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High stakes poker is one thing, but have you ever heard of high stakes war? This is a story about how Jonnie Cache took on Maverick in a battle of cards to win the location of Maverick's secret surf spot. Solve the puzzle to find the cache location, less than a mile from the posted coordinates. You can also check out http://mavericks.bolt.com/ for a nice description and history of the spot.
"Kid, I like you, and tonight your luck is better than mine," Maverick said from across the card table.
Jonnie Cache said, "Maverick, let's cut to the chase. I'll give you a chance to win back all your money from tonight. I'll even let you pick the card game we play--winner take all on last hand. Rumor has it that you've got a secret spot--one that has the best surfing of anywhere in the state. If I win, you tell me where your spot is."
Maverick paused and was very still for a second while he appraised Jonnie Cache, almost like he was sizing Jonnie up for the first time. After a while he said: "Kid, you're on. I'm getting old, and I buried two good friends at that spot, and it's time someone else shared my secret. If you can beat me at a game of California War, I'll tell you what you want to know.
"Here are the rules. We each draw seven cards, and play them one at a time against each other. High card wins the pair. Whoever wins best of seven wins the game. Aces are low, and tens are lower (they count as zero). In case we play the same card, the higher suit wins. The order of the suits, from high to low, is hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs. Remember that because you'll need it later--red always takes precedence over black. Got it?"
Jonnie didn't even pause. "Sure thing Maverick. You deal."
Maverick shuffled, fanned the cards, shuffled again, and then cut the deck. He then dealt seven cards to each of them. Jonnie looked at his hand, and saw in order:
+ 7 of clubs
+ 3 of hearts
+ king of diamonds
+ ace of diamonds
+ 2 of spades
+ 9 of spades
+ ace of clubs
Maverick had:
+ 3 of hearts
+ 10 of spades
+ 10 of clubs
+ 2 of clubs
+ 2 of hearts
+ 9 of diamonds
+ 2 of diamonds
The game started as they each turned over their first card. Jonnie won the first pair of cards. Then the next. Then the next. But then his luck turned, and Maverick won the next three. Every eye on the room was on them as they turned over the last two cards. Utter silence reigned as Maverick played the 2 of diamonds and Jonnie played his ace.
"I won four hands, you took three. I win," said Maverick. He took back the pile of winnings that Jonnie had accumulated through the evening. Jonnie just sat back and laughed. "Good show Maverick! I thought I had you, but you pulled it out. Another time, then." He got up to leave.
"Kid. Wait a sec. I meant what I said earlier. I'm getting old, and I like you. Keep the fourteen cards. They'll tell you what you want to know--if you can figure it out, my secret is yours."
A couple of hours later, Jonnie sat above Maverick's secret spot. Maverick had fixed the deck, of course, and the whole game had been a bluff on his part. He had arranged it not only so that he'd win, but also to point Jonnie where he wanted to go more than anything.
Jonnie laughed out loud again, and then, true to his name, he left an ammo can filled with toys to mark the spot, and to commemorate the day.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[coordinates checksum = forty five]
[puzzle hint] Znirevpx tvirf nyy gur ehyrf lbh arrq.
[extra puzzle hint] fhvg pbybe vf vzcbegnag.
[location hint] abgvacynagf