Overview
Seotda, known in-game as Duo or A Bloom of High Stakes, is a traditional Korean card-stick gambling minigame in Crimson Desert. It functions as a poker-style game where players receive cards and try to assemble the strongest possible hand. The game is one of several side activities available throughout Pywel and can be a lucrative source of Silver for players who learn its mechanics.
Where to Play
Duo and Five-Card tables can be found at gambling dens in various settlements:
Location | Game Type | Buy-In Cost |
|---|---|---|
15 Silver | ||
Tomasso | 300 Silver | |
Beighen (Northern Region) | 150 Silver |
The Hernand Gambling Den is located on the second floor of the inn/tavern in the City of Hernand. This is the most beginner-friendly location with the lowest buy-in. Tomasso offers the highest-stakes Duo games for experienced players.
How Duo Works
When a round of Duo begins, each player receives five sticks (cards). The game automatically selects three of your five sticks and combines them to form a sum equal to 10, 20, or 30. The remaining two sticks form your hand, and the value of that hand determines whether you win or lose.
Points are calculated from the sum of your two remaining cards. If the sum exceeds 10, you subtract 10 from the result. For example, if your remaining sticks show 6 and 9, the total is 15, but you subtract 10, leaving you with 5 points.
You have a 10-second decision window each round to choose your action. If time expires without a choice, the game defaults to a Call.
Duo Hand Rankings
The hand rankings from strongest to weakest are:
Rank | Hand Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 | Ten Pair | Both remaining sticks are 10s. This is an automatic win against any non-special hand. |
2 | Pair | Both sticks share the same number (1 through 9). Higher pairs beat lower pairs (e.g., a pair of 9s beats a pair of 3s). |
3 | Perfect Nine | The two remaining sticks sum to exactly 9. This is the strongest non-pair hand. |
4 | Points (1-8) | The two sticks sum to a single digit other than 9. Higher totals beat lower totals. |
5 | Bust | No valid combination can be formed. This is an automatic loss. |
Special Hands and Ranked Hands always outrank any point total. If both players have the same point total, the round is a draw and a new round begins.
Five-Card Hand Rankings
Five-Card is a variant available at the Beighen gambling den. It uses the same basic mechanics but has an expanded hand hierarchy with colored card combinations:
Rank | Hand Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 | Prime Pair | Red 3 and Red 8 together. Guaranteed win with no exceptions. |
2 | Superior Pair | Red 1 paired with either Red 3 or Red 8. |
3 | Ten Pair | Any two 10-value sticks. |
4 | Pair | Any matching numbers (higher pairs beat lower pairs). |
5 | One-Plus Combinations | A 1 paired with another card. Priority order: 1+2 (best), then 1+4, 1+9, 1+10. |
Special Hands
Both Duo and Five-Card feature Special Hands called Warden and High Warden. These hands do not automatically win, but they force a rematch against an opponent holding a weaker hand. This means that even if your points are lower than your opponent's, a Special Hand can buy you another chance at victory.
Betting Actions
Action | Effect |
|---|---|
Check | Pass without raising the bet. |
Call | Match the opponent's current bet. This is the default if time expires. |
Half Raise | Bet 50% of the current pot. |
Double Raise | Bet double the previous wager. |
All In | Wager all of your available Silver on this round. |
Fold | Forfeit the round and lose your current wager. |
Cheating
Both Kliff and NPCs can cheat in Duo. Learning the cheating mechanic is one of the most powerful tools for consistently winning.
How to Unlock Cheating
Play enough matches and eventually one of your opponents will display a blue outline. Observe this opponent three times during play to unlock the Cheat ability for Kliff. This uses the same Watch and Learn mechanic found in the combat system.
Using the Cheat Ability
The Cheat ability only activates when Kliff is the one dealing cards. While dealing, hold the button prompt for the Hide Hand command. This lets you select a specific number and color, and that stick is automatically added to your hand. In Five-Card, targeting Red 3 or Red 8 can set up a Prime Pair for a guaranteed win.
Accusing Opponents
If you suspect an opponent is cheating (indicated by subtle visual cues), you can hold the button prompt for the Accuse action. If the accusation is correct, that player gets removed from the match and their money is distributed among the remaining players. However, if you accuse incorrectly, your unsportsmanlike behavior gets you temporarily banned from the gambling den for roughly two in-game days.
Strategy Tips
Save before entering: Save your game manually before sitting at a gambling table. You can reload if things go poorly.
Go all-in early with strong hands: With 5 or more points in Duo (or a 7+ pair in Five-Card), push aggressively early in the round. The AI tends to call all-in bets in the early rounds even with weak cards.
Avoid late-round play: The AI becomes more conservative in later rounds. Your best Silver gains come from early aggression.
Use cheating strategically: Once unlocked, the Cheat ability turns Duo into a reliable money-making tool, especially when combined with Five-Card at Beighen.
You can see one of your opponent's cards before deciding whether to Raise or Fold, so use that information to gauge the risk of each round.