Other than Craps, there are various other games of chance played with dice. We'll discuss and illustrate the more popular ones here. And only one or two of these are still played in gambling houses — Craps being the big dice game these days. But you might want to play these other games with the fellows, or they may come back to the gambling halls. So here they are:

Chuck-Luck or Bird Cage used to be a favorite in the old western gambling halls. And it rated tops in the modern casinos until Craps came into being. However, it's still played occasionally in the bigger houses.

Chuck-Luck is a simple game. Three one-inch dice are tumbled over and over in a cage until they come to rest face up. Before each turn of the cage, bets are placed on a layout divided into 6 squares and numbered 1 through 6. The house pays various odds on bets corresponding to those shown on the dice. An example, if a dollar is bet on each of six numbers (and the dice come up 1, 4 and 6), the house pays out three dollars to the winners — and collects three dollars from those betting on 2, 3 and 5. But the house couldn't make any money if the betting stayed to this level. So it doesn't.

On doubles and triples, the house pays double and triple. A tempting bet for the customer. But the odds are 216 to 199 in favor of the house, or about 7.9%.

On triples, a bet that the throw will be any triple, such 3-3-3 or 5-5-5, the house pays 30 to 1. But the actual odds are 35 to 1. You can also "call your triple" and if it comes up, the house pays 180 to 1. Great odds? Not when you consider the correct odds or chances of making it. They are 215 to 1.

For a particular total, from 4 to 17, the house pays less than the correct odds. The house advantage in each case ranges from 10% to 20%.

The house pays even money on High (total 11 to 17), Low (total 4 to 10), Odd and Even numbers. But the house wins whenever a triple shows in the High and Low Bets. For instance, 15 loses if 5-5-5 comes up, and 9 loses if 3-3-3 comes up. Still, these bets are the best for the player. The correct odds are only 111 to 105 against him.

If you want to set up a "friendly game" at home you can buy all the equipment. A cage, highly polished, runs around $100. A cloth layout, about $15. And a set of three dice, about $10.
To make the game "unfriendly" the rest of the equipment can be had for a price. A magnet to hook up under the cage, plus batteries, wires and operator's switch cost between $75 and $100. And three magnetic dice, about $50. Rather expensive (but if you're that kind of a guy), the equipment pays for itself. (*Publisher's Note: Please check your supplier for current pricing.)

Although we've commented on how it's possible to rig a Chuck-Luck cage, licensed gambling houses do not have to go to the trouble — anymore than they do with their crap tables. They make sufficient profit operating honestly. So here as in the game of Craps, you won't get cheated if you play Chuck-Luck at a recognized house.

Bet	Chances Against	Chances For	Correct Odds	House Pays	House Keeps Per $1
High (11 to 17)	111 to	105	111-105	Even	2-3/4¢
Low (4 to 10)	111 to	105	111-105	Even	2-3/4¢
Odd	111 to	105	111-105	Even	2-3/4¢
Even	111 to	105	111-105	Even	2-3/4¢
A Specified Triple	215 to	1	215-1	180-1	16¢
Any Triple	210 to	6	35-1	30-1	14¢
Total 4	213 to	3	71-1	60-1	15-1/3¢
Total 5	210 to	6	35-1	30-1	14¢
Total 6	207 to	9	23-1	18-1	21¢
Total 7	201 to	15	67-5	12-1	9-2/3¢
Total 8	195 to	21	65-7	8-1	12-1/2¢
Total 9	192 to	24	8-1	6-1	22¢
Total 10	189 to	27	7-1	6-1	12-1/2¢
Total 11	189 to	27	7-1	6-1	12-1/2¢
Total 12	192 to	24	8-1	6-1	22¢
Total 13	195 to	21	65-7	8-1	12-1/2¢
Total 14	201 to	15	67-5	12-1	9-2/3¢
Total 15	207 to	9	23-1	18-1	21¢
Total 16	210 to	6	35-1	30-1	14¢
Total 17	213 to	3	71-1	60-1	15-1/3¢

This is an oldtimer, perhaps the oldest of all dice games. It's suspected that the cavemen throwing their pebbles had the various sides crudely marked with different spots. So in reality, they were probably playing High-Low dice.

Two dice are used, and in its simplest form the player who throws the highest number takes the money. Any number can play, but most often the game is played by two - a sort of honeymoon dice. Also, Low can be thrown for instead of High. And in the case of a tie, the first caster is the winner.

When it rated as a gambling house game the rules were a bit different. Since the house had to show a profit, it needed an advantage. Thus, all ties were settled in favor of the house. For example, if a player rolls a combination totaling 6 and the house rolls a 6 — the player loses. At first thought, this doesn't seem too bad. But think of it another way.

If a player rolls a 7, there's one chance in 6 (pretty good odds) that the house will get the same total — and win. Also, other ties come up just as frequently. And this is with the house running the game honestly. Consider now what the house can do — if it cheats.

You throw a 10, so the house needs a 10,11 or 12 to win. The crooked house will do it — by means of a crooked die which helps that 10, 11 or 12 along. And if they switch the game, playing for Low instead of High, there are dice that show double 1.

It's easy to see why High-Low lost its favor with honest gamblers.

Liar dice is mostly thought of as an American game, popular in Army officers' clubs and with soldiers in general. However, it's believed that it started in London, being a poor man's take off on the game of Hazard. But except that dice cups are used it hardly resembles the game of Hazard.

Liar dice is a simple game in comparison. Still, it does afford some bluffing and poker face action which makes it much more than just another game of chance with dice.

Ten dice, two dice cups and a light wooden screen are used. The screen should be at least a foot in height, and about a foot and a half in length. The screen is mounted on a table between the players so that neither can see what the other rolls.

Each player uses five dice and a dice cup. The dice points rank as follows: the 1 or ace is the highest, and then 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. To start the game, the players each roll one die to determine who is to be the caller. High man, of course, is the caller.

Each player shakes his five dice in the cup and rolls them against his side of the screen. Now the caller announces some poker hand (see illustration of hands in Liar Dice). Remember, the wooden screen prevents one player from seeing the other player's roll. Thus, the caller need not announce his actual hand. He could actually have just one pair — but bluff and announce that he had two pair. This is the part — and a legal part of the game — that makes Liar dice interesting. How much can you get away with — and how much will the traffic bear?

Such a set up can be found in many Army officers' clubs. The equipment includes ten dice, two dice cups, and a light wooden screen at least a foot high — so that one player can't see what the other rolls. Some lying is part of the game — thus the name. The enlisted man, not to be out done by the brass, often improvised to play the game. There were always enough dice around. A couple of canteen cups served as dice cups. And one could always dig up a board of some sort for a screen.

These are the hands that may be formed in Liar Dice, and ties are broken as in Poker.

When a player announces a hand he must identify it clearly. He cannot say "I've got a full house" or "fours full," but must call his hand as such — "three fours and two aces."

However, in the case of "one pair" it's hardly necessary to identify each die — someone else is certain to beat you.

As the opponent of the caller you may do one of three things: (1) you can lift the screen, (2) claim a better hand, (3) roll again.

If you lift the screen, you end the play. By doing such you are saying, "I don't believe you fella. You don't have that good of a hand." And if your guess is true — meaning the caller was bluffing — you who lifted the screen win the round. But if the caller had the hand he called, or a better one, he wins.

Or let's say that you claimed a better hand than the caller. In this way, you transfer the decision to the caller. Then he must either raise the screen, claim a still higher hand, or roll again.

A player is entitled to three rolls per round. In other words, after his first roll he may find himself with a small pair, say 2-2. He can pick up the other three dice and roll them again. But he does not have to use all three rolls. And he can choose his own times for the second and third rolls.

However, once deciding to roll again, the player commits himself to claim a higher hand than was announced by his opponent. And if he failed to better himself by additional rolls — he cannot try to save himself by lifting the screen. But after taking his three rolls — a player either keeps claiming higher than the other — or brings a showdown by raising the screen.

Bluffing, many times, or knowing when to call a bluff, are the most important skills in this game. So if you're good at either you'll like Liar dice. And probably get your share of winnings.

Next to Craps, poker dice is probably the most popular dice game played in the United States. It's a favorite in many big city bars and restaurants where the wagering customers play it to decide who picks up the tab. Of course, you can play for cold cash as well.

Five dice and a dice cup are used. The dice can be either the standard dice, marked with spots - or the genuine poker dice with miniature playing card faces — the ace, king, queen, jack, 10 and 9 — incised on the six faces of each die, as such:

And some bars and restaurants offer an interesting variety of dice cups for their patrons — with cheese cake photography — pin ups — or cups made into skull and bones, the devil, and the like:

While the face value of special poker dice descend from the ace to the 9, the value of standard dice usually descend from 6 to 1. Of course the players may prefer to consider the 1 as an ace, in which case the faces would rank 1, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2.

Whichever type of dice are used, the rules are the same. The object of each player is to form the best poker hand in a minimum number of rolls of the dice.

FIVE OF A KIND — five higher dice beating five of a lower rank.

FOUR OF A KIND — if two players throw the same four, the point of the fifth dice determines the winner.

FULL HOUSE — as in poker itself, the highest ranking full house takes it.

THREE OF A KIND — TWO PAIR — ONE PAIR.

As you'll note, STRAIGHTS do not usually count, but there's nothing preventing the players from putting them in. Also, when using standard dice, some players make the 2's wild. And when using regular poker dice, sometimes the 9's or 10's are made wild. The rules vary so much that one can pretty nearly set his own, as long as all the players agree.

Theoretically, any number may play, but ideally the game is played by groups of two to five. A larger number than that would slow down the desired fast pace of the game.

As we said, rules and methods of play vary, but usually the players bet only once, by putting up an ante before the dice are rolled. Each player has three rolls. And the starter is determined by each player rolling one die for high. High man is the starter.

With his first roll, the starter rolls all five dice. He may set aside any of these to be part of his eventual poker hand, and then roll the rest again. And from the second roll he may set aside certain dice, and roll the remaining dice again.

Or he may stand at any time, and not take any additional rolls due him.

If the starter is satisfied with his first roll, he need not take the other two — in which case the other players are limited to one throw each. But if he decides to use his second and third roll — the other players do the same.

Naturally, the high hand wins when the game is being played for an ante. In the case of paying for drinks or a meal, everyone wins except the low man - he gets the check.

Yacht dice is another form of Poker dice. How it got its name isn't too clear. But since yachting, in its true sense, has to do with the pursuit or the chase, maybe that's it. In Yacht, it is a sort of chase for the highest score.

The game may appear complicated but actually is not. Although completing a game requires considerable time, it is by no means slow. Thinking must be quick so the game is rapid. And depending upon the size of the ante, it's a fascinating game from beginning to end.

Five dice are used and a dice cup. Any number from two to about ten may play, but the game is best with five players. And if each player antes, say five dollars, the jackpot of twenty-five dollars is both a friendly and interesting one.

The players take turns in rolling the five dice, three rolls at each turn. Each player gets twelve turns. There are twelve different combinations to be rolled, and a player must choose one of these for each of his turns, scoring in proportion to his success.

1) Ones — the number of ones rolled.

2) Twos — the number of twos rolled.

3) Threes — the number of threes rolled.

4) Fours — the number of fours rolled.

5) Fives — the number of fives rolled.

6) Sixes — the number of sixes rolled.

7) Little Straight — 1-2-3-4-5

8) Big Straight — 2-3-4-5-6

9) Full House — three of one kind and two of another.

10) Four Of A Kind — four of any one number.

11) Choice — no requirement.

12) Yacht — five of any one number.

1s, 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s — score the total of the numbers. Thus, if 2s are chosen, the combination 6-5-4-2-2 would score 4, for the two deuces. The maximum score in the 2s category is, of course, 10. For the 6s, it would be 30.

Full House — may be chosen only when the roll represents three of a kind and a pair. It scores the total of the numbers which make up the hand, so that 4-4-4-2-2 scores 16 for full house.

For example, player #1 will have 12 turns. There are 3 rolls in each turn. After the first roll of the first turn, he chooses one of the twelve hands above — and then takes his second and third roll in that turn to see if he can make it. No one hand can be picked more than once in the course of the game.

Player #1, first turn, first roll, gets 1-2-3-5-6. He chooses a "little straight." Thus, he saves the 1-2-3 and the 5, hoping for a "gut dice," and rolls again the one remaining die. It's a 4 — which gives him 1-2-3-4-5, his chosen hand and a total of 30 for his first turn. He didn't need his third roll — but it's hardly that easily done.

Four Of A Kind — also scores the total of the numbers on the dice, provided they include four of a kind. If on his last roll a player has only the four-of-a-kind category unused, and the roll is 5-5-5-4-2, he does not score at all. If his roll were 5-5-5-5-2, he would score 22. And if he had 5-5-5-5-5, he could count it as four of a kind and score 25.

Little Straight is 1-2-3-4-5; Big Straight is 2-3-4-5-6. Each scores 30.

Yacht is any five of a kind. It scores 50. But must be called as such to get the score. You can't be going after four of a kind and accidentally hit five of a kind — and get credit for it.

Choice — is designed to give a player leeway for a bad roll. It counts the total on the dice. A player who has already filled his 6s and full house categories, and who in going out for four of a kind gets 6-6-6-5-5, may score it as Choice and score 28 points.

The categories 1s, 2s and 3s are used to cover bad rolls, as when a player goes out for one of the straights and misses. He may as well enter the result in Is, even if there is not an ace in his roll. He could never score more than 5 in that category anyway.

As previously noted, after the first roll of each turn, a player chooses one of 12 combinations or hands. This choice is the most important element in the game. A player's cleverness or good luck (that theory of chance again) in making the right choice is the chief factor determining his success.

Remember, that the score for any combination is the total of all the spots in the combination, so that four twos score eight points, but four fives score twenty points. This fact requires a player to choose repeatedly between taking a sure but small score — and trying for a larger one with the chance of no score at all.

Suppose, for example, that a player rolls 1-1-1-2-2. He could choose to play for ones, in which case he would leave the three ones that he has already, and roll the other dice in the hope of getting another one or possibly two of them.

If he gets another one on his second roll, he rolls only the remaining die on the third. Otherwise, he rolls both of them again on the third roll. Thus, he is sure to get three points for ones, and might get four or five.

Suppose, however, that he elects to try for four-of-a-kind. In this case he again leaves the ones and takes two more rolls with the other dice. He may have bad luck and not get another one, in which case he must score zero for four-of-a-kind. Even if he is successful he scores only four points for four ones. And this is a poor score in view of the fact that he has a possibility of twenty-four points for making his four-of-a-kind with sixes.

It should not be hard for him to elect the ones on this roll and plan to try for four-of-a-kind later. But all too many times the choice is not so easy to make.

Many conservative players favor the "Choice" combination of the game. It's a sure thing, but of course, you take your chances on how high a score you make. When a player elects "Choice," he then rolls three times as usual, and scores the total value of the spots regardless of what they are. In other words, no set combination at all is required, and the player's only objective is to make the six sets of spots add up as high as possible.

And so the game continues until every player has had twelve turns. The scores are totaled, and high man picks up the ante.

In 1654, the Chevalier de Mere, a mathematically inclined gamester, found himself in difficulties over the problem of dividing the gains in games of chance.

So he sought the advice of the greatest mathematician of his time, Pascal. And that started a train of thought which has led, during the last three centuries, to the development of the immensely important theory of probability or chance.