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How to Play Hazard
This is a dice game which Pelham has a predeliction for in 'The Conveninent Marriage'. Heyer describes a game he plays which talks about nicks, and mains and groom-porters, all rather confusing really. So here is the game and its rules to help understand what is going on;With Hazard, the players assemble round a circular table, a space being reserved for the groom-porter, who occupies a somewhat elevated position, and whose duty it is to call the odds and see that the game is played correctly.
Whoever takes the box and dice places in the centre of the table as much money as he wishes to risk, which is at once covered with an equal amount either by some individual speculator, or by the contributions of several.
The player, technically called the caster then proceeds to call a main. There are five mains on the dice, namely, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9; of these he mentally selects that one which either chance or superstition may suggest, calls it aloud, shakes the box, and delivers the dice.
If he throws the exact number he called, he nicks it and wins; if he throws any other number (with a few exceptions, which will be mentioned), he neither wins nor loses. The number, however, which he thus throws becomes his chance, and if he can succeed in repeating it before he throws what was his main, he wins; if not, he loses. In other words, having completely failed to throw his main he now has a second chance - and that is to throw his chance again.
For example, suppose the caster sets--that is, places on the table--a stake of L10, and it is covered by an equal amount, and he then calls 7 as his main and throws 5; the groom-porter at once calls aloud, "5 to 7"-- that means, 5 is the number to win and 7 the number to lose, and the player continues throwing until the event is determined by the turning up of either the main or the chance. During this time, however, a most important feature in the game comes into operation--the laying and taking of the odds caused by the relative proportions of the main and the chance. These, as has been said, are calculated with mathematical nicety, are proclaimed by the groom-porter, and are never varied. In the above instance, as the caster stands to win with 5 and to lose with 7, the odds are declared to be 3 to 2 against him, inasmuch as there are three ways of throwing 7, and only two of throwing 5. As soon as the odds are declared, the caster may increase his stake by any sum he wishes, and the other players may cover it by putting down (in this instance) two-thirds of the amount, the masse, or entire sum, to await the turning up of either main or chance. If a player throws out three times in succession, the box passes to the next person on his left, who at once takes up the play. He may, however, throw in without interruption, and if he can do so some half-dozen times and back his luck, the gains will be enormous.
The choice of a main is quite optional: many prefer 7 because they may make a coup at once by throwing that number or by throwing 11, which is a "nick" to 7, but to 7 only. Shrewd players, however, prefer some other main, with the view of having a more favourable chance to depend upon of winning both stake and odds. For example, let us reverse what was mentioned above, and suppose the caster to call 5 and throw 7; he then will have 7 as his chance to win with odds of 3 to 2 in his favour.
So that is English Hazard, and large fortunes have been won and lost at it. It is exceedingly simple, and at times can become painfully interesting. Cheating is impossible, unless with loaded dice, which have been used and detected by their splitting in two.
The mode of repaying the owner of the rooms was a popular one and helped the popularity of the game. The loser never paid, and the winner only when he succeeded in throwing three mains in succession; and even then the "box fee," as it was called, was limited to 5s.--a mere trifle from what he must have gained.
In French Hazard had slightly different rules again.
In addition to the fixed rules of English Hazard, there were several regulations which were required . The round table on which it is played has a deeply bevelled edge, which is intended to prevent the dice from landing on the floor, which would be no throw. Again, if either die, after having left the box, should strike any object on the table (such as a man's elbow or stick) except MONEY, it would be called no throw. Again, each player has the privilege of calling dice, even when the dice are in transitu, which, if done, renders the throw void, and causes another set to be handed to the caster by the groom- porter. Many a lucky coup has become manque by some captious player exercising this privilege, and many an angry rencontre has ensued between the officious meddler and the disappointed caster, who finds that he has nicked his main to no advantage. Sometimes one die remains in the box after the other has been landed; then the caster may either throw it quickly, or may tantalize those interested in the event by gently coaxing it from the bow. If one die lands on the top of another, it is removed by the groom-porter and declared a throw.