The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)Steinmetz, Andrew
History
The Gaming Table: Its Votaries and Victims. Volume 2 (of 2)
Steinmetz, Andrew
Gambling
The better to illustrate the game we shall give an example. Let 7 be the
main named. The caster throws 5, and that is his chance; and so he has
5 to 7. If the caster throws his own chance he wins all the money set to
him by the setter; but if he throws 7, which is the main, he must pay as
much money as is on the table.
If, again, 7 be the main, and the caster throws 11, that is a nick, and
sweeps away all the money on the table; but if he throws a chance he
must wait which will come first.
The worst chances in the game are 4 to 10, and 7 is considered the best
and easiest main to be thrown. It might be thought that 6 and 8 should
admit of no difference in advantage to 7, but it is just the reverse,
although 6, 7, and 8 have eight equal chances.
For 6, or sice, we have quatre-duce, cinque-ace, and two treys; for 8,
we have sice-duce, cinque-trey, and two quatres; but the disadvantage is
in the doublets required--two treys, two quatres; therefore sice-duce
is easier thrown than two quatres, and so, consequently, cinque-ace or
quatre-duce sooner than two treys.
'I saw an old rook (gambler),' says the writer before quoted, 'take up
a young fellow in a tavern upon this very bet. The bargain was made
that the rook should have seven always, and the young gentleman six, and
throw continually. To play they went; the rook won the first day L10,
and the next day the like sum; and so for six days together, in all L60.
Notwithstanding the gentleman, I am confident, had fair dice, and threw
them always himself. And further to confirm what I alleged before, not
only this gamester, but many more have told me that they desired no
greater advantage than this bet of 7 to 6. But it is the opinion of most
that at the first throw the caster hath the worst of it.
'Hazard is certainly the most bewitching game that is played with dice;
for when a man begins to play, he knows not when to leave off; and
having once accustomed himself to it, he hardly ever after minds
anything else.'(66)
(66) The Compleat Gamester, by Richard Seymour, Esq. 1739.
As this game is of a somewhat complicated character, another account of
it, which appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette for Sept. 3, 1869, may not
be unacceptable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account