Every three successive mains the caster wins, he is to pay half a guinea to the box or furnisher of the dice.
The meaning of a stake or bet at this game differs somewhat from the other. If a person choose to lay a sum of money with the thrower or caster, he must put his cash upon the table, within a circle which is described for that purpose; when he has done this, if the caster agree to it, he knocks the box upon the table at the person’s money with whom he intends to bet, or particularly mentions at whose money he throws, which is sufficient, and he is obliged to answer whatever sum is down, unless the staker calls to cover; in that case the caster is obliged to stake also, otherwise the bets would be void. It is optional in the person who bets with the thrower, to bar any throw which the caster may be going to cast, provided neither of the dice be seen; if one die should be discovered, the caster must throw the other to it, unless the throw is barred in proper time.
The common odds, which are absolutely necessary to be understood, before any person attempts to play or bet at this game, are as follow: if seven be thrown for the main, and four the chance, it is 2 to 1 against the person who throws; if six to four be thrown, 5 to 3; if five to four, 4 to 3; seven to nine, 3 to 2; seven to six, 3 to 2, barring the two trois; with the two trois, only six to five; seven to five, 3 to 2; six to five, an even bet, barring the doublets or the two trois; with the trois, 5 to 4; eight to five, an even bet, barring the two fours; five to four with the two fours; nine to five, even; nine to four, is 4 to 3; the nick of seven is 7 to 2, but often laid but 10 to 3; and five to one you do not nick six or eight.
To illustrate these calculations still more clearly, the following table will be serviceable:—
| TABLE OF THE ODDS. | |||
| 7 to 4 | is | 2 to 1. | ⎫ |
| 6 .. 4 | .. | 5 .. 3. | ⎪ |
| 5 .. 4 | .. | 4 .. 3. | ⎪ |
| 7 .. 9 | .. | 3 .. 2. | ⎪ |
| 7 .. 6 | ⎧ | 3 .. 2, barring the two trois. | ⎪ |
| ⎩ | 6 .. 5, with the two trois. | ⎪ against | |
| 7 .. 5 | .. | 3 .. 2. | ⎬ the |
| 6 .. 5 | ⎧ | even, barring the two trois. | ⎪ caster. |
| ⎩ | 5 .. 4 with the two trois. | ⎪ | |
| 8 .. 5 | ⎧ | even, barring the two fours | ⎪ |
| ⎩ | 5 .. 4 with the two fours. | ⎪ | |
| 9 .. 5 | .. | even. | ⎪ |
| 9 .. 4 | .. | 4 .. 3. | ⎭ |
The nick of seven is 7 to 2, often laid 10 to 3.
The nick of six and eight is 5 to 1.
It is necessary to be perfectly master of these odds, in order to play the prudent game, and to make use of them by way of insuring bets in what is called hedging, in case the chance happens to be unlikely; for, by taking the odds a ready calculator secures himself, and often stands part of his bet to a certainty. For example, if seven be the main, and four the chance, and he should have 5l. depending on the main, by taking 6l. to 3l. he must either win 2l. or 1l.; and on the contrary, if he should not like his chance, by laying the odds against himself, he must save in proportion to the bet he has made.—Hoyle.
Hazard, v. To expose to chance.
Haze, s. Fog, mist.