Peruvian Paso Poker

created by David Hoierman

Peruvian Paso Poker is a fun game that allows aficionados to breed a virtual Peruvian Paso horse and compete/compare against other virtual breeders.  It is designed to get a laugh and allow virtual breeders to understand about several of the components of breeding while playing a game of chance.  

Game Rules:

• The game is only played at full moon (optimal virtual lunar birthing condition) when it falls on a Friday or Saturday (traditional poker nights).  It can also be played on New Years Eve, April Fools Day (fools gamble) and 4th of July (they died so we could play)...that's it (no over populating the breed).

• Only one virtual horse can be bred per breeder per gaming day (no over populating the breed).

• Highest pointed horse wins the game.

• Best creative story wins "Best Breeder".

• All males are automatically gelded (virtual stallions are non existent).

• Culling is mandatory.

• Those that do not play could be construed as "Elitist".

• No cheating allowed (bad karma/luck on your next foal if you cheat).

Tools of the Game:

• Good sense of humor and willingness to have silly fun.

• PPPoker Scorecard or scratch pad.

• American Penny (honest Abe is looking at you).

• Pair of dice

• Full deck of cards including 2 jokers.

• In the event you do not have all of these tools some are available online: coin flip, roll of dice.

How to Play:

The best way to play the game, is to play as you read these instructions.  The instructions will take you step by step thru the process of breeding a virtual Peruvian Paso horse.  So with that said, go get your tools, get your beverage and snack of choice...game on.

Part 1

Take your coin, flip it and let it land on the ground (mother earth plays an integral part in the animal kingdom).  If it's HEADS you have just witnessed the birth of a colt with potential to be a luxury gelding.  If its TAILS you have just witnessed the birth of a filly with potential to be a breeding class mare.

Part 2

Shuffle your card deck well...now take the two top cards (sire & dam) and place them on table next to each other.  These two cards represent the color of your new virtual foal. Both the color and face of the cards play roles in what color your virtual horse is.  Below are some simple rules in determining the horses color.

• If you have 2 red cards the horse is CHESTNUT.

• If you have 2 black cards the horse is BLACK.

• If you have 1 black card and 1 red the horse is BAY.

• If you have an Ace or Joker the horse is GRAY regardless color of cards.

• If you have a King or Queen face card then you have the cremello gene. 2 red cards with 1 K/Q is a palomino, if you have 2 K/Q then you have a cremello.  2 black cards with  1 or 2 K/Q is a smokey black. 1 red and 1 black with a K/Q is a buckskin, if you have 2 K/Q then it's a chocolate palomino.

• If you have a Jack then you have the roan gene.  2 red cards with a Jack is a chestnut roan.  2 black cards with a Jack is a blue roan.  1 red and 1 black with a Jack is a bay roan.  In this game it is important to realize that K/Q trump a Jack.  With this said there could never be a buckskin roan as an example.

• Not all color variations are available in virtual breeding...i.e. Champagne, Dun, Grullo.

Part 3

Grab those dice and roll them.  The amount of white on a horse is a relative thing...some like it and some don't.  As a breeder you get the option to choose how much you want to some degree. Choose the number from one of the dice that you prefer (1 is little white while 6 is a lot).  There is one wrinkle, if you roll snake eyes you lose the option and your horse has zero white (not even a hair).  If you roll double sixes you lose the option and your horse has an inordinate amount of white (perhaps you like chrome).

Part 4

Now take the bottom two cards (sire & dam) from the deck and place them side by side.  These two cards represent the bloodlines of your virtual horse.  Both the color and face of the cards play roles in what bloodlines your virtual horse is.  Below are some simple rules in determining the horses bloodlines.  Simply put, black is north and red is south.

• If you have 2 red cards you have pure Southern bloodlines.

• If you have 2 black cards you have pure Northern bloodlines.

• If you have 1 red and 1 black then you have a North/South cross.

• If you have red face cards you have Alfredo Elias (AEV) bloodlines.

• If you have black face cards you have Cayalti bloodlines.

• If you pull a Joker...well you have a "sub-type" - Morochuco, Chumbivilcano, Pichiguano...your choice.  It would likely be crossed with either Northern or Southern bloodlines.  Tough luck if you pull 2 Jokers!

Part 5

Get the dice and find that hot hand.  In figuring out the "Gait Quotient" you have to roll the dice for each factor in the horses gait... (timing, termino, reach, advance, rear end drive, thread, smoothness).  These seven factors (rolled in order) will be added together but the timing roll will be doubled as it is a critical element between having a pace or paso llano.

• If you roll snake eyes you get to roll again.

• Roll the dice for each factor and sum the total making sure to add timing twice.

• Maximum high score on Gait Quotient is 96.

Part 6

Reshuffle full deck of cards.  Now its time to put a body on your virtual horse.

• Neck - deal two cards off the top.  The breeder has option on this aspect and can choose one of the two cards to play.  If you draw a Spade your horse has a "ewe" neck(14 points).  If you draw a Heart your horse has a "swan" neck(18 points).  If you draw a Club your horse has a "arched" neck(20 points).  If you draw a Diamond your horse has a "straight" neck(16 points).  Jokers are neutral in this situation so default to the other card and if you draw 2 Jokers discard and deal two new cards.

• Strength - deal the next two cards.  The breeder has option on this aspect and can choose one of the two cards to play.  Ace is high and worth 14 points (maximum) and the lowest being the 2 card.  Jokers are neutral in this situation so default to the other card and if you draw 2 Jokers discard and deal two new cards.

• Pasterns & Legs - deal the next two cards.  The breeder has option on this aspect and can choose one of the two cards to play.  Ace is high and worth 14 points (maximum) and the lowest being the 2 card.  Jokers are neutral in this situation so default to the other card and if you draw 2 Jokers discard and deal two new cards.

• Conformation - deal the next two cards.  The breeder has option on this aspect and can choose one of the two cards to play.  Ace is high and worth 14 points (maximum) and the lowest being the 2 card.  Jokers are neutral in this situation so default to the other card and if you draw 2 Jokers discard and deal two new cards.

• Beauty Factor: Mane, Tail & Head - deal the next two cards.  The breeder has option on this aspect and can choose one of the two cards to play.  Ace is high and worth 14 points (maximum) and the lowest being the 2 card.  Jokers are neutral in this situation so default to the other card and if you draw 2 Jokers discard and deal two new cards.

• Refinement - deal the next two cards.  The breeder has option on this aspect and can choose one of the two cards to play.  Ace is high and worth 14 points (maximum) and the lowest being the 2 card.  A Joker is worth 20 points.

Part 7

Reshuffle full deck of cards.  Now its time to put a mindset on your virtual horse.

• Brio - Cut the deck and deal the top two cards.  The breeder has option on this aspect and can choose one of the two cards to play.  Ace is high and worth 14 points (maximum) and the lowest being the 2 card.  A Joker is worth 20 points.  Then roll the dice and add their sum (maximum 12 points) to your card points.  The maximum brio score is 32 points.

• Temperament & Trainability - deal the next two cards.  The breeder has option on this aspect and can choose one of the two cards to play.  Ace is high and worth 14 points (maximum) and the lowest being the 2 card. A Joker is worth 20 points.  

Part 8

Get the dice and roll them.  There is always that "unknown factor" in life, as anything can happen.  If you come up with snake eyes your horse has met the misfortune of having an accident which made it not ride able for life...tough luck.  If you roll double sixes then that "special sparkle" was given to your horse by the virtual gods...add 5 points to your score.

1. You now have your horse and should name it (a registry name and a barn name).

2. Now create a thumbnail synopsis of your horse to present to fellow breeders.  In a virtual world you would post it to the group using the example below as guideline.

Subject Line: PPPoker - Score 000 - XYZ El Jefe

Text Body: XYZ El Jefe better known as "The Boss" is a Black gelding with extreme white.  He is a Morochuco by Northern cross and has a terrible gait quotient of 25. His "ewe neck" makes him look goofy but he was blessed with excellent strength, pasterns & legs, and conformation.  As for beauty and refinement he really flunks out.  He has good brio, superb temperament and although not a spectacular specimen he has that "special sparkle". 

At our ranch we consider "The Boss" cull quality so after XYZ El Jefe reaches his first birthday we plan to give him to a kids ranch where he will become the happiest horse in the world giving under privileged kids rides they will remember for the rest of their lives.

copyright 2005 @ David Hoierman