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The NAQCC Poker Challenge

Final Results:

Call     RF-SF-4K-FH-FL-ST-3K-2P-1P-0P  Tot    Points
K3WWP     0  0  3  2  0  0 11  5 18  5   44    138  Certificate
N1LU      0  0  0  2  0  1  3  4  6  1   17     56  Certificate
NU7T      0  0  0  1  0  0  1  1  4  1    8     25
K4PBY     0  0  1  1  0  0  0  3  0  0    5     24
KH6OZ     0  0  0  0  0  0  1  4  2  0    7     20
KU4A      0  0  0  0  0  0  1  1  5  0    7     17
K1YAN     0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  3  3    6      9
N8XMS     0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  3  0    3      6

VE3HUR    0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  1  0    2      7
KC2EGL    0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  1  0    2      6
KE4WBO    0  0  0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0    1      4

Bug/Paddle Handles drawing winner: None. Eligible participants didn't
need the type of handles remaining, so we'll extend the prize another
month till someone can use them.

Soapbox: K3WWP - Thanks Randy for suggesting a great challenge. As I type this on the 31st, we already have 5 reports in so it seems to have been a popular challenge. I didn't do any planning during the month. I just took the calls in order as they came. I didn't go out of my way to try to make any particular hand. However on the 31st I did notice I came up one QSO short of completing a final hand and I did get on specifically to make that QSO which gave me a final 3 of a kind hand. It will be interesting to analyze the final results to see which kind of hands were the easiest to make. I'll have more on the final totals in an upcoming newsletter and if we do this again (we probably will) we'll adjust the points value of hands accordingly.

N8XMS - This really seemed like it would be a fun challenge. Unfortunately, a major home renovation project kept me off of the air for most of the month. I only managed to play 3 hands - mostly while waiting for paint to dry! Hopefully we will be able to do this one again sometime.

K4PBY - I did not get on the air as much as usual this month due to some health problems and hospital stays. But, when I did get out of the hospital it didn't take me long to get back into the ham shack and pounding brass. I have always found cw to be very relaxing and when you're operating cw it keeps your mind of off other things. As always, this was a fun challenge. It's on-he-air club activities like this that keep one's interest up. (EXACTLY! Well said, Chuck - K3WWP)

KC2EGL - This looks like it was rather fun challenge. My operating time during the month of July is limited due to July being my busiest month of the year. There is so much of what I enjoy (Le Tour De France for one) that takes up almost all of my time that is not spent sleeping or working. Next time we have this challenge I will have to make some extra time to have a better go at it.


PREMISE:
Another suggestion from Randy KB4QQJ. It certainly is nice to be able to rest my brain a bit not having to think up ideas for challenges. Thanks to all those who have made suggestions. This challenge is to make poker hands from stations we work. Huh? - you say. Read on.


TIME FRAME:
Jul 1, 2008 0000Z through Jul 31, 2008 2400Z


RULES:
There are 4 suits of cards, and 4 letters that start USA call signs. Convenient, isn't it? So our poker 'suits' are A, K, N, W. Only the first letter of a call counts, i.e. KA4QQJ counts as K, not A. The number of our 'cards' is the first number in a call, i.e. K3WWP is a 3; special call K98IOO is a 9, not an 8; and K3WWP/4 is a 3, not a 4. Since there are only 10 'cards' in a suit, not 13 as in a real deck, a 0 is considered an ace and 7,8,9 are our 'face cards.'

Now that we have established that, here are examples of each poker hand and the points assigned to it:

Royal Flush    - K6 K7 K8 K9 K0 - 10
Straight Flush - A2 A3 A4 A5 A6 -  9
4 Of A Kind    - A1 K1 N1 W1 N7 -  8
Full House     - A1 K1 N1 N3 W3 -  7
Flush          - K1 K3 K5 K7 K9 -  6
Straight       - K1 N2 W3 W4 K5 -  5
3 Of A Kind    - K3 W3 A3 K4 W7 -  4
2 Pair         - K5 W5 N4 K4 A7 -  3
Pair           - K2 W2 A3 W5 N6 -  2
No Pair        - K1 W3 A5 N6 W2 -  1
Obviously there are duplicate 'cards' in our 'pack'. In your 5 card 'hand' you may well have say, two K4's as in K2 K7 K4 K3 K4. Don't worry about it. In this example case, you can use the 5 cards as a pair of 4's or a flush. Just make whatever you can from the 5 cards without worrying if you hold duplicate cards. Consider it playing poker with 5 decks shuffled together. Hey you could even get 5 K3's in a hand which you could use as a flush or 4 of a kind (we're not counting 5 of a kind hands in our game). Again it's obvious there will be discrepancies between playing with call signs and a real deck of cards. Just deal with it logically or ask me (K3WWP) about it and we'll figure something out.

In the unlikely event you're not familiar with this popular card game, check here for more info about the poker hands.

Ours is a play what you're dealt game. The first 5 QSO's you make in the month are made into the best possible hand. The next 5 QSO's likewise, and each 5 QSO's in order after that during the month. There is no shuffling or discarding. No Six-Guns allowed at the table!

Add up all your points during the month and report it as described below in the Logs section.

Obviously the odds of getting a 'hand' this way is nowhere near the same as from an actual deck of cards, so we just went with the actual Poker hand rankings for assigning points. It will be interesting to analyze the totals to see which hands are made most often. Then if we repeat the challenge, we can use those figures to determine the odds and point values. I am really into this challenge, and can't wait till it starts. I hope you feel the same.


AWARDS:
A certificate goes to the two members making the most total points.


PRIZE:
A set of beautiful bug or paddle handles. These pieces are wonderfully hand crafted and donated by Gregg, WB8LZG. To see what they look like check them out here.

Every member who earns a participation point as outlined in the next section is eligible to win the prize. A list of those eligible will be sent to Gregg, WB8LZG who will select a winner in a random drawing. A member can only win one set of paddles after which they become ineligible for future drawings. At Gregg's request, NAQCC officers at their discretion are also eligible for all his bug/paddle handle prizes. If you do not wish to be entered in the drawing for any reason, let us know when you submit your report. For example, some members only use a straight key and would have no use for bug/paddle handles.


PARTICIPATION AWARD AND WEB LISTING:
You must make at least 3 'hands' during the month and submit a report to get a Participation Point and at least 1 'hand' to be listed in the results.


LOGS:
For your report, simply tell us how many of each kind of 'hand' you made and your points total. You may also include comments about the challenge.

Please preface any comments you want posted with "SOAPBOX:" so we will know what you want posted and what is private.

Send your results to:

E-mail: pix_email_naqcc (1K)

You must type that address into your email program.

Subject must read: (your call) NAQCC (month) Challenge

For example: K3WWP NAQCC July Challenge

Postal mail:
John Shannon, K3WWP
478 E. High St.
Kittanning, PA 16201

All entries must be RECEIVED before Aug 10, 2008 at 2400Z.