Latest news with #cardgames

Geek Girl Authority

30-05-2025

Entertainment
Geek Girl Authority

A Beginner's Guide to Blackjack

In essence, blackjack is the simplest of card games. The idea is to score 21 or less from two or more cards. Is that it? I hear you ask. Well, in theory, yes. However, you will not be surprised to hear that while simple in concept, it is anything but when played as a gambling game. Like all the best video games , blackjack needs to be understood and mastered. Truth be told, blackjack (or 21 as it is also known) is not a game that is much fun to play without an element of betting (even if you are only wagering matchsticks or pennies). It is an incredibly fast-moving game, and players need to have their wits about them, not to be outwitted by fellow players or the dealer! However, it is essential to understand the gameplay before playing for real money. Or quantum entanglement? Blackjack is a casino staple and has become increasingly popular in video simulation and live dealer versions at online casinos. Despite its apparent simplicity, it has been the subject of many academic papers. A recent MIT study quoted 'quantum entanglement' as giving a slight edge in playing against the house. However, don't worry, I am not going to start even trying to explain what quantum entanglement is (because I couldn't), but MIT has a famous association with blackjack after a group of its students optimized card counting in the game and beat casinos around the world. Their experience inspired the book 'Bringing Down the House', which was the basis for the movie 21. Playing by the rules So, whether you intend to become a mistress gambler or just want to set up a game to play with friends, you need to understand the basics, so that is what I am going to set out below. If you want to know more about the basics of blackjack and what double deck blackjack is , then this should explain everything you need to know. So, to start with, you need to decide whether you want to play single or double-deck blackjack. The difference is the number of cards (52 or 1040) – while card counting and strategies vary between the games, the principles are the same. The dealer shuffles to ensure the cards are thoroughly mixed and randomly distributed. Then, each player is dealt two cards, with the dealer starting from their left and dealing in a clockwise direction. The players' cards are dealt face up, but the dealer gets one of their cards face down. No bet, no play Bets are placed before play commences. Bets are usually placed by laying chips on the table -or the blackjack baize. Once play commences, no bets can be placed. The dealer does not place a bet. Playing strictly by the rules , only the dealer can touch the cards, players are not even allowed to adjust theirs, and no one is allowed to look at the dealer's face-down card. Players then have to decide whether they want another card, stick with the cards they have, or split. The aim of the game is to score more than the dealer but not go above 21. Hands are compared – if the dealer has the higher score, the player loses, and vice versa. If the hands are tied, the player gets their bet returned – known as a push. Ace high or low? The dealer then asks the players what they want to do next. This will depend on how strong players feel their hand is. You can only judge how strong your hand is if you know the value of the cards, and it is not so simple because of those pesky aces! Cards are at face value, except for the King, Queen, and Jack, which are 10. An Ace counts as 11 unless that would give a player or the dealer a score in excess of 21, in which case, it has a value of 1. Stand, Double Down, Split, or Surrender? The choice will be to stand, hit, double down, split, or surrender. Stand – If a player 'stands', it simply means that they do not get any more cards and think they have the best possible chance with the cards they have. If they choose to 'hit,' they are dealt another card and as many more until they decide to stand. They lose to the dealer if they go bust by going over 21. Double Down – If a player 'doubles down,' they have to make an additional bet equal to their original bet and are dealt only one more card. Split – Splitting does exactly what the name implies. The player creates two hands from the cards dealt and has to make an additional wager matching their original bet. The split hands are then played out individually. The dealer deals out the entire first half of the split until the player stands or declares bust before moving to the second hand. The hand cannot be split again. Surrender – Surrendering is an option if players are unhappy with their cards. The player essentially pulls out of that round of play. However, this is not a no-cost option; the dealer gets to keep half of the bet amount, and they get half back. The dealers turn Once everyone has finished playing, it is the turn of the dealer to decide what to do. Up until this point, no one knows the value of the dealer's hand because one card is still face down. The dealer can only stand when their two-card total is between 17 and 21; otherwise, they must have another card. If the total is 16 or under, then they have to take another card. Win or lose? And now for the moment of truth – time for players to rate their hand against that of the dealer. Payouts (or lack of them) work as follows: Player beats dealer – they get paid the equivalent of their bet Player matches dealer (also known as a push) – they get the original stake returned Dealer beats player – the dealer cleans up! A 'blackjack' receives a predetermined payout, which varies from casino to casino but is often 3:2 Next, the dealer collects the cards, shuffles, and the next round of play begins. YELLOWJACKETS Lets Women Be Angry

13 Brain Exercises to Help Keep You Mentally Sharp

Health Line

21-05-2025

Health
Health Line

13 Brain Exercises to Help Keep You Mentally Sharp

Exercising the brain to improve memory, focus, or daily functionality is a top priority for many older adults. But people of all ages can benefit from incorporating a few simple brain exercises into their daily life. The brain is involved in everything we do, and, like any other part of the body, it needs to be cared for too. Research has shown that there are many ways you can hone your mental sharpness and help your brain stay healthy, no matter what age you are. Certain brain exercises can help boost memory, concentration, and focus, making daily tasks quicker and easier and keeping your brain sharp as you age. Let's take a deeper dive into 13 evidence-based exercises that offer the best brain-boosting benefits. 1. Have fun with a jigsaw puzzle Whether you're putting together a 1,000-piece image of the Eiffel Tower or joining 100 pieces to make Mickey Mouse, working on a jigsaw puzzle is an excellent way to strengthen your brain. Research has shown that doing jigsaw puzzles recruits multiple cognitive abilities and is a protective factor for visuospatial cognitive aging. In other words, when putting together a jigsaw puzzle, you have to look at different pieces and figure out where they fit within the larger picture. This can be a great way to challenge and exercise your brain. 2. Try your hand at cards Research from 2023 found that playing card games helped improve important thinking skills like self-control and the ability to switch between tasks in children facing social challenges. The study showed that even card games not designed to boost brain function still had positive effects on these skills. Card games can also be beneficial for older adults. For instance, research from 2020 found that playing modern card games helped older adults improve certain thinking skills, like verbal fluency and self-control. The study suggests that these games can be a fun and effective way to support brain health in seniors. Try learning one of these tried-and-true card games: solitaire bridge gin rummy poker hearts crazy eights 3. Build your vocabulary A rich vocabulary has a way of making you sound smart. But did you know you can also turn a quick vocab lesson into a stimulating brain game? Research shows that many more regions of the brain are involved in vocabulary tasks, particularly in areas that are important for visual and auditory processing. To test this theory, try this cognitive-boosting activity: Keep a notebook with you when you read. Write down one unfamiliar word, then look up the definition. Try to use that word five times the next day. 4. Dance your heart out The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) notes that learning new dance moves can increase your brain's processing speed and memory. In other words, bust a move on the dance floor and your brain will thank you. Want to test it out? Give one of these dance activities a try: Take a salsa, tap, hip-hop, or contemporary dance class. Try a Zumba or jazz exercise class. Watch an online video with fun dance moves you've always wanted to learn. Grab a partner and learn to ballroom dance. Gather your friends and go line dancing. 5. Use all your senses Research from 2025 suggests that using all your senses may help strengthen your brain, particularly in older adults. To give your senses and your brain a workout, try doing activities that simultaneously engage all five of your senses. You could try baking a batch of cookies, visiting a farmer's market, or trying a new restaurant while you focus on smelling, touching, tasting, seeing, and hearing all at the same time. 6. Learn a new skill Learning a new skill is not only fun and interesting but may also help strengthen brain connections. Research from 2023 found that older adults who learned multiple new skills, like a language, drawing, and music, at the same time, improved memory and thinking abilities. After just a few weeks, their cognitive performance reached levels similar to those of middle-aged adults, showing that it's never too late to boost brain power through real-world learning. Is there something you've always wanted to learn how to do? Perhaps you'd like to know how to repair your car, use a particular software program, or ride a horse? You now have one more good reason to learn that new skill. 7. Teach a new skill to someone else One of the best ways to expand your learning is to teach a skill to another person. After you learn a new skill, you need to practice it. Teaching it to someone else requires you to explain the concept and correct any mistakes you make. For example, learn to swing a golf club, then teach the steps to a friend. 8. Listen to or play music Do you want an easy way to increase your creative brain power? The answer may lie in turning on some music. Research from 2024 found that music-based activities, such as singing in a group, playing simple instruments like drums, or dancing to familiar songs, can help improve or maintain thinking skills like memory, verbal fluency, and overall mental function in older adults with early signs of cognitive decline. The study supports using music as a fun, supportive tool alongside traditional treatments to help keep the brain active and healthy. And if you want to learn how to play music, now is a great time to start because your brain is capable of learning new skills at any point in your life. That's why you're never too old to start playing an instrument like the piano, guitar, or even the drums. 9. Take a new route Don't get stuck in a rut when it comes to your daily tasks. Instead, be willing to try new ways to do the same things. Choose a different route to get to work each week or try a different mode of transport, like biking or using public transport instead of driving. Your brain can benefit from this simple change, and you might be surprised by how easy it is to change your thinking. 10. Meditate Daily meditation can calm your body, slow your breathing, and reduce stress and anxiety. But did you know that it may also help fine-tune your memory and increase your brain's ability to process information? Find a quiet spot, close your eyes, and spend five minutes meditating each day. 11. Learn a new language Learning a new language requires a tremendous amount of brain activity, helping you stay mentally sharp as you age. For instance, research from 2023 found that learning a new language can improve cognitive skills like memory and cognitive flexibility in older adults. While other activities, like music training, also boost cognitive abilities, language learning has a unique benefit of enhancing cognitive flexibility over time. This research suggests that it's never too late to reap the rewards of learning a new language. In other words, you can boost your memory and improve other mental functions by becoming a student of a new language at any time in your life. 12. Take up tai chi It's no secret that tai chi can benefit your health in many ways, including your mental health. Plus, it can also help center you when life seems out of balance. Research from 2023 found that a special form of tai chi, which combines mental exercises with physical movement, helped older adults with mild memory problems improve their thinking skills and walking abilities. This type of tai chi worked better than regular tai chi or stretching exercises, and the benefits lasted for up to 48 weeks. Beginners do best by taking a class to learn the different movements. But once you know the basics, you can practice tai chi anywhere, anytime. 13. Focus on another person The next time you interact with someone, take note of four things about them. Maybe you observe the color of their shirt or pants. Are they wearing glasses? Do they have a hat on, and if so, what kind of hat? What color is their hair? Once you decide on four things to remember, make a mental note and come back to it later in the day. Write down what you remember about those four details.

RNZ News

08-05-2025

Sport
RNZ News

83yo and 21yo to represent New Zealand at Bridge Championships

Leon Meier, 21, from Canterbury will be teaming up with Jan Cormack, 83, for the World Bridge Teams Championships in Denmark. Photo: Supplied Jan Cormack, 83, has been representing New Zealand in Bridge since 1977. Card carrying prodigy Leon Meier is 21; together they are taking on the world at the Bridge Championships in Denmark later this year. Leon's been playing Bridge since he was just 16 after being taught by his calculus teacher. Bridge is a partnership game about working out information and solving puzzles. It's played with a deck of cards with four people at the table, with two partnerships often played with teammates. Meier told Checkpoint he and Cormack are bridging the gap between the two generations. Cormack became Meier's Bridge partner after finding out his first partner was ineligible to represent New Zealand. "I was entered for the Open team trials with my regular partner. But we found out that one of our teammates was ineligible for representation. So, then we didn't get to trial in the open section," Meier said. "By one month he had played for Ireland two years ago. He has to have played two years and one month ago in order to trial for New Zealand. So, he was one month short." Meier then decided to try out the mix category, where a male and a female play together in a partnership. "I was wondering who would be a good woman player and then my regular partner suggested asking Jan Cormack. Now, she didn't come to the top of my mind immediately because she's been retired from International Bridge for so long," he said. "But as soon as I heard her name, I was like, that's a great partner. I would love to play with her. Let's see if she wants to play with me because she's an absolute legend." After calling and telling her what had happened, Meier asked her if she wanted to be his Bridge partner at the World Championships. "She said that she'd love to play with me and that, she's a bit flattering here, when she said a player of my calibre deserves to represent New Zealand and she would be happy to do anything she can to make that happen, even if it means playing with an old lady like her," Meier said. "I've got some good results, but I'm always trying to get better, aiming to one day be a world champion." Jan Cormack playing bridge. Photo: Jan cormack He said it is a myth that players need to be good at mathematics to be good at Bridge. "Even though there's maths underlying, you don't have to work out the maths at the time. It's all about logic, deductions and inferences and then solving puzzles. The probabilities in the maths, even though those probabilities are there, you don't have to work them out," he said. "I did do some did some maths competitions when I was younger and in school, I've always enjoyed maths, and my calculus teacher thought that I would like Bridge because of because of this and he was right." Having a similar style and idea of how the game is played to the person they're playing with helps, he said. "That actually did cause some difficulty playing with Jan because the game has changed so much since she started playing 50-60 years ago," Meier said. "The style that I have coming in as someone who's just learned, not very long ago and someone who's played for a long time, was pretty different, so we've tried to bridge the gap." Leon Meier, 21, from Canterbury (far right) will be teaming up with Auckland-based Jan Cormack, 83, for the World Bridge Teams Championships in Denmark. Photo: Supplied Meier lives in Christchurch and Cormack lives in Auckland, creating a physical gap, he said. "We've both travelled to play some practise tournaments together. We can also practise online together and call each other and send each other documents with information." He said to help connect with Cormack; he's also researched how Bridge has been played in the past. "I just love the game, so I spend a lot of my time reading about it. I've seen a lot of how Bridge used to be played it in back in the day and having an understanding of that does help." He said he believes he and Cormack may be one of the strongest Bridge mixed teams that New Zealand has sent. "I think we've got a good chance at making it to the knockouts, maybe the quarterfinals even. Our chances at winning the gold medal probably not very high. There are so many good players in the World Championships from loads of different countries. "We'll go there, and we'll try our best and I believe that anything is possible." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

83 year old and 21 year old aiming for Bridge world title