.

Handras was not a major threat in this game. Nestor was the strongest of my opponents though Timorius could sometimes play brilliantly. I was confident though that I could prevail against them.

I examined the pairings at the other tables. Melina's greatest threat would be Xandrac of Thentis. Xandrac was a formidable player, very cool under pressure and with amazing memory retention. Landrosian of Port Kar appeared to have no real competition at his table. At the fourth table, there would be some true bloodshed. Andryn of Tabor, Helvius Trantor of Ar and Karabbas of Schendi were about equally matched and the game would be hard fought. At the final table, Tallus of Ko-ro-ba was the favorite though Cheng of Turia might lead an upset.

Though all of the players, but Plencius, were highly skilled at Pakra not all of them were true Masters of the game. There were thus two echelons of skill at this tournament.

The wagering by the audience on these matches was going fast and furious. I was pleased to see that I was one of the favorites. Landrosian and Xandrac were also considered favorites.

I made a few wagers myself and then waited for the games to begin. I had only to wait half an Ahn before we were summoned to our tables.

The water clocks were synchronized, the new card decks were brought out and unwrapped, and markers representing our stake money were placed on the table.

I began cautiously, gauging my opponents and watching for those subtle psychological signs that would betray their cards. Plencius and Handras were fairly obvious in their tells. Neither one of them lasted to the first scheduled break, five Ahn after the game's start. As they were now broke, they were eliminated from the tournament.

Even during our twenty Ehn break in between rounds, I did not check out the other tables. I remained focused on my game, my table, my opponents. I ran the events of the past five Ahn through my head, seeking further revelations about my foes. I believe I had Nestor beat but Timorius had been very strong today. In fact, he was slightly ahead in money at this point.

After the break, I began to play more aggressively but Timorius rose to the challenge. He was actually quite a good bluffer at times. But, he was not consistent. Thus, I simply had to wait for those times when he could not maintain that cool exterior and capitalize on it. Nestor was soon trailing behind both of us monetarily. By the end of the second session, Nestor was nearly broke. Timorius and I possessed nearly an equivalent amount. The difference was inconsequential.

The game ended for the evening and a small celebration was held for all of the players, even those who had lost during the first day's play. I could now forget about my game for a bit and ascertain my potential competition for the final match.

I was not too surprised to see that Landrosian had already beaten his competitors. He would thus be able to observe the second day of our play. Helvius Trantor had lost and Andryn was currently leading that table, though his lead was slim. Tallus had a significant lead and two players from his table had already been eliminated. Melina's table was still full though only she and Xandrac had any significant money remaining. And Melina possessed a slight lead.

I got a glass of ka-la-na, well diluted as I did not wish to become intoxicated, and mingled with the other players. I wandered through the crowd, seeking out Melina.

She obviously intrigued me. She had to be quite unique to make it in the world of high stakes Pakra. She might be a worthy adversary, a special opponent to conquer.

I grinned, thinking of the myriad ways I could accomplish such a conquest. Women were such fantastic creatures, inspirations for our deepest desires.

I decided not to join the throng. I simply stood a short distance away and watched her. With her robes and veils, she was covered completely except for her hands and her eyes. Typical free woman attire. The veils actually aided her during the game as it covered much of her face, where most of one's "tells" could be discerned.

You could only watch her eyes and her hands. Her eyes were hazel and the color alone was not impressive. But, her eyes were alive, sparkling with an inner secret. And they too were a trap, a lure for the incautious. They could beguile one during the game, forcing one to reveal far more than you wished.

It was incredible how a free woman, with only her eyes, could be so expressive. When all that you may reveal to the world is your eyes, one must adapt I suppose. One must learn to teach one's eyes to "speak."

I had witnessed part of Melina's skill. Those eyes of her could cloud one's mind so that you forgot to look for tells. You might get careless in your card playing, your mind distracted within those hazel orbs.

I definitely did not need to speak to Melina. I was beyond gambling with my heart. The easy luxury of a paga kajira was all I needed. A couple Ahns of pleasure without any further burdens.

I was here to play and that was it. I would ignore the eyes of Melina and concentrate on her hands, watching how she held her cards, how she turned over the face down cards, how she dealt.

I noticed that I was now the envy of the room, as Melina had walked over to talk specifically to me. Yet, I felt no better for their envy. I knew the nature of Melina's game. She sought to entrance me, to lessen my abilities during the Final Game. A sorcerous temptress.

I listened to her and answered her questions, briefly and without embellishment. I could detect a hint of frustration as she tried to draw me out of my shell. I refused to give in though. After a time, I excused myself politely so that I could retire for the evening.

The next day, we continued our games. I quickly learned that I had accurately gauged Timorius and thus began to consistently beat him. By the break, I had defeated Timorius and won myself a spot in the Final Game.

Andryn lost his lead to Karabbas and the other two men at their table were defeated. Andryn would need to press hard to win in the final session later that day.

The two remaining afternoon games would pose to be most interesting. This would be their final session, only five more Ahn. During the break, I tried to get a seat so that I could observe both of the remaining games. Landrosian and Tallus had a similar idea so we sat close together.

Melina and Xandrac though fought hard, bluff and counterbluff, raise and raise again. Their fortunes grew and fell, neither being able to attain a decisive victory. The Ahn passed as these two warriors battled over their field, sending their deathless golden men into battle. Landrosian actually wanted Melina to win because he wished to defeat her in the Final Game.

Curiously, I too wanted this determined woman to prevail. I am not sure why that is so. Maybe I too just wanted to be able to defeat her.

The final fifteen Ehn remained. At this point, it was impossible to tell who was ahead as their fortunes were still so very close. Markers were stacked haphazardly and could not be easily counted. They would likely have time for only one final hand. Even if the time limit ended, they would be permitted to complete their current hand. Xandrac would deal this last hand and my eyes stared at the deck. I did not watch his hands, his eyes or anything else. Just the deck. I knew Xandrac far too well.

If Xandrac was to cheat, it would be now. And by watching the deck, I could see if he did or not. Just before the deal, he stretched a short bit, adjusting his position in his chair. A quick glance showed me that he had just blocked the view of one officiate from his shuffling and subsequent deal.

Luckily, one officiate called him on the deal. The officiate claimed there had been a violation of the rules and requested a second agreement from another of the officiates. None of the other players or anyone in the audience could proclaim that Xandrac was cheating. It had to be one of the other officiates.

The officiate behind Xandrac stated that he could not support the claim as he could not see the deck at all. The other officiate though would not support the violation claim. He stated that he saw nothing wrong with the deal.

Clever Xandrac. He had bribed at least one of the officiates, and maybe even more. Nothing could be proven though Xandrac would be stupid to try to cheat again. This had been a one-time shot. Even a bribe would not help him if he attempted to cheat a second time.

Melina was perceptive enough to know Xandrac had cheated. And she knew her chances of winning had dwindled considerably. But she would not surrender or quit. She would fight on.

Though the cheating accusation would out a cloud over Xandrac, the fact that it was not supported would ultimately absolve him from any action by the other players.

Technically, the game was not over yet. Xandrac had cheated only a little, giving himself an impressive though not unbeatable hand. He had to make it seem reasonable or the cheating stigma would most definitely follow him.

The game progressed, the betting increased and more cards were exposed and dealt. It was clear though from the exposed cards that Melina could still potentially win. The right combination existed, provided her hole cards matched.

Xandrac understood the odds but knew that his chances were far greater than hers. He kept pushing the stakes higher and higher. Until he discovered that Melina possessed one gold tarn more than he did. She could raise him and he could not meet that raise.

By the rules of tournament play, Xandrac had one option. To remain in the game, he had to make a side wager with Melina and unfortunately, Melina got to choose the terms.

That took Xandrac aback. That was a price he was not sure he was willing to risk. He stared at her, trying to discern if it was only a bluff. But he only saw her eyes and they seemed to twinkle with glee.

There was silence throughout the hall while everyone waited for Xandrac to decide. I could not tell whether she was bluffing or not. Those damn veils hid too much. And staring into those eyes would only get one lost within their gleam.

The Ehn ticked away and we all waited. The time limit had ended though the game was not over until this hand finished. And all that would take was Xandrac's decision.

To lose, especially after he cheated, would be very difficult for him to accept. But it would be even worse if he lost and was enslaved. Could he risk that? How secure was he in his chances of winning?

Of course, Melina need not show her cards as Xandrac had refused to call her raise. Thus, no one would ever know if she had bluffed or not.

The partying that night was more raucous than the previous one. Only five of us now needed to maintain our sobriety for the evening. We were the only ones playing the next day.

Melina again came over to talk with me, to question me. I asked her only a single question, asking her if she had bluffed Xandrac. I did not expect an answer but I watched her eyes closely, hoping to discern even the faintest of clues.

She replied that would remain an unknown. I did not notice any clues as to the truth. But those eyes did seep into my body, warming my blood. I turned away then and retrieved my drink from a table.

When I turned back, she was gone, wandered off to speak with someone else I suppose. I wanted to see who now had her attention but I resisted. I left the party to get a good night's rest. I would definitely need it for tomorrow's challenge.

Morning came and I grabbed myself a mug of Bazi tea. I sipped the hot liquid as I readied for the Final Game. I then went to the main hall and found it filled to capacity with spectators. They had crammed bodies into every available space, many here to watch Melina. She was definitely a rarity and added a bit of spice to the tournament.

We were assigned spots at the table and we all sat down. Our markers were brought to us and new card decks were unwrapped. As I watched the decks being opened, a delicious sensation surged through me, a rush of adrenaline. This is where I felt most alive, at the card table. It was a microcosm for all I knew. It was life and death, love and sex, success and failure.

As a rule, I begin playing conservatively when a game begins. I like to assess my opponents, even if I know them well. Day by day, people do change. Sometimes they are at the top of their game and other days they are subpar. Karabbas, the only non-Merchant in the Final game, was also a cautious man.

It was Landrosian though who went on the offensive from the very first hand. Though that was not unusual. He was an aggressive player, intimidating many players by his force of will. But at this level of play, none of us should have felt worried by his blusterings. Yet, even if someone was affected only a smidgen, it would be an advantage to Landrosian.

The first five Ahn passed quickly and I am sure we all got a significant sense of each other's playing style. No one had made a significant gain or loss. We still all stood a good chance of winning.

Personally, I was worried only about Landrosian and Melina. But I still had alot of respect for Karabbas and Tallus. No one would have an easy time of this game. And it would not be good to underestimate anyone.

An Ahn into the second session, there was the first dramatic turn of events. Landrosian and Tallus got involved in a head to head battle, each raising and reraising each other. The rest of us had bowed out of that particular hand. Landrosian then proposed the first significant side wager of the Final Game. He bet three of his merchant ships against three owned by Tallus.

By the rules of the game, Tallus could refuse this side wager without ceding the hand. Only side wagers due to a lack of ability to meet a raise had to be accepted or ceded.

Yet Tallus accepted the side wager, called Landrosian and found he lost the hand. This win placed Landrosian slightly in the lead, monetarily, though side wagers did not figure into one's stake.

Landrosian kept up the pressure on Tallus, continually requesting side wagers that Tallus mostly refused. But, the intimidation did get to Tallus whose card play suffered. We all saw it happening yet no one went to his rescue.

Instead, like jads, we feasted on his carcass. We took his money and showed him no mercy. By the sessions's end, he was nearly destitute. He would probably not survive another Ahn of play.

And Landrosian's lead had increased. The rest of us were almost equal. I was still fairly confident. The game was far from over and Landrosian did not intimidate me.

When we broke, I headed straight for my room. There would be no partying for me that evening. I wanted as much rest as possible. The second day of play would get vicious. One player would soon be out and at least one more would likely fall as well.

The next day arrived and the game began anew. As predicted, Tallus was eliminated before the first Ahn had passed. But, Melina ended up with most of his remaining money and she now neared Landrosian's current amount.

During the next two Ahn, it was a furious battle to see who would be the next victim. All of us played rather aggressively, waiting for the first person to weaken, waiting for the scent of blood in the water like vicious tharlarion.

Surprisingly, it was Landrosian who made the first mistake. He lost a significant hand to me and then stumbled through the next three hands. By the end of our third session, Landrosian was trailing significantly and I was now in the lead. How fortunes can change so quickly in Pakra.

During the break, Landrosian regained his composure and began the fourth session as a ravenous larl. He attacked any time that he could, daring anyone to meet him head to head. And Karrabas took those challenges, hoping to oust Landrosian.

And I realized something. Everyone was underestimating Melina. No one truly saw her as a threat so they essentially ignored her. They pursued the other men who they perceived as an obstacle to their success. Even Landrosian, who Melina had beaten before, still did not see the true threat of Melina.

Karrabas and Landrosian battled mightily and it was wondrous to watch. In their final hand, every tarn of their stakes invested, the tension sizzled in the air.

Karrabas ultimately revealed a full set of High Castes and was crestfallen when Landrosian revealed his own set with the addition of a Merchant kicker. Landrosian collected his winnings and Karrabas was out of the game. Such a very close hand.

Landrosian's winnings now propelled him into the monetary lead. I was trailing in second while Melina was a close third. Landrosian's confidence was boosted and he was once again at the top of his game. His arrogance was quite apparent at this juncture.

The evening break came and again I retired directly to my room. Landrosian went to the celebration, buoyant over his victory over Karrabas. There were now only three of us.

In a three-player game, you cannot allow the other two players to go head to head for major stakes. For the winner of the head to head would only become far more wealthy than you and that would put you at a serious disadvantage. Sure, the other player might get expelled from the game, but only to your detriment. Thus, it behooved a third player to remain in most serious hands.

That is part of why three-player games were so exciting. No one could afford to miss out on a huge pot so it forced players to stay in hands they were rather have opted out of.

When the next day's session began, Melina dealt out the cards and Landrosian immediately set the pace. On this very first game, he began betting very heavily from the start. He would always raise someone by the maximum permitted.

He wanted to end it all on this first game. He wanted to bet everything, likely forcing us into a side wager or making us cede him the win.

If we balked early, he would simply win this pot and continue this strategy, slowing amassing our monies. But my cards were good and I did not intend to be slowly pecked to death.

The money ran out before all of the cards were revealed. Two cards remained face down on the table. Neither Melina or myself had sufficient money to meet Landrosian's last raise. Thus, he could call for a side wager. If we chose not to accept the side wager, Landrosian would win the hand and the tournament.

It was interesting that two cards still remained. Someone's hand could get significantly stronger dependent upon those two unknowns. No one could be positive of a guaranteed win at this point. Landrosian was trying to intimidate a win and he would definitely call for a side wager..

I had to reply first and immediately accepted the terms. I could not cede him a victory. I would see the game to its conclusion, no matter the outcome.

Melina's decision was not so immediate. To cede at this point would not harm her reputation. She had come very far in this tournament. She had proven herself a skilled player. And her final hand against Xandrac would be talked about for years to come.

The hall erupted in whispers and discussion. They admired her nerve but still felt that she would lose. And they discussed what they would do if she was within their collar.

The three of us would finish this hand together. Everything was riding on the two final cards. At this point, anyone could still prevail.

Melina reached for the first of those cards and turned it over to reveal its rank and type. It was the High Initiate, a powerful card and one that significantly enhanced my own hand. All I needed now would be a Tarnsman and my hand would be nearly unbeatable. From the exposed cards, only Melina stood the possibility of beating such a hand.

Our wagering was over. The final side wager had been all the rules permitted. Someone could still cede the game at this point, but they still would lose the side wager. No, everyone was in it to the end. There was no reason not to continue.

As we waited for the final card to be revealed, I ran the hand quickly through my memory. I sought those "tells" that might reveal a little information. Something gnawed at the periphery, something I had originally missed.

Melina had cheated. And it was only in retrospect that I recalled the slightest of mistakes in her deal. Her sleight of hand was superb and it was no wonder that the officiates had failed to see her.

Landrosian was very predictable. Melina had known he would try this strategy in the final session so she had prepared accordingly. She had given us just good enough hands that we would remain in the game.

Just good enough that we would be willing to bet it all. We had all underestimated this crafty woman. And I am sure Landrosian and I would be worked very hard as her slaves.

When I revealed my hand next, Landrosian paled. I smiled though I knew that would not last. Landrosian and I could soon commiserate together.

Melina turned over her cards and I waited for her to reveal an Ubar's City, the highest combination you could hold. Only that would beat my own hand.

I looked at her cards, and then looked again. I did not understand it. Her hand just barely beat Landrosian's but it was insufficient to defeati me.

I had won the hand and the tournament. Both Melina and Landrosian were now my slaves. Why was I so confused then? Had Melina really cheated? Was I mistaken?

And it all became crystal clear. Melina had cheated, but she had ensured that I would win. She had clearly seen the likely path of the card game. She knew what the side wager would be.

Somehow, she had found within me the man she desired, the one she felt could conquer her. Despite our brief encounters, she has seen in my own eyes the type of man that I was.

I allowed Landrosian to purchase his freedom before the actual collaring was done. But I had no intention of giving Melina the same option.

I stayed around for the festivities that night and told Melina that she would be collared in the morning. She was quite agreeable and even seemed quite eager for morning to arrive.

I enslaved her the next morning and one of the first questions I asked her was about her final hand against Xandrac. Had she been bluffing? She smiled and said that she would not tell me.

I laughed at my spirited kajira, knowing that soon enough she would tell me all. There would be no secrets. She would be mine completely, without reservation.

(Please be advised that "Pakra" does not exist in the books. It is my own creation. Card games do exist on Gor but no names of such games were ever given. Pakra is intended to be a poker like game.)