Showdown

Showdown reinvents high-stakes card gaming by merging poker's betting mechanics with the strategic depth of TCGs (Trading Card Game). Created by world-ranked champions from Magic: The Gathering and Hearthstone, it's designed to bring back the golden era of competitive poker—but with action cards that flip the game on its head.

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Team & Vision

The Founders

• Stanislav Cifka – Hearthstone world #1, Magic Pro Tour champion, chess FIDE master

• Ondrej Strasky – Magic Pro League winner, Magic Mythic Championship winner

• Jan Kotrla – Magic National Champion, Magic Team World Championship 3rd place

The Mission: Make Card Games Great Again

"20 years ago, poker was king. Then Hearthstone took over. Now it's time for the next big thing." Showdown aims to resurrect high-stakes competitive gaming by solving poker's modern problems: bots, regulatory fragmentation, and trust issues—all while keeping games fast, strategic, and accessible.

Core Principles

• Game experience first – No overcomplicated designs

• Learn in 10 minutes – Master over thousands of hours

• Built for competition – From casual play to million-dollar stakes

How Showdown Works

The Gameplay Loop

Showdown takes poker's foundation and adds TCG mechanics:

• 7-10 minute matches – Quick, mobile-friendly sessions

• 1v1 heads-up format – Pure skill-based competition

• 2 private + 5 shared cards – Classic poker structure

• Action cards modify outcomes – Change pocket cards, steal chips, interact with opponents

• First to 100 chips wins – Pot starts at 10 chips each hand

Key Mechanics

• Starting Hand – Get 2 pocket cards + 2 action cards (4 on first hand)

• Action Card Management – Keep up to 5 cards that carry over between hands

• Chip Value System – Playing action cards adds their chip value to the pot

• Turn Structure – Players alternate between playing action cards or checking

Game Flow

• Preflop → Flop (3 community cards) → Fold Option → River (2 more cards)

• If both players continue after fold option, pot doubles automatically

• Color-coded timing – Green cards (Preflop), Red (Flop), Blue (River), Grey (any stage)

• Showdown – Best 5-card poker hand wins the pot

"Even if you start with a bad hand, you can play cards to improve it" – Unlike poker where you fold 90% of hands, Showdown ensures constant action and engagement.

Technical Architecture

Why Blockchain?

The founders explain how blockchain solves poker's biggest issues:

• Permissionless play – No country restrictions or regulatory barriers

• Anti-bot design – Action cards make algorithmic play impractical

• Trust through transparency – Smart contract tournaments with guaranteed payouts

• True ownership – NFT cards as collectible skins (gameplay cards free)

MegaETH Integration

With MegaETH's performance, Showdown enables:

• Real-time betting markets – Predict tournament winners mid-game

• Instant settlements – No waiting for withdrawals

• On-chain tournaments – Transparent, immutable prize pools

• Community features – Player-designed cards with on-chain voting

Market Positioning

The Problem with Modern Poker

• Banned in many countries – US players can't face Europeans

• Bot dominance – AI beats pros since 2017

• Trust issues – Full Tilt's collapse still haunts players

• Slow gameplay – Folding 90% of hands kills excitement

Showdown's Solution

• Global accessibility – Blockchain bypasses regulations

• Human-centric design – Action cards defeat algorithmic play

• Transparent infrastructure – No custody, no trust required

• Constant action – Every hand matters, momentum swings frequently

The Showdown Thesis

Two-Sided Market

• Casual players – Climb ladders, collect cards, enjoy quick matches

• High-stakes players – Bet millions in ego-driven skill battles

• Not pay-to-win – All gameplay cards free, NFTs are cosmetic only

Competitive Vision

Drawing from their professional backgrounds, the founders are building:

• Regular seasons with transparent rewards

• eSports infrastructure for tournaments

• Streaming integration with referral systems

• 6-player multiplayer mode in development

Roadmap & Progress

Current Status: Closed Alpha

• 100+ cards with trillions of deck combinations

• 4 pre-built decks for testing

• New card sets every 3-4 months planned

• Deck builder and tournament system coming soon

Timeline

• Q2 2025 – Closed alpha with 150 players

• Q4 2025 – Closed beta

• Q1 2026 – Open beta

• Q2 2026 – Full launch

Resources & Further Reading

• 10 Questions About Showdown
• Gameplay

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The Bottom Line: Showdown isn't just another card game—it's the resurrection of high-stakes competitive gaming. By solving poker's modern problems through blockchain and adding TCG strategy, they're creating a game where skill determines rewards, not algorithms or geography. Whether you're playing for fun or millions, every match delivers the adrenaline rush that made poker legendary.