SP 20 Blackjack Questions

[Kate S]

Please post any questions about this season's Blackjack game in this thread.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Another place to access the Sub-challenge links:

One Hit Wonders

Alpha List of Countries of the World

African countries

Commonwealth Countries

Best Anti-heroes in Books

The Best Antiheroes

Asian Countries

Western Europe

Americas and Caribbean

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

For the spreadsheet, you are welcome to make a copy for yourself or download or anything else that makes it your own personal copy. I found it helpful to do so, and to mark "Used" or equivalent, as I began to make my plans.

[Ed]

The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yōko Ogawa- has a MPG of short stories.... but "novellas" in the subtitle. Will it work for the Not a Novel points?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ed wrote: "The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yōko Ogawa- has a MPG of short stories.... but "novellas" in the subtitle. Will it work for the Not a Novel points?"

No, Novellas don't work for Not a Novel. They also don't work for the Spade Ten if you were thinking of putting it there.

[Ed]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yōko Ogawa- has a MPG of short stories.... but "novellas" in the subtitle. Will it work for the Not a Novel points?"

No,..."

yep...that's why I asked....thanks. Better to get that cleared up now.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Some nice wrinkles ...

Spade Jack: all authors with a first name John will work for this (but not last name Johnson), as well as those authors we alluded to .. Jack, Jackson, etc.

Heart King: Some authors will have "king" lurking in their name, like Tarkington. Those are acceptable for this option.

[Valerie]

For finisher bonuses am I correct in thinking the more cards we use (in total) we get a higher bonus?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Valerie wrote: "For finisher bonuses am I correct in thinking the more cards we use (in total) we get a higher bonus?"

Correct - an escalating scale this season.

[Ed]

Hmmmmm......if I reach 21 with less than five cards....and the book qualifies for another card that would put it over 21...is that book disqualified? or is it just the cards I choose to use?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ed wrote: "Hmmmmm......if I reach 21 with less than five cards....and the book qualifies for another card that would put it over 21...is that book disqualified? or is it just the cards I choose to use?"

It is only the cards you choose for the book that count.

[Owlette]

For Western Europe, which list should we use? The page has several. I'm thinking about the country of Italy which appears on one list.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Owlette wrote: "For Western Europe, which list should we use? The page has several. I'm thinking about the country of Italy which appears on one list."

Any country on that page will work for that option. You're good for Italy.

[Ed]

Ace of Diamonds 75-199 pages....

Does that mean we can combine 2 or more books with less than 100 pages for that task or are books with 75-99 pages qualifying by themselves...or am I misunderstanding this completely?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ed wrote: "Ace of Diamonds 75-199 pages....

Does that mean we can combine 2 or more books with less than 100 pages for that task or are books with 75-99 pages qualifying by themselves...or am I misunderstand..."

This is a one-book option, but it is your rare RwS opportunity to read a book that has fewer than 100 pages.

[Ed]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "Ace of Diamonds 75-199 pages....

Does that mean we can combine 2 or more books with less than 100 pages for that task or are books with 75-99 pages qualifying by themselves...or am I mi..."

yayyyyyy....That's great for me and my plays! Well...I guess 1 or 2 plays depending on many times I do the sub-challenge.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ed wrote: "yayyyyyy....That's great for me and my plays! "

:-)

[Tien]

oooh myyy... I don't even know Where to start ha ha ha

Well done, mods!

[Owlette]

For the task that says MPG of science, etc., does that mean we use the most popular genre and it is the one at the top of the list on the book's main page?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Owlette wrote: "For the task that says MPG of science, etc., does that mean we use the most popular genre and it is the one at the top of the list on the book's main page?"

It’s like the other genre options, Main Page Genre.

For this and for the others, if you think it might slip off the page, you’re welcome to get it noted and preserved ahead of time.

[Owlette]

I see. MPG = main page genre. Thank you.

[Anika]

For the MPG science, will "Psychology" work or are you looking more at the physical sciences?

[Shannon SA]

Under the per book bonuses, is "Female" a female author or a female protagonist?

[Bea]

Am I being dense? Do we have to select our books from the lists? Did I miss something in the instruction about the lists?

[Beth]

Is mathematics considered a science for this task? Specifically I am looking at A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Shannon wrote: "Under the per book bonuses, is "Female" a female author or a female protagonist?"

Female author.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Bea wrote: "Am I being dense? Do we have to select our books from the lists? Did I miss something in the instruction about the lists?"

You select your books based on the definitions in the card squares on the spreadsheet. There are only a couple of book lists. The links in Post #2 are for those who are using touch screens and may have trouble accessing the inks on the spreadsheet (or anyone, really).

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Beth wrote: "Is mathematics considered a science for this task? Specifically I am looking at A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper"

Yes you can use that book for that card.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Anika wrote: "For the MPG science, will "Psychology" work or are you looking more at the physical sciences?"

I would prefer to give a definitely answer for a specific book, so the answer now is "probably".

[Beth]

Can an authors name have an S for the first and last initial for Hearts 7? Or can the initial letters only appear as often as the letters in seven - e can be used twice and s,v,n only once?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Beth wrote: "Can an authors name have an S for the first and last initial for Hearts 7? Or can the initial letters only appear as often as the letters in seven - e can be used twice and s,v,n only once?"

S.S. is OK. (as would N.N. or V.V.)

[Bea]

In Blackjack, A = 1 or 11. Is it the same here?

Nevermind, found my answer on the spreadsheet.

[Owlette]

The MPG for Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know shows psychology and sociology today. Okay for the MPG science card?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Owlette wrote: "The MPG for Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know shows psychology and sociology today. Okay for the MPG science card?"

Yes, there is also a Science entry, but good to lock it in anyway.

[Ed]

Annie Proulx also publishes under E. Annie Proulx. Is that distinct enough to qualify for D2?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ed wrote: "Annie Proulx also publishes under E. Annie Proulx. Is that distinct enough to qualify for D2?"

No, not quite distinct enough.

[Owlette]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Owlette wrote: "The MPG for Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know shows psychology and sociology today. Okay for the MPG science card?"

Yes, ther..."

Maybe I was over-reading the task; it says "a science," so "science" is acceptable, too?

[Bea]

Clarifying...The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories would count as Not a Novel, correct?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Bea wrote: "Clarifying...The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories would count as Not a Novel, correct?"

Yes, that is a collection of short stories. The per book bonuses have the same definition as when they appear as styles for the RwS tasks.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Owlette wrote: "it says "a science," so "science" is acceptable, too?"

Yes, science works for that square.

[Kathleen (itpdx)]

For three of spades-three word title, does that have to be three words with no subtitle, so that Presidents of War: The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times would not work?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Kathleen (itpdx) wrote: "For three of spades-three word title, does that have to be three words with no subtitle, so that Presidents of War: The Epic Story, from 1807 to Modern Times would not work?"

This one would be three words title and subtitle included, so your example would not work.

[Owlette]

Author last name of John won't work for the Jack of spades card, correct?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Owlette wrote: "Author last name of John won't work for the Jack of spades card, correct?"

Correct. John as a first name will work for that card, but not as a last name or in other forms.

[Owlette]

Does anyone know whether From a Low and Quiet Sea is set 75% in Ireland? Thanks.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Owlette wrote: "Does anyone know whether From a Low and Quiet Sea is set 75% in Ireland? Thanks."

I find this review that states 3/4 in Ireland, so you'll be good with it, even if it's short a page or two.

... it seems that another literary success has inspired Ryan to expand his territory: three-quarters of this novel are again set in contemporary, smalltown south-west Ireland, but the opening quarter portrays the escape from the war-torn Middle East of a doctor named Farouk, in a manner unmistakeably similar to Mohsin Hamid’s recent bestseller ...

[Owlette]

Thanks, Elizabeth (Alaska)! I have a Blackjack plan now.

[Ed]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "Ace of Diamonds 75-199 pages....

Does that mean we can combine 2 or more books with less than 100 pages for that task or are books with 75-99 pages qualifying by themselves...or am I mi..."

Hmmm....must one be using the Ace of Diamonds card to be able to use a book with 75 to 99 pages or is that one book option available for all cards?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Ed wrote: "Hmmm....must one be using the Ace of Diamonds card to be able to use a book with 75 to 99 pages or is that one book option available for all cards?"

I'm not sure what you are asking. The Ace of Diamonds is for books 75-199 pages. All cards apply to only one book and each card can be used only one time per round.

[Ed]

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ed wrote: "Hmmm....must one be using the Ace of Diamonds card to be able to use a book with 75 to 99 pages or is that one book option available for all cards?"

I'm not sure what you are asking. Th..."

Ok....I didn't do a good job asking my question.... If I want to use a book with 87 pages.....am I required to use the Ace of Diamonds card? The book I have in mind has 87 pages and can get to 19 without using the Ace of Diamonds. If so, that would permit me to use the Ace of Diamonds for a different book that is over 100 pages.