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During the "best three weeks of his life" (CEREBUS #11), when Cerebus had more money than he had ever dreamed existed, the Earth-Pig had spent most of his days drinking and playing Diamondback in the taverns of Pedron. Although similar to the modern game of Poker, Diamondback differs from its bastardized descendant in many significant ways.
It is first mentioned in Cerebus #4.
THE DECK consists of 1 Magician, 2 Priestesses, 3 Queens, 4 Kings, and 5 Priests. For games with more than 2 players, multiple decks are used, but with extra magicians removed so that only one remains in the deck.
THE HANDS-
| Magician-Priestess: 70 points
| Priestess-Priestess: 65 pts
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| Magician-Queen: 60 pts
| Magician-King: 55 pts
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| Priestess-King: 50 pts
| Priestess-Queen: 45 pts
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| Priestess-Priest: 40 pts
| Queen-King: 35 pts
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| Magician-Priest: 30 pts
| Queen-Queen: 25 pts
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| King-King: 20 pts
| Queen-Priest: 15 pts
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| King-Priest: 10 pts
| Priest-Priest: 5 pts
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THE GAME begins with a draw for a high card. The draw's winner deals the first hand, two cards face down to each player. Each player examines his cards and the dealer makes a wager that must be matched by each of the other players. There is no ante in this version of Diamondback. Therefore, a player who folds on each hand can play all night without losing a coin. Having matched the dealers wager, each player left in the game exposes one of his cards. The dealer then exposes one of his cards and initiates a new round of betting, each player choosing whether to match the dealer's wage or fold. It is up to the dealer to decide whether the betting ceaces and the other card is exposed to determine the winning hand. The best hand wins. In the case of two players having identical hands as "best hand", the pot is carried over into the next hand (this is if only two people are playing). If there are three or four players in the game and two players have identical "best hands", the pot is divided between them. If all three or four players have identical "best hands", the pot is carried over into the next game.
Variations:
MATCH DIAMONDBACK- the game continues until both players or a majority of players agree to end it. Any player leaving the game before winning all of the coins, or a concensus is reached forfiets his winnings into th pot for the next game. These rules appeared in Cerebus #27.
DEALER'S DIAMONDBACK- The only variation with an ante, established by the dealer, prior to dealing. Each player must match the ante, the cards are dealt and the dealer makes an initial wager. His opponents are then required to double that wager to remain in the game, or can choose to fold. One card is turned over by each player and the dealer makes another wager which his opponents are then required to double to remain in the game. The dealer desides when the wagering is finished and the other card is exposed. The winner becomes the new dealer.
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