stack 01 · opens at launch
pot under the top 0
top box
empty
nobody on top yet
10:00
quiet clock · starts on the first box
When a top box stands ten quiet minutes, anyone can blow the whistle. The top is credited its bid plus the pot; topped bidders are already credited 88% of theirs.
The tape
quietBoxes taken
The rules, as the referee reads them
- The first box. A stack opens empty. The first bid is at least 1,500 $TOPBOX and goes on top alone. The quiet clock starts at 10:00.
- Top it or sit down. Every bid after that must be at least 110% of the top box. The bidder on top cannot top themselves. Every new box sets the clock back to 10:00.
- Topped. The box you top is credited 88% back to its bidder. 10% stays in the stack's pot for whoever ends on top. 2% goes to the house.
- Ten quiet minutes. When nobody tops the top box for ten minutes, anyone may close the stack. The top bidder is credited their own bid plus the whole pot. A new stack opens.
- Pull your credit. Everything credited sits in the contract until you pull it. Nobody else can touch it.
A worked stack
| box | bid | topped? | back to bidder | to the pot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,500 | yes | 1,320 | 150 |
| 2 | 1,650 | yes | 1,452 | 165 |
| 3 | 1,900 | yes | 1,672 | 190 |
| 4 | 2,100 | yes | 1,848 | 210 |
| 5 | 2,400 | stands 10:00 | takes 2,400 + 715 = 3,115 | |
Four bids are topped and leave 715 in the pot. The 2,400 bid then stands ten quiet minutes and takes the box: its own 2,400 plus 715.