Playing Moves

Moves are played by dragging tiles from the rack and placing them on the board to make valid hands.

Tiles can also be rotated either on the board or in the rack by simply tapping the tile. This is how alternative edge colour matches can be created for higher scores.

If the tiles placed on the board produce valid hands then those hands will be highlighted with a white outline and the move score will be calculated and displayed.

If the tile placements are illegal then an invalid move message will be displayed and the illegally placed tiles will be highlighted with a red outline.

Valid Hands

QaardZ valid hands are a subset of traditional poker hands, 'pair', '2 pair', '3 of a kind', '4 of a kind', '3 straight', '4 straight' and 'full house'.

For hands which have a sequence, e.g. '3 Straight' or '4 Straight' they can be played in any direction on the board, left to right, right to left, upwards or downwards.

Hands do not need to match on colour or suit but if they do then this is explained in the Score Calculation section.

Pair
2 Pair
3 of a kind
4 of a kind
3 Straight
4 Straight
Full House

Play Move

Having placed tiles on the board to create valid hands the move can be 'played' or submitted.

If it is your go press the play button to submit your move. If you have chosen 'Play Move Confirm?' in your 'settings' then a popup will appear to confirm the move.

Undo Move

Before 'playing' a move it is possible to 'recall' or 'undo' the current move.

Press the undo button to return your currently played move tiles to your rack.

Skip Move

If you cannot play a move or choose strategically to skip a move you can pass the play back to your opponent.

Skipping moves can also prevent the game getting into a 'stalemate' situation where neither player can play a move.

NOTE: If, in conjunction with the other play there are 3 skips in a row then the game is ended with the winner being decided according to the current player scores.

If it is your go press the skip button to pass the play back to your opponent. A confirmation popup will appear to confirm the move.

Swap Tiles

If you cannot play a move or you don't have particularly good tiles in your rack you can choose to swap your tiles.

Swapping tiles can also prevent the game getting into a 'stalemate' situation where neither player can play a move.

NOTE: This option is only available if there are tiles left in the pot. All tiles in your rack are returned to the pot and new random tiles are generated.

If it is your go press the swap button to swap your tiles for new ones. A confirmation popup will appear to confirm the move.

Resign Game

If you do not wish to continue in a game you can resign which will always cause you to lose the game irrespective of the player scores.

NOTE: Only 'standard' games can be resigned. Tournament games cannot be resigned and the resign button will be replaced by a 'tournament' button.

If it is your go press the resign button to resign the game. A confirmation popup will appear to confirm the resignation.

Rotating Tiles

Tiles can be rotated whilst in the rack or on the board by simply tapping the tile instead of dragging.

The tile's edge colours will rotate through 90 degrees each time the tile is tapped as shown below.

= 0 degrees = 90 degrees = 180 degrees = 270 degress

Score Calculation

Scoring in QaardZ depends on a combination of the tile 'symbol' or 'card' (Jack, Queen, King and Ace), the 'suit' (Hearts, Clubs, Spades and Diamonds) and the 'edges' (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet and Rainbow)

Individual Card Point Scores

The first consideration is the 'base' score of the hand assuming that the hand is a valid hand. This is based on the total of the individual card values.

Jack (J) = 1 point

Queen (Q) = 2 points

King (K) = 3 points

Ace (A) = 4 points

Base Hand Point Scores

The base score of a hand is the total of the individual card scores. Here are some examples...

= 3 points

= 6 points

= 8 points

= 9 points

= 10 points

= 10 points

= 12 points

= 16 points

Matching Cards Multiplier

The score of a hand can be improved by having 'matching' cards within the hand. The cards can match on colour, suit and exact card.

The matching cards multiplier has a default value of 1 so therefore has no effect.The multiplier is then adjusted depending on which sort of card match is present.

NOTE: Only 1 of the following 3 multipliers will be applied, they are not cumulative.

Match Card Colour Multiplier

If a hand's cards match on colour the base hand score is multiplied by 2.

Base Score = 6, Matching Card Multiplier = 2 (Same Colour) , Total Score = 6 * 2 = 12

Match Card Suit Multiplier

If a hand's cards match on suit the base hand score is multiplied by 3.

Base Score = 10, Matching Card Multiplier = 3 (Same Suit) , Total Score = 10 * 3 = 30

Exact Card Match Multiplier

If a hand's cards are an exact match, i.e. all cards in hand are the same card symbol AND suit then the base hand score is multiplied by 4.

NOTE: This can only happen with hands which are by definition all the same card, i.e. 'pair', '3 of a kind' and '4 of a kind'.

Base Score = 12, Matching Card Multiplier = 4 (Exact Same Card) , Total Score = 12 * 4 = 48

Matching Edges Multipliers

The score of a hand can also be improved further by having matching colour 'edges' within the hand. The edge colours are as follows:-

Red (R)

Orange (O)

Yellow (Y)

Green (G)

Blue (B)

Indigo (I)

Violet (V)

Rainbow (?)

The edge multiplier starts off at a value of 1 so therefore has no effect. For each pair of edges which match, this edge multiplier is increased by 1.

The 'rainbow' colour edge is a 'wildcard' and will match any other colour and increases the edge multiplier by 1 in the same way as a standard colour match.

NOTE: If a 'rainbow' edge is matched to another 'rainbow' edge this adds 2 to the edge multiplier.

This edge multiplier is then multiplied by the hand score so far after the 'base hand score' has been multiplied by the 'matching card multiplier' to arrive at the final hand score.

NOTE: Only newly matching edges created by the current move tiles being played count in the edge multiplier. Existing matching edges between tiles already on the board do NOT count in the multiplier.

Total Hand Score Calculations

Here are a few example total hand score calculations:-

Hand	Base Score	Card Multiplier (default = 1)	Edge Multiplier (default = 1)	Total Score
	1 + 1 + 1 = 3	Same Card = 4	(1) + 2 + 1 = 4	3 * 4 * 4 = 48
	1 + 2 + 3 + 4 = 10	Same Colour = 2	(1) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4	10 * 2 * 4 = 80
	4 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 14	No Match = 1	(1) + 2 + 1 + 2 + 0 = 6	14 * 1 * 6 = 84
	1 + 1 + 3 + 3 = 8	Same Colour = 3	(1) + 2 + 0 + 1 = 4	8 * 3 * 4 = 96
	2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8	Same Card = 4	(1) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4	8 * 4 * 4 = 128

Multiple Hands

It is possible to create multiple hands in a single move by 'connecting' with existing tiles on the board.

Assuming that all created hands are 'valid' then the move score is the total of all the hands created.

A basic example is shown below but the possibilities for this sort of move are limitless. This is how some of the very high move scores can be created!

In the following example the tiles which are already on the board are shown slightly dimmed to distinguish them from the currently played move tiles.

The vertical and the horizontal are already on the board. The 3 tiles of are then played producing 3 hands as follows:- Primary Hand - Horizontal 2 Pair, Kings and Aces = 14 * 1 * 2 = 28 Secondary Hand - Vertical Pair of Kings = 6 * 2 * 1 = 12 Secondary Hand - Vertical Pair of Aces = 8 * 1 * 2 = 16 + + = 28 + 12 + 16 = 56

Tournaments

To participate in tournaments you must upgrade your QaardZ account to 'premium'. See Premium Upgrade for details.

There are 2 types of tournament within QaardZ, they are either 'FREE' or 'PAID'.

Free Tournaments

Free tournaments are free for premium players whereas entry into paid tournaments will cost 'QoinZ' which can be purchased from the 'My Account' section of the app or won by playing in tournaments.

The maximum number of games that you can have in a free tournament at any one time is 4 but you can 'buy' more games in the tournament as soon as some of the games are completed.

The maximum of 4 games does not apply across tournaments so you can have this maximum of 4 games in each free tournament at the same time.

Paid Tournaments

To play in paid tournaments you must spend some 'QoinZ' which can be bought on the 'My Account' section using In-App Purchase through App Store or Google Play

These QoinZ can then be used to 'join' or to 'buy more games' in any paid tournament.

Each paid tournament states how many QoinZ are needed to buy a 'ticket' and how many games in the tournament that you will get to play.

There is no limit on number of games you can 'buy' in a tournament as long as you have enough QoinZ in your account.

The tournament details page shows you how many game credits you have as well as details of pending games, games in progress and games played.

Tournament Game Creation

The QaardZ server regularly checks each tournament for players who have available game credits and randomly creates games between these players.

At this point, 1 game credit is deducted from each player's tournament game credits.

If you have joined a tournament then unless there are no opponents to play you will quickly be allocated games to play.

The random mechanism used to create tournament games always attempts to create games against opponents you have not played but if not available can pair you against a previous opponent again sometimes.

At any time you will only have a maximum of 1 game against any particular opponent within a tournament.

Game Cancellation

If both players do not play at least 1 move within a set time period (default 6 hours) then the game will be deemed to have never started and will be cancelled.

In this situation each player has 1 game credit added back to their tournament game credits for the tournament in question.

NOTE: The cancellation time period varies per tournament depending on the length of the tournament so could be shorter or longer than this default.

Game Expiry

If any player does not play their move within a set time period (default 12 hours) then the game will expire and the player who last played a move is deemed the winner irrespective of the game scores.

The other play is considered to be at fault for the expiry and as such they forfeit the game. In this case only the winning player's score is registered on the tournament leader board.

NOTE: The expiry time period may vary per tournament depending on the length of the tournament so could be shorter or longer than this default.

Expiry / Cancellation Warnings

If a tournament game is about to expire or be cancelled, a warning push notification is sent to the player who is to play next advising them of this with indication of how long before expiry / cancellation.

If the player then responds and plays their move then all expiry / cancellation time periods are reset.

Game Draw / Tie

If a game is a draw or a tie then both player's scores will be registered on the leaderboard.

Game / Tournament Termination

If games are in progress when a tournament comes to an end then these games are terminated and the result is whatever the current games scores are at that time.

The game is not played to completion and no further moves can be played. if the game is a draw or tie then both player's score are registered on the leaderboard.

Prize Funds

The QoinZ prize fund stated for a particular tournament is the total of all prizes to be paid out for that tournament.

First place receives 50% of the prize pot, second place 30% and 3rd place 20%. In the event of positions being tied then the prize fund is shared by the players to ensure that total prize fund is not exceeded.

Tournament Leaderboard

Each tournament details page displays the current state of the tournament leaderboard. Each entry shows the player, their highest score and their rank / position.

If multiple players share a rank / position then the display order in the list is not relevant.

The tournament details page and leaderboard can also be accessed directly from tournament games using the tournament button on the bottom right of the screen.

Tournament Refunds

If for whatever reason a tournament comes to an end and a player is left with remaining game credits then the QoinZ 'value' of these game credits may be refunded to the player's account subject to conditions.

Since the game credits do not always precisely relate to an exact number of QoinZ a value is calculated which represents the cost in QoinZ per game.

This value is used to calculate the QoinZ value of those game credits and this value is then rounded down to the nearest whole number and refunded to the player's account.

Details of the refund will be sent to the player via a push notificaton and will also appear in the player's account details on the website.

Prize Winnings / Payments

QaardZ will pay prize funds to the winning player(s) as soon as possible after tournament end but not later than 7 days later.

The QoinZ prize fund will be transferred into the winning player's account and they will be notified by email.

An announcement will also appear on the QaardZ game home page showing the 1st place winner(s).

Please refer to the Terms & Conditions section for precise details.

Premium Upgrade

When a player first registers to play QaardZ their account is initially of type 'standard'.

This account type has some limitations as follows:-

• Maximum of 4 games in progress at once.
• Maximum of 4 open invitations.
• No access to play in QaardZ tournaments.
• Popup adverts in QaardZ.

NOTE: Invitations expire after 24 hours if not accepted or rejected so that invitations don't stay locked forever when player's don't respond.

By upgrading to Premium these limitations are removed. Upgrade is time-limited and can be purchased for 1,3,6 or 12 month periods from the 'My Account' section of QaardZ.

This uses the In-App Purchase system for your device's platform, either App Store on iOS or Google Play Store on Android.

Premium upgrade provides the following additional features:-

• Removal of popup adverts in QaardZ.
• Maximum of 30 standard (non-tournament) games in progress at once.
• Maximum of 20 open invitations.
• Access to QaardZ tournaments, both FREE and PAID.
• Additional QaardZ 'products' in 'My Account' section to purchase QoinZ to spend on tournaments.

The expiry date of the Premium Upgrade can be seen on the 'My Account' page in QaardZ.

When the Premium Upgrade expires the account will revert back to 'standard'.

Any existing tournament games which have been registered can be completed but no more tournaments can be joined unless account is upgraded again to Premium.