The Challenge Factory discussion

This is a partner challenge. Two card players (aka partners) will try get closest to 21 without going over. After signing up, each pair will receive a thread, where they will compete with each other. Your card game will end when both partners decide they are ready to stop.

♣ Books must be 140 pages.
♣ Re-reads and audio books are okay.
♣ Page count for audio books will be determined by the first paper version shown on Goodreads. From the book's page, select “all editions”, then find the first paper edition as your guide.

How it works:

Round One
Step 1 -The moderator will use random.org to draw two cards for each player and post it on your thread. (Note that each time cards are drawn, it will be from new deck.)

Step 2 - Each player will decide which one of their two cards they will keep.

Each player will then read a book associated with the card they kept.
♣ For 2 - 10 (worth their respective numbers), read a book that:
is that number in a series
has that number of words in the title (including 'a', 'an', 'the')
the number is found in the title (once, twice and so on count) (pun intended :)
was published in a year that matches your number (1995 or 2010, must be the last number of the year)

♣ For Jack (worth 10 points), read a book with a title that begins with 'J', 'A', 'C', 'K'
(you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', 'the')

♣ For Queen (worth 10 points), read a book written by a female

♣ For King (worth 10 points), read a book written by a male

♣ For Ace (you must first decide whether it will be a 1 or an 11; it will remain that number for that game) read a book that is the first in a series or a standalone

Step 3 - when you have finished reading your book, post a Completion Post in your thread.

Completion Post must include:
GAME #:
ROUND #:
CARD:
BOOK READ:
RATING:
DATE READ:
HOW IT FITS THE CARD:

Round 2 will go just like Round 1.

If at the end of Round 2 you have 21, you win.

If at the end of Round 2 you are afraid that receiving another card will put you over 21, you can "Stand'.

If your opponent chooses to "Stand", Round 3 continues as the other Rounds, but the one player will receive cards, pick one to keep, and read for it. The Rounds continue until that player gets 21 or goes over.

Then Game Two begins.

I recommend deciding on how many games you want to play before you get started.

Also, if you'd like me a change your thread's name, I can do that. Maybe a specific casino, or adding Cardsharks to your names. Just let me know.

Hey Ali...

Howdy 🐎🤠

If you want to set a specific number of games I would be fine with that or we can just play until we sort of get bored. Or Lanelle gets sick of us. 😄😉😁

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "If you want to set a specific number of games I would be fine with that or we can just play until we sort of get bored. Or Lanelle gets sick of us. 😄😉😁"

That was exactly what I was thinking!!

Alison & Mandiann wish they were still 21

How does that sound? Or is it just me? But heck I would be very happy with 31. 😉
I did not see a start date so requesting our first draw.

Alison's cards -



Mandiann's cards -

Ok so I will keep the Jack of ♠ and discard the 3 of ♥

So...
♣ For Jack (worth 10 points), read a book with a title that begins with 'J', 'A', 'C', 'K'
(you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', 'the')

See what I can match with one of those letters for our Witch tasks when we get them.

Can I hold all my cards?

I absolutely do not wish I was 21. I would not return to my teen years and young adult years for anything
No thank you.

Mandiann wrote: "...
I absolutely do not wish I was 21. I would not return to my teen years and young adult years for anything
No thank you."

lol! Ok, so qualifiers.
If I had to live it all again NO, but if I had the youth with some more knowledge and less aches and pains so it could be different then heck yes.
Maybe then I would be in a happy relationship and could have been lucky enough to have had kids with a supportive partner. But hindsight as they say is 20/20.
🤓

Do you have a fun name gor a casino or card hall for our game thread?

...and I asked about keeping both your cards.

Hmm. I suck at names. We could try a play on words with Harrah's or Linq. Or we could do something with Mandalay Bay because it almost has my name in it.

Are you okay if I take a week to finish this one? The Passage works for 10 but not for any of the witch tasks this week and it is paranormal and will likely work for something witchy next week.

Mandiann wrote: "Are you okay if I take a week to finish this one? The Passage works for 10 but not for any of the witch tasks this week and it is paranormal and will likely work for something witchy next week."

Take what time you need. At the moment I do not have one of the 4 letters I need in my que, and none seem to fit with the witch tasks.

Mandiann wrote: "Hmm. I suck at names. We could try a play on words with Harrah's or Linq. Or we could do something with Mandalay Bay because it almost has my name in it."

Not feeling creative now, sorry, i will revisit it later.

Still not feeling too creative.
All I got was M & A Casino, or the A & M Casino, or M & A Lucky Strike, or something along lone lines like that.
So far only two teams have changed names. So if we don't it likely is not a big deal.

Googled Old Casino names and came across
https://www.soocial.com/casino-names/
Couple funny ones:
Poker Face
Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Casino
Smiling Mustache
Love The Money
Morning Coffee Gaming Club
Mad Money Casino

Wait, ok...
Books for the Win
followed by Casino or Card Hall or Hall/House of Luck or some such. 🤔😉🤓

I am going to read for this being I apparently do not need to read another witch book.
However that does not mean you need to rush to do yours.

Mandiann wrote: "Can I hold all my cards?...."

She said:
Lanelle wrote: "Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "If a person gets good cards the first draw can they keep them both?"

Nope.

From the rules: Step 2 - Each player will decide which one of their two cards they will keep."

Completion Post

GAME #: 1
ROUND #: 1
Jack of ♠
The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl #7) by Eoin Colfer
DATE READ: September 4th
HOW IT FITS THE CARD: ignoring the article title begins with an A in JACK

Haha,I love the Smiling Mustache!

Mandiann wrote: "Haha,I love the Smiling Mustache!"

So do we want to us that?
And is it Smiling Mustache Casino, Smiling Mustache Card Hall, Smiling Mustache Gaming Hall, Smiling Mustache Card House, .....?

Yes. Casino, I think.
Or Smiling Mustache Gamblers

Mandiann wrote: "Yes. Casino, I think.
Or Smiling Mustache Gamblers"

Ok, that is a good one

How are you doing with a book for this?

almost done hope to finish today

Mandiann wrote: "almost done hope to finish today"

Ok
Sorry to hear about the sick kids.
Hope you all get better soon. 💙

Mandiann wrote: "Yes. Casino, I think.
Or Smiling Mustache Gamblers"

How about Smiling Mustache Gamers?
Smiling Mustache Casino might be better.

These are the three Smiling Mustaches I found and liked and could get an image for.

(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

the first, i think

Mandiann wrote: "the first, i think"

That was also my favorite.
😉

❤

Completion Post

GAME #: 1
ROUND #: 1
CARD: 10 of clubs
BOOK READ: Invisible Girl
RATING: 2 stars
DATE READ: 9/12/21
HOW IT FITS THE CARD: was published May 8, 2010

Ohh, 2 stars, sorry that was not a better book.

Alison's cards -



Mandiann's cards -

Ohhhh!
Well, I can get a 20 with two face cards, but looks like you can get a 21.
👍👍🙄😉🤓

Tasks
Mine is the same:
♣ For Jack (worth 10 points), read a book with a title that begins with 'J', 'A', 'C', 'K'
(you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', 'the')

Mandiann if you go for the 21:
♣ For Ace (you must first decide whether it will be a 1 or an 11; it will remain that number for that game) read a book that is the first in a series or a standalone

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Ohh, 2 stars, sorry that was not a better book."

It's okay. It was alright but just incredibly unbelievable for a realistic fiction, the ending was very abrupt and I disliked the token minority feeling it had.

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Tasks
Mine is the same:
♣ For Jack (worth 10 points), read a book with a title that begins with 'J', 'A', 'C', 'K'
(you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', 'the')

Mandiann if you go for the 21:
♣ For Ace..."

DO you know if this challenge is start dates or finish dates? I can never keep that straight.

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Tasks
Mine is the same:
♣ For Jack (worth 10 points), read a book with a title that begins with 'J', 'A', 'C', 'K'
(you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', 'the')

Mandiann if you go for the 21:
♣ For Ace..."

Lucky draw. Good thing I didn't go for the 9 last round.

Mandiann wrote: "Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Tasks
Mine is the same:
♣ For Jack (worth 10 points), read a book with a title that begins with 'J', 'A', 'C', 'K'
(you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', 'the')

Mandiann if..."

It sort of had peramiters for people signing up to play with random partners. However, for us I think we can sort of do what works.
So no biggy, so if you have something that works for this and next week for Witch great, no rush.
I am not going to go look for one that starts with one of my four letters, but will likely have something that works by next weekend.

Mandiann wrote: "Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Tasks
Mine is the same:
♣ For Jack (worth 10 points), read a book with a title that begins with 'J', 'A', 'C', 'K'
(you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', 'the')

Mandiann if..."

I am far from an expert and maybe I have the wrong strategy but the few times I have played 21 I keep face cards and aces.
Not sure if that is best, and for this I guess it is more about what you can find a book for. 😉

Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Mandiann wrote: "Alison (Lady Coffin) wrote: "Tasks
Mine is the same:
♣ For Jack (worth 10 points), read a book with a title that begins with 'J', 'A', 'C', 'K'
(you can use or ignore 'a', 'an', 't..."

Sounds good. I am in no rush. Trying to figure out what to start next for ebook. I have been getting through them quicker than audio recently so we shall see what happens this week.

I have not read anything so far that works for my task. How about you?

i have but haven't gotten around to making a post yet.

Mandiann wrote: "i have but haven't gotten around to making a post yet."

Ok, then I will make sure to get to one in the next few days.
🤓

No rush. I am in no hurry for anything. Just picking away at series since my challenges don't seem very challenging, LOL.

Mandiann wrote: "No rush. I am in no hurry for anything. Just picking away at series since my challenges don't seem very challenging, LOL."

Yup!
I hear ya on the broup challenge. I have a felling it could go from famine to feast for us by the end, unless we somehow pick one of the kill tasks.
Anyhow, I looked and I do not have any J's ,but I have a few A books, C books and one K. So I can get something posted before too many days.
Hope you are having a nice family weekend. 💙