Dice
The world of the dice game
No symbol embodies the fateful game with luck as strongly as the dice. For thousands of years people have let the dice decide. They also fall in the casinos of this world: The Craps dice game is particularly popular, especially on the American continent. But the dice has a long history.
"Alea iacta est. - This Latin expression is one of the most famous quotations ever. Literally translated it means: "The dice has been thrown".
Who coined this famous sentence?
That was the winner type par excellence: the Roman emperor Gaius Julius Caesar. On his way to Asterix and Obelix he crossed the river Rubikon in 49 BC during the Gallic War. The crossing of the border river was at the same time Caesar's announcement to the war, because with it he entered forbidden terrain - and even today we still say when there is no way back: The dice have been cast.
The history of the dice, the oldest random generator in the world
Albert Einstein said it well:
"God doesn't roll the dice." But mankind has been doing it for many thousands of years. Einstein's saying should express his doubts about chance. Quantum physics is supposed to follow a greater order, but the game of dice is a reliable random number generator.
This can easily be recognized by the origin of the word "Hasard". The Hasard game is the somewhat outdated term for gambling. The Hasard is coincidence. The word comes from the Arabic "az-zahr".
Antiquity
The cube that decides everything was already used 3000 years ago in today's Iran, Iraq and Pakistan. Even ancient Vedic writings prove an independent invention of the cube in India. The Egyptians also liked to play with cube-like bones.
The biggest fans of the dice, however, are the Germanic tribes. Of course, their contemporaries, the Romans and Greeks, also threw the dice with great enthusiasm. For the Teutons, however, no stake was too high for the enjoyment of the game. Apart from all their possessions, they often gambled away their own freedom. If there was no capital left, they did not shy away from setting themselves. That, in any case, is what the Roman Teuton expert Tacitus tells us.
However, the Roman people were no less addicted to dice. As a result, the game was strictly forbidden - at least officially. Even Roman emperors secretly used random generators made of clay, metal or bone. Only at the Saturnalia, where moral and social customs were invalidated, could anyone gamble away house and court without a guilty conscience. On these holidays everything was wrong: slaves were allowed to appear as masters and players to emerge from their back rooms.
The Middle Ages and Modern Times
Even in the Middle Ages, rolling dice remained a constant fixture, in the truest sense of the word. The guardians of morals warned dice players of purgatory, into which they would inevitably enter. However, this was a strategy to keep the population at work. In gambling, too many serfs and peasants would dream of wealth and happiness and thus question their true destiny, so thought the nobles and clergy of that time.
In the further history followed many prohibitions of dice and gambling. In Italy, those who did not abide by the prohibitions could even be banned. A whole hundred miles were to be kept away from Milan after being caught gambling.
Sometimes new professions developed from the prohibitions. In the 18th and 19th centuries there were the so-called "dice eaters" in England. Their task was to swallow all the dice within seconds in the event of a police raid. Nothing is known about the risk involved in the destruction of evidence. A strong stomach was probably a prerequisite for such a career.
Old and new games
As long as the dice accompanies humanity, it also invents new games to use it in new ways. It is astonishing, however, that many dice games with and without a board have never gone out of fashion.
One example is backgammon. Legend has it that the Greeks invented the prototype backgammon as a pastime during the siege of Troy. After all, the soldiers had to be kept in a good mood during the years of waiting. It has been proven that the Romans liked and often played a kind of original backgammon. The famous king of the Crusades, Richard the Lionheart, forbade his simple soldiers to throw money. Backgammon was already so popular in England that one should not forget the recapture of the Holy Land.
In recent times backgammon as a mixture of strategy and gambling experienced such a boom that in the sixties of the last century a world championship was created especially for it, of course in the player's paradise Las Vegas. And with the digital age we're in, backgammon fans no longer need tables. The virtual offer has kept the enthusiasm for the game unbroken.
Dice in every situation
The whole world rolls the dice. In one way or another. Also children like to throw dice for their life with humans do not annoy you or tricks. Even dice with inserts is a real piece of cake in some cultures.
For centuries the most important Jewish festival Hanukkah the "Dreidel" has been filmed. The four-sided spinning top with letters from the Hebrew alphabet is used by the children as a cube to divide a "pot" among themselves. This usually consists of lots of sweets, nuts and other delicacies. Depending on which side of the triangle falls, the player receives everything, half, nothing or has to contribute another candy to the pot. If you have gambled away your sweets, you must hope for the generosity of your fellow players. The four letters Nun, Gimel, He and Schin are symbols for the sentence "Nes gadol haja sham". Translated this means as much as "A great miracle happened there." This reminds the children of the real thing that is celebrated at Hanukkah when they are feverish about sweets.
Dice for life and death
From the carefree dice experiences in childhood to dice for life and death. In 1625, Protestant insurgents in Frankenburg, Austria, literally had to throw dice for their lives. They had opposed the Catholic rulers, but their rebellion was suppressed and 36 men were sentenced to death. The men were given a questionable mercy: they were to roll dice against each other. The winner was to survive, the loser the rope blossomed. And so it was actually done - half of the men had no luck in the game and were killed. Even today, every year in Frankenburg, the losers are commemorated with a spectacle near the place where the dice were thrown.
The Magic Cube
The magic of the cube and its unique geometry shows the phenomenon of the magic cube of the Hungarian Rubik. The children of the seventies and eighties spent days and weeks arranging the colors of the colored cube. Many an adult was also driven mad by the award-winning solitaire game. If you are interested in the possible solutions of the dice, you can read the numerous mathematical treatises on this subject on the Internet.
In 2010 it was proven that no more than 20 moves were necessary - but this was only possible with the help of a computer. So it shouldn't discourage all those who can't show any real progress even after 100 moves.
Since the 2000s, the Magic Cube has experienced a grandiose comeback. Countless young people are leaving their smartphones behind and trying to set world records with the Rubik Cube. With one hand, blindfolded or even with their feet they turn the cube into the right position. In 2008, the record holder from Korea needed less than 37 seconds to arrange the colorful squares correctly.
The mystical cube
The toy proves how mystically complex and yet mathematically precise the cube was and is for mankind. Our classic cube is a hexahedron - a body with six sides, each forming a square. The Greek philosopher Plato already knew about the mathematical harmony of the hexahedron and attributed the element earth to the cube. Not least because the classical cube consists of squares and stands securely on the ground.
In India, we know the image of Shiva throwing cubes. He and his wife Parvati are said to have even thrown dice around the fate of the world. The board game "Chaupar", which Shiva and Parvati play, is not played with the magic hexahedron, but with Kauri shells. The game can theoretically last forever. Usually it doesn't take more time than a game of humans doesn't annoy you, but when Shiva rolls around the universe, it can take a bit longer.
Attempts to cheat with zinc-coated dice
The beginning of the game is always the beginning of fraud attempts. Ever since dice games became popular with young and old, there have also been attempts to cheat chance. Antique finds of fingered dice prove how long the history of cheaters is.
The simplest trick is of course the double six or the missing one. Since one and six can never be seen at the same time, cheating is effective, if not particularly imaginative, with careless players. That's why the Romans invented the dice tower and other dice boxes to prevent players from bringing in dice. Another classic is the small lead bet on the side of one. So the dice is often moved to the side with the lowest number of eyes and gives the player sixes all the time.
In today's casinos, this type of tine is impossible. Modern precision cubes are mostly made of transparent cellulose actetate. This is no ordinary plastic, because it guarantees an absolutely bubble-free production and thus highest possible precision. Also the painting of the eyes is planned in coordination with the density of the remaining material in order to avoid smallest irregularities.
Even if dice games have never lost their attractiveness over the centuries - zinc-coated dice belong to history, at least in the casinos of this world.
Craps - The most popular dice game in the casino
Craps (also known as Craps Shooting or Seven Eleven) is one of the most popular dice games in the world. Especially in the USA the game with the square dice belongs to the absolute evergreens. But you can also find craps tables in every other casino in the world today.
However, this was not always the case. For a long time, the dice game was considered too common to be offered in a fine casino. Europe's glamour casino in Monte Carlo introduced Craps as the first dice game ever - at a time when roulette and cards had long been part of the standard inventory.
Craps is not that simple. In Roulette it is much easier to bet on simple odds. Of course, you have a certain influence on the result with Craps in contrast to the boiler game. After all, you roll the dice yourself and can pursue strategies.
True beginner luck
However, an incredible story from the USA shows that a good portion of luck is essential in Craps. The year is 2009, Atlantic City. An older lady doesn't feel like playing the slot anymore and picks up her boyfriend while playing poker. He suggests to her to try craps. Patricia de Mauro rolls the dice for the first time at a table - and wins. That alone is no sensation. But she kept her winning hand for four hours and 18 minutes. A world record in a class of its own. 154 times in a row she rolled her way to victory, even though she hadn't quite understood the game yet.
A professor at Stanford University calculated that the probability of landing such a coup was 1:1.56 trillion. This means it's much more likely to be struck by lightning or win the lottery.
From Hazard to Craps
These special moments of happiness are what make Craps so exciting to play. In North America the game is much more appreciated than in Europe. This may be due to the fact that the game originated in New Orleans. The politician Mandeville brought the European "Hazard" to the players' rooms on the Mississippi. Hazard was the most popular game in 17th and 18th century Europe. The synonym "hazard game" for gambling stems from the popularity of the dice game at that time. Today Hazard has fallen into oblivion, but lives on in its further development Craps.
Procedure, rules and betting options
The special feature of Craps is first of all that no cup is used to roll the dice, but quite simply the hand. However, the two dice must jump against the small wall around the table and bounce off. There are a lot of manipulations that are often seen at a table. For example, you should only play the dice with one hand. It is not usual to "mix" the dice with two closed hands. A Craps player who knows his way around does not leave the table until his hand no longer wins. Of course, it is not forbidden to fold during a row, but it is generally expected that the shooter finishes his round.
The exact rules seem a bit confusing to beginners. Actually, the game is easy to learn, best through practical experience. There are many dice games on the Internet, especially Craps. This is a good way to practice in advance if you don't want to embarrass yourself at a real table in the casino during the first game.
At the beginning of a round, the shooter is thrown and the other players follow clockwise. The first roll has special rules. Therefore it has a special name, the "Come Out Roll". If the shooter now rolls a 7 or 11, he wins. The 7 and 11 are called "Natural". With the result of 2, 3 or 12 the player unfortunately had bad luck and wins the other players who played against him. Such a case is called "Crap". The so-called "points", i.e. all remaining numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, are neutral on the first roll and nobody wins or loses.
From the second round it's the other way round. The shooter loses as soon as he rolls a 7. Hence the saying "Seven out". Whether you win or lose as a fellow player generally depends on whether you bet against the bank or the shooter. It is of course more friendly not to bet on the shooter's bad luck. Therefore the field "Don't pass", where you bet against the dice thrower, is not chosen as often as "Pass". Of course there are a lot of side bets, for example the "Big 6" or "Big 8". Here you bet that a 6 or 8 falls before the next 7.
The seven has a special position in this game. And not necessarily because it's a magic number. In purely mathematical terms, the probability that a seven will be rolled is actually the highest of all possible results, namely exactly 16.67%. This is simply because the seven is the result of most possible combinations of the two pairs of eyes. Six combinations result in seven, followed with equal probability by their neighbors six and eight.
Craps Table
There are a few more rules and betting options that you should familiarize yourself with before your first attempt. Also, betting options and rules may vary, so you should always follow the game closely. On the other hand, beginners can also try a few throws as easy as Patricia de Mauro - maybe the next world record is in there after all.
The darling of the Americans
Many Europeans, including regular casino visitors, have never played craps. This is quite different in North America: What roulette is to Europeans, dice are to North Americans.
Craps isn't just a game of chance, it's entertainment for the whole round. Craps fans describe the atmosphere at the table as a social event. As the shooter throws, the game is much more personal and the results are assigned to the shooter. A bad roll will cause pity, the consolation of his fellow players is safe for every shooter. At the same time good throws will be celebrated. The shooter easily becomes a personal lucky charm. This has developed into a sophisticated etiquette that welds passionate players together.
Craps is the only game that the casino visitor "has in his hand", in the truest sense of the word. Of course, card players also hold their cards in their hands, but they were dealt them by the croupier. At Craps, the only thing that counts for shooters is their personal relationship to Fortuna.
Craps and the Spirit of Las Vegas
Tourists visiting Las Vegas, Atlantic City or other gambling metropolises in the USA should never leave a casino without having rolled the dice at least once at the table. Stickman, Boxman and Dealer are the players at the table. The Stickman takes care of the dice with a long stick, the Boxman monitors the game, checks the dice and decides in unclear situations. The dealer is responsible for the smooth running of the bets at the table. He spends the chips and collects the lost chips.
A special place for Craps fans was always Binion´s Horseshoe Casino at the Strip of Las Vegas. In 1951 the famous gambling magnate Benny Binion opened the Horseshoe - to the great annoyance of his competitors. He decided to dramatically increase the table limit at Craps. At $500, the limit was far more interesting than at any other casino. The Casino no longer belongs to the Binion family, but the excellent Craps tables have remained. For those looking for a real Las Vegas feeling: On the dice, ready, go!
Sic Bo - The Cage Game
Sic Bo is a game of dice that reminds one in a way of roulette. Sic Bo is also known by many other names: "Chuck a Luck", "Grand Hazard" or "Big and Small". The game with the three dice comes from China, or better said Shanghai. From there, Chinese immigrants brought it to the China Towns of the USA. The game is no longer an exotic intercontinental game. In Europe, however, it is not necessarily to be found in every casino. However, the game can be played online at any time and anywhere.
What is particularly interesting about Sic Bo is that the cubes are placed in a kind of cage, the "birdcage", and turned there, so that the result falls completely without a hand or cup. The croupier puts the dice back into the cage with each new round. The players can place their bets on the tableau. Actually, you can now bet on all possible combinations of the three dice. The most popular and very promising bet is on "Small" or "Big". This simple chance is known from Roulette, where you bet on results from 1-18 and 19-36. The same principle applies to Sic Bo, except that the number sizes here range from 4-10 and 11-17. Similar to the zero in roulette, the triple pocket in sic bo misses the easy odds. Lucky the one who bet on "Any Triple", for example. A result with three equal numbers wins with a odds of 30:1. Even better, if you could predict which triple will fall exactly, the "Specific Triple" has an attractive odds of 180:1.
Even if the tableau seems chaotic for inexperienced players at the beginning, the game is simple and worth a try if players are looking for some variety. Especially roulette players will find their way around the Sic Bo. Even if you find craps too complicated at first, Sic Bo can give you a few easy chances.
Dice poker
They do exist: dice for a deck of cards. "Poker Dice", "Liar Dice" or "Escalero" are the game variants of dice poker.
Poker dice were created in the 19th century - in the USA, of course. Instead of numbers, the dice show the symbols of the classic card decks. Poker Dice is a game between two people. As with regular poker, the goal is to defeat the other with a better combination. Usually each player has his own set of dice. The five dice can spit out any number of combinations. For example, "Five of a kind", i.e. five eyes equal five tens. In poker dice, of course, you can play in several betting rounds in the same way as card poker. However, dice poker is then more of a game for experienced players, regardless of whether they play with real poker dice or normal number dice. The Liar Dice is the hidden dice poker. This means that you can bluff like in card games. Liar Dice is the most popular dice game in the USA next to Craps and Sic Bo. The variant Escalero, on the other hand, is particularly popular in Austria.