Corellian Spike represented a unique form of sabacc, distinguished by its utilization of a 62-card deck alongside two six-sided dice known as "spike dice." The game's objective centered around achieving a card total as close as possible to zero. When identical numbers appeared on both dice, each participant's hand was discarded and replaced with fresh cards from the deck, potentially altering their hand for better or worse.
The Corellian Spike version of sabacc was characterized by employing a reduced deck size, containing only 62 cards instead of the standard 76.
The initial 60 cards were categorized into three distinct suits, referred to as "staves": circles, triangles, and squares. Each stave comprised twenty cards: ten green cards with positive values ranging from 1 to 10, and ten red cards with negative values spanning from -1 to -10. The remaining two cards in the deck were assigned a value of 0 and designated as sylops (derived from Old Corellian meaning "idiots").
Furthermore, the game incorporated two "spike dice," which were rolled three times during each round to introduce an element of unpredictability.
In contrast to standard sabacc, Corellian Spike aimed for players to assemble a hand with a value approximating zero as closely as possible.
Each game consisted of three rounds. At the commencement of the first round, every player contributed two credits to the game pot and one to the sabacc pot. Subsequently, the dealer distributed two concealed cards to each player. The remaining cards, placed face down, formed the draw pile.
Beginning with the player to the dealer's left, participants could match a player's bet, increase the bet, abstain from betting (stand), or opt to discard their cards. In the latter scenario, the discarded cards were placed face up on the discard pile, rendering the player inactive until the subsequent round.
Upon completion of the betting phase, the dealer dealt each remaining player a third card, visible to all, known as the spike card. At this juncture, players had the opportunity to purchase a card by adding two credits to the game pot. If a player chose to do so, they received the top card from the draw pile, face down. Following this, they could either discard the newly acquired card, exchange it for one of the two cards in their hand, or swap it with the spike card.
Another round of betting then ensued. The dealer would then roll the two spike dice. If matching symbols appeared, excluding double spikes, all active players were required to discard two cards from their hands and receive two replacements. However, if double spikes were rolled, all active players had to discard all three cards and receive new ones, with the new spike card again dealt face up.
The sequence of "option to buy a card, betting, and rolling of the dice" was repeated twice more in succession. Subsequently, if multiple players remained, all participants revealed their hands. The player with the most favorable hand claimed the game pot. If the winning hand had a value of precisely zero, the player also secured the sabacc pot.
Variations in the rules existed, resulting in different hierarchies of winning hands. According to one version sold at the Toydarian Toymaker on Batuu, there were 20 potential winning hands: Pure sabacc, Full Sabacc, Fleet, Yee-Haa, Rhylet, Squadron, Gee Whiz, Straight Khyron, Bantha's Wild, Rule of Two, Sabacc, Sabacc with most cards, Sabacc with highest value cards, Sabacc with highest single value card, Nulrhek, Nulrhek with positive score, Nulrhek with most cards, Nulrhek with highest value cards, Nulrhek with highest single value card, and Single Blind Draw.
However, the Yarith Bespin casino's established rules stipulated that the "Idiot's Array," comprised of a sylop (0) along with a +2 and a +3, constituted the best winning hand. Within that system, the "Prime Sabacc," consisting of a +10, a -10, and a sylop (0), ranked as the next most valuable hand.
In 10 BBY, Han Solo triumphed over Lando Calrissian in a "Corellian Spike" sabacc game on the planet Numidian Prime, thereby acquiring the Millennium Falcon.