The game of dreidel was initially used as a ruse by Jewish scholars who were studying the Torah during a time when it was illegal to do so. They would take out the spinning top when approached by law enforcement: “Nothing to see here, officer,” I imagine them saying. “We’re just hanging out in a cave playing this fun game.”

And since then, the dreidel has become a full-fledged Hanukkah symbol, right up there with the menorah and candles. (And latkes. Mhhmmm, latkes.) Each of the toy’s four sides have a Hebrew letter. When playing, you spin the top and, depending on which Hebrew letter lands on top, either get to take pieces out of or put pieces into a common pot. It’s a game of chance.

The game itself is somewhat frustrating! (Those scholars may not have noticed, considering they weren’t actually playing the game.) You can spin that top with perfect centrifugal force, have it dance around a table impressively for about a minute, and still land on “Shin,” meaning you have to put at least one of your pieces back into the common pot.

That’s why a dreidel championship hosted by Chabad has some key rule changes: namely, a points system that will reward skill in addition to chance. The idea is to ensure that the tournament “won’t leave everything up to the spin of the dreidel,” according to Rabbi Menachem Shemtov, the director of young adult and college campus programs for Chabad, which is a growing Hasidic movement with a presence in D.C.

This points system, for instance, will mean that participants in the competition will be rewarded for spinning the dreidel for a longer period of time (or penalized if their spin is paltry and short), no matter what the top ultimately lands on. People can also score additional points for spinning the dreidel upside down or bouncing it. There may be other quirks as well, like odd-shaped dreidels.

However, Shemtov declined to share the entire points system with DCist because divulging such information “could give someone a competitive advantage tonight,” and he is trying to ensure that the evening’s proceedings have an “air of spontaneity.”

Indeed, he’s keeping many of the twists and turns of the tournament close to the vest, thanks to previous experience from Chabad’s events like Jewish Jeopardy and the costume competition for Purim. “What we’ve seen from the past is that people get very competitive and take it really seriously,” Shemtov says. “As a result of everyone’s extreme competitiveness, we want to add an element of fun by including new skills.”

There’s a panel of judges, and a round robin-style tournament. The “Dreidel champion of the city of spin,” as Chabad is calling the winner, will get a customized trophy.

While Shemtov emphasizes that the real point of the Hanukkah event is to bring together young Jewish professionals to celebrate the second night of the festival of lights and eat kosher food, he notes that he’s been hearing from a lot of participants about their preparations.

“I am positive that people are training,” says Shemtov. “I’ve received a few Facebook messages from people who say they’re going to win and are extremely confident in their ability to do so.”

Ultimate Dreidel Spin-off & Game Night is happening at Board Room DC from 6-8 p.m. Tickets, which include all-you-can-eat kosher food, are required and cost $15 in advance or $18 at the door.

This story has been updated to reflect that landing on “Shin” means at least one piece must be put back in the common pot.