# Haggle - a game of trading and secrets **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2007, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136 "2007-05-22T21:01:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/641 "2007-06-13T18:20:06Z")
[QUOTE=Doctor Who] Question: what’s the difference? A few hours? I post it into the thread, everybody sees it (including **Dragoness** ) and no harm is done. Sure, procedures weren’t followed by mistake, but so what? No harm, no foul. [/QUOTE] The difference is that by announcing it, you could be spreading false information. That was always the concern with ‘trading’ on knowledge you didn’t actively own. I can give you all kinds of bullshit about rules you haven’t seen yet, but if we agree in principle to trade for it, then you have to give me the real rule or I can get it from **chrisk** ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/642 "2007-06-13T19:03:28Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] The difference is that by announcing it, you could be spreading false information. That was always the concern with ‘trading’ on knowledge you didn’t actively own. I can give you all kinds of bullshit about rules you haven’t seen yet, but if we agree in principle to trade for it, then you have to give me the real rule or I can get it from **chrisk** [/QUOTE] True. On the other hand, I’m not sure that it’s worth getting very picky about these distinctions when it was presumably an accident. 30 hours left for trading… minus 4 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/643 "2007-06-13T19:11:33Z")
Okay - here’s the deal: (1) I’m going to post Rule #17 which I accidentally conveyed to **Dragoness** without having possession of it. Here: 1. For the first eight letters of the alphabet, whoever turns in MOST of them gets a bonus of 100 points, minus ten for each step into the alphabet. In case of a tie on any letter, the bonus is split with a 10% splitting fee for each tieing player. One player may win or tie in multiple boni out of these six. (2) **USCDiver** , your concerns about misinformation are valid, but in this case inapplicable. Most of us _know_ that the rule I posted is correct. Also **chrisk** will certainly speak up under these circumstances if the rule I just posted is inaccurate. (3) I apologize for the confusion. It was a mistake on my part. Nonetheless, I believe that NO harm was caused - as I could have done this anyway. I’m considering the matter settled, BUT if anyone has any further concerns or complaints, please feel free to speak up. ETA: Oh, I forgot to mention - I’ve stated my position and all that, but if you guys agree that there must be “sanctions”, do whatever you gotta do. I’m not going to take my ball and go home. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/644 "2007-06-13T20:31:40Z")
[QUOTE=Doctor Who] Okay - here’s the deal: (1) I’m going to post Rule #17 which I accidentally conveyed to **Dragoness** without having possession of it. Here: 1. For the first eight letters of the alphabet, whoever turns in MOST of them gets a bonus of 100 points, minus ten for each step into the alphabet. In case of a tie on any letter, the bonus is split with a 10% splitting fee for each tieing player. One player may win or tie in multiple boni out of these six. (2) **USCDiver** , your concerns about misinformation are valid, but in this case inapplicable. Most of us _know_ that the rule I posted is correct. Also **chrisk** will certainly speak up under these circumstances if the rule I just posted is inaccurate. (3) I apologize for the confusion. It was a mistake on my part. Nonetheless, I believe that NO harm was caused - as I could have done this anyway. I’m considering the matter settled, BUT if anyone has any further concerns or complaints, please feel free to speak up. ETA: Oh, I forgot to mention - I’ve stated my position and all that, but if you guys agree that there must be “sanctions”, do whatever you gotta do. I’m not going to take my ball and go home. [/QUOTE] OK then, howzabout the 12 billion point docking? Too much? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Dragoness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@Dragoness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragoness)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/645 "2007-06-13T21:17:05Z")
Wow, everybody’s so mad ☹ Please don’t sanction me, I can’t make much use of that rule anyway… [QUOTE=chrisk] 30 hours left for trading… minus 4 minutes [/QUOTE] Yaay! Tommorow we find out who wins! I’m becoming very impatient… once your portfolio gets set, you just want somebody to count up and tell you how you did already. It should be fun to see how we all managed, as I have only the roughest estimates of how everybody else will score (and still not perfect knowledge of the rules). Can’t wait! ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/646 "2007-06-13T21:32:56Z")
[QUOTE=Dragoness] Yaay! Tommorow we find out who wins! I’m becoming very impatient… once your portfolio gets set, you just want somebody to count up and tell you how you did already. It should be fun to see how we all managed, as I have only the roughest estimates of how everybody else will score (and still not perfect knowledge of the rules). Can’t wait! [/QUOTE] Actually, according to the original schedule, it won’t be tomorrow, since everybody has a while to figure out if they want to sink any letter cards before the scoring begins. (In case they would have a negative value or prevent them from qualifying for a valuable bonus.) Even if everybody sends in their final replies quite quickly, it’ll probably be friday afternoon before I give a final notice of the scoring. (sorry if I just added to your impatience.) ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/647 "2007-06-13T21:34:21Z")
Hey **Uncommon Sense** – my proposal in Post #636 should be right up your alley. How about it? In fact, let’s make it official: Hal Offer #18 for **Uncommon Sense** : I’ll give you five of the following six cards (your choice) G, G, J, K, K and X, plus Rule Slips #11, #12 and #15 in exchange for your spare I and M Cards. ---
**Author:** ![Dragoness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@Dragoness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragoness)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/648 "2007-06-13T21:47:36Z")
[QUOTE=chrisk] Actually, according to the original schedule, it won’t be tomorrow, since everybody has a while to figure out if they want to sink any letter cards before the scoring begins. (In case they would have a negative value or prevent them from qualifying for a valuable bonus.) [/QUOTE] :smack: I gave away the B because I couldn’t see anywhere you said we could do that, and I didn’t want to risk it. D’oh. I suppose I shall just have to hold out a little longer… ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/649 "2007-06-13T22:02:01Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Hey **Uncommon Sense** – my proposal in Post #636 should be right up your alley. How about it? In fact, let’s make it official: Hal Offer #18 for **Uncommon Sense** : I’ll give you five of the following six cards (your choice) G, G, J, K, K and X, plus Rule Slips #11, #12 and #15 in exchange for your spare I and M Cards. [/QUOTE] Since I’m basically no longer making any deals myself, I’d like to take a new role. I’m gonna make my new role purple **Uncommon Sense** , if my calculations are correct, you would essentially seal the win for **Hal** if you make this trade. ---
**Author:** ![nesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a4c791/32.png) [@nesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nesta)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/650 "2007-06-14T01:19:43Z")
I see you have some G cards up for grabs **Hal**. nesta offer #21: I’ll give **Hal** an H card in exchange for a G card. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/651 "2007-06-14T11:00:13Z")
Okay, 14 hours until the bell! **Doctor Who** Holds rules: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16 Has seen rules: 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 And holds these cards: A, B, C (2), D (3), E (3), F (2), G, H, I, J, K, L (2), M, N, O (3), P, Q, R, S, T (2), U, W owes **The Bank** 101 points. Must give 49% to **NAF1138** **Dragoness** Holds rules: 4, 5, 13, 18 Has seen rules: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19, 20 And holds these cards: A, B, D, F, H, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, V, W, Y owes **sachertorte** 9 points. owes **The Bank** 28 points. **Hal Briston** Holds rules: 1, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15 Has seen rules: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 And holds these cards: A, B, D, E, F, G (2), H, J, K (2), L, N, O, P, R, S, T, U, X owes **sachertorte** 16 points. owes **The Bank** 75 points. **nesta** Holds rules: 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 17, 20 Has seen rules: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19 And holds these cards: A (6), B (3), D (3), E (2), H, I, M, Q, R, U, W, X, Z owes **sachertorte** 16 points. owes **The Bank** 240 points. **Priceguy** Holds rules: 2, 3, 7, 13, 16, 19 Has seen rules: 4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 17 And holds these cards: C, D, E, F (2), G, M, N, O, P (2), R, Y owes **The Bank** 6 points. **Uncommon Sense** Holds rules: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 18 Has seen rules: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20 And holds these cards: C, F, G, H, I (2), J, L, M (2), N, S, T, Z owes **sachertorte** 14 points. owes **The Bank** 30 points. **USCDiver** Holds rules: 2, 15, 17, 19, 20 Has seen rules: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18 And holds these cards: A, C, D, E, G, I, J, K, O, Q, R, S, U, V, Y owes **sachertorte** 41 points. owes **The Bank** 5 points. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/652 "2007-06-14T12:05:32Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] Since I’m basically no longer making any deals myself, I’d like to take a new role. I’m gonna make my new role purple **Uncommon Sense** , if my calculations are correct, you would essentially seal the win for **Hal** if you make this trade. [/QUOTE] That’s what I figured, I’m standing pat. I don’t want to play the spoiler any more than I’d want to hand the victory to anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/653 "2007-06-14T14:27:34Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] Since I’m basically no longer making any deals myself, I’d like to take a new role. I’m gonna make my new role purple **Uncommon Sense** , if my calculations are correct, you would essentially seal the win for **Hal** if you make this trade. [/QUOTE] I’m pretty sure that’s not anywhere close to accurate, but that’s probably because I’m only really paying attention to building my own portfolio and not busying myself worrying about other’s dealings. [QUOTE=nesta] I see you have some G cards up for grabs **Hal**. nesta offer #21: I’ll give **Hal** an H card in exchange for a G card. [/QUOTE] Counteroffer: I’ll give you a G in exchange for a W. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/654 "2007-06-14T14:45:37Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Counteroffer: I’ll give you a G in exchange for a W. [/QUOTE] Revoke Counteroffer. We’re just about done, so let’s make this happen. Hal Offer #19 for **nesta** : My G, G, J, K and K cards in exchange for your I Card. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/655 "2007-06-14T16:31:40Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Revoke Counteroffer. We’re just about done, so let’s make this happen. Hal Offer #19 for **nesta** : My G, G, J, K and K cards in exchange for your I Card. [/QUOTE] Well, let’s see if I’m still _persona non grata_… Third Party Counteroffer: Hal - My I card for your G, G, J, K, and K cards. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/656 "2007-06-14T16:41:35Z")
[QUOTE=Doctor Who] Well, let’s see if I’m still _persona non grata_… Third Party Counteroffer: Hal - My I card for your G, G, J, K, and K cards. [/QUOTE] Done. I accept. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/657 "2007-06-14T16:56:26Z")
Ok then, let’s revoke Hal Offer #19, and set up Hal Offer #20: I’ll trade an X Card and any rule slips you like (I have 1, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14 and 15) in exchange for either an M Card or W card. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/658 "2007-06-14T17:34:21Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Done. I accept. [/QUOTE] And this is getting interesting… 🙂 **Doctor Who** Holds rules: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16 Has seen rules: 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 And holds these cards: D (3), E (3), G (3), K (3), O (3), C (2), F (2), J (2), L (2), T (2), A, B, H, M, N, P, Q, R, S, U, W owes **The Bank** 101 points. Must give 49% to **NAF1138** **Dragoness** Holds rules: 4, 5, 13, 18 Has seen rules: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19, 20 And holds these cards: A, B, D, F, H, L, M, N, O, P, R, S, V, W, Y owes **sachertorte** 9 points. owes **The Bank** 28 points. **Hal Briston** Holds rules: 1, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15 Has seen rules: 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 And holds these cards: A, B, D, E, F, H, I, L, N, O, P, R, S, T, U, X owes **sachertorte** 16 points. owes **The Bank** 75 points. **NAF1138** Gets 49% from **Doctor Who** **nesta** Holds rules: 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 17, 20 Has seen rules: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19 And holds these cards: A (6), B (3), D (3), E (2), H, I, M, Q, R, U, W, X, Z owes **sachertorte** 16 points. owes **The Bank** 240 points. **Priceguy** Holds rules: 2, 3, 7, 13, 16, 19 Has seen rules: 4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 17 And holds these cards: F (2), P (2), C, D, E, G, M, N, O, R, Y owes **The Bank** 6 points. **sachertorte** is owed 16 points by **nesta**. is owed 16 points by **Hal Briston**. is owed 9 points by **Dragoness**. is owed 14 points by **Uncommon Sense**. is owed 41 points by **USCDiver**. **Uncommon Sense** Holds rules: 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, 14, 18 Has seen rules: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 13, 17, 19, 20 And holds these cards: I (2), M (2), C, F, G, H, J, L, N, S, T, Z owes **sachertorte** 14 points. owes **The Bank** 30 points. **USCDiver** Holds rules: 2, 15, 17, 19, 20 Has seen rules: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18 And holds these cards: A, C, D, E, G, I, J, K, O, Q, R, S, U, V, Y owes **sachertorte** 41 points. owes **The Bank** 5 points. 7 hours, 26 minutes… and counting! ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/659 "2007-06-14T18:48:59Z")
Well, I don’t know if you’ll win the game **Hal** , but you’ve definitely inched me out by about 50 points (by my count). Good job on the last minute deal with my arch-nemesis **Doctor Who**. All these last minutes deals makes me concerned that you’re a made man… I wonder who that recent Mafia recruit was… FOS! See you in SDMB Mafia IV if you’re playing there too. My Portfolio is complete and submitted. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136/660 "2007-06-14T19:02:27Z")
[QUOTE=USCDiver] My Portfolio is complete and submitted. [/QUOTE] ( **USCDiver** ’s portfolio jams in the submission slot, because the gate halfway in hadn’t been opened yet… **Chrisk** opens it up. Portfolio drops into the lockbox.) 😃 In other words, our good diver’s submission has been received, is found to be in good order, and considered final. The amateur scoring attempt that he submitted with it is NOT binding, since at least one valid score was missed. Anyone else is welcome to submit before the final trading bell goes off, but that would be for keeps - you can trade with your sinks or rules if you wish, but cannot add new letter cards after submission. Five hours, fifty-seven minutes and counting… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/haggle-a-game-of-trading-and-secrets/405136.md?page=34)