DICE GAMES
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1 Die |
Thirty-six [source: John Scarne, "Scarne on Dice"] |
Any number can play and one die is used. Each player puts a stake in the center forming a pool and each one throws the die to determine order of play, low man going first, next highest next, and so on. The players throw the die in turn and continue to throw, adding each number thrown to the previous one and calling out the totals. The object is to reach 36 or approach it as closely as possible without passing it. Players passing 36 are busted. The player who comes closest to 36 wins. Ties divide the pool. Most players throw again at 32 or less; stop at 33 or more. |
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2 Dice |
Hazard |
Caster Rolls First Roll (called the Main) |
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Main Roll = |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
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Chance Roll = |
5 |
6,12 |
7,11 |
8,12 |
9 |
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Caster Wins |
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Chance Roll = |
2, 3, 11, 12 |
2, 3, 11 |
2, 3, 12 |
2, 3, 11 |
2, 3, 11, 12 |
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Caster Looses |
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Phase II- If Caster did not Win or Loose on second roll, the roller continues rolling. |
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3 Dice |
Buck Dice |
Any number can play and three dice are used. Each player throws the dice to determine the order of play, the player making highest score goes first, next highest second, and so on. The low man then throws one die and the number thrown becomes the point number. The high man begins by throwing all three dice, scores one point for each point number thrown. He continues to throw as long as he throws point numbers which are added as he goes along. When he fails to throw a point number on any throw, the dice pass to the next player. The object is to score exactly 15 points, called Buck or game, and each player, as he reaches this score, drops out of the game until only one player remains who is the loser and who foots the bill. If a player whose number is close to 15, on his next throw, reaches a total above 15, the throw does not count and he must throw again. Any three of a kind (not point numbers) is a Little Buck and counts 5 points.When the point number appears on all three dice, it is Big Buck or The General which counts 15 points and eliminates the player no matter what score he has previously made. When played on a bar, three crosses, called bucks from their re- semblance to the end view of a sawbuck, are drawn on the bar with chalk. The center of the cross is erased when the player throws his first point number and one arm of the cross is erased for each additional point number thrown. When all three crosses are rubbed out, he has scored fifteen. In one popular variation, the additional rule is added that when the shooter has 13 point numbers to his credit and 2 to go, only two dice are thrown, and when he has scored 14 and has only I to go, only one die is thrown. The player shooting first has a slight advantage. |
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5 Dice |
Aces [source: John Scarne, "Scarne on Dice"] |
Also called Aces To The Center, Deuces To The Left, Fives To The Right. Any number can play and each player must have a dice cup and five dice. Each player throws five dice and the player throwing the highest poker hand (Ace is high and 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 represent King, Queen, Jack, Ten and Nine respectively) takes any seat and is the first shooter; the player throwing the second highest hand sits on his left and shoots second; and so on. Tying players shoot again. The first shooter begins by throwing five dice. Each thrown die that shows an Ace is placed in the center of the playing surface; all Deuces are passed to the player on his left; all dice showing Fives to the player on his right. The player continues to throw until he either fails to throw an Ace, 2 or 5 or until he has no more dice left. It then becomes the turn of the next player on his left who has dice to throw. Players who have no dice left remain in the game because other dice may pass to them from the other players at any time. When all but one die have been placed in the center the player throwing the last Ace with the last die is declared the loser. When played for drinks the loser pays the check. When played for a wager the player throwing the last Ace is declared the winner and takes the pot. |
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Sources of information on dice games (not all are period)
Bell, R.C. Board and Table Games from Many Civilizations. Dover: NY, 1979
International Bone Roller's Guild
http://members.aol.com/dicetalk/d6alph.htmMaster Games/Traditional Game Rules
http://www.mastersgames.com/rules/rules.htmWulfric's brief descriptions of many period dicing games.
http://www.riconnect.com/wulfric/sca/interest/game/dice.htmA very good website dedicated to Medieval and Renaissance games
http://waks.ne.mediaone.net//game-hist/A Manifest Detection of Diceplay by Gilbert Walker, c. 1550. (Not specifically a book of games, but since it deals in depth with matters such as cheating at dice, it gives a great deal of context for period gaming.)
http://waks.ne.mediaone.net//game-hist/diceplay.html