MAIN
.—The main is a principal term used in the fashionable and destructive nocturnal game of HAZARD, at which so many immense fortunes have been squandered away, and so very few realized. The person who is the holder of the BOX containing a PAIR of DICE, being set by an individual, or any part of the company, what money he, or they, may propose, and the money staked, (or, as it is technically called, covered,) he, the Caster, (that is, the holder of the box,) shaking the dice, throws them out upon the table: if the surface of both display a number above four, and not over nine, that number is then publicly announced "the MAIN" by the Groom Porter, (who is the officiating attendant upon the company and the game;) but the Caster throwing under four, or over nine, at the first throw, it is then called aloud, "No main;" and the Caster repeats his throw till a number appears between four and ten, whenever which happens, (as for instance, eight,) the Groom Porter instantly vociferates, "Eight is the main, eight;" and it is called the MAIN, because it is the main for the company against the next throw of the Caster, which is called the CHANCE; as being his own against the main previously thrown, and by both which the Caster and the Setters must abide, when main and chance are thrown; though either party may draw their money, upon not approving or fancying the main, provided they declare it before the chance is thrown. The Caster throwing eight or twelve, the very next throw to the main of eight, is said to "nick it," and wins the money. If he throws SEVEN for a MAIN, and immediately follows it with another seven, or an eleven, he nicks again, and wins likewise. Six and twelve are a nick to six; five and nine nick themselves, and win when they follow in succession, as described of eight. If, after throwing the main, the Caster at the next throw produces under four, they are called CRABS; he then loses, and his box-hand is said to be out, and he passes it to his next neighbour; when bets are made round the table according to fancy; some that the "Caster throws in;" others, that "he throws out;" exclusive of the constantly standing business, of SETTING the Caster what money he requires before he throws a main; when which, and the chance, are both thrown, and declared by the Porter, the odds are laid and taken in every part of the room, as opinion may prompt, or judgment dictate. These odds are regulated upon a scale of equity, from which there can be no departure; it being an invariable principle of the game, that any person laying an unfair bet, or deviating from the fixed odds, can never win. Every minute particular of the game cannot be reduced to paper here, or indeed perfectly understood from theory; but a farther elucidation will be found under its proper head, Hazard.