barbooth

▪ game

also called  barbotte , or  barbudi 

      dice game of Middle Eastern origin, used for gambling; in the United States it is played chiefly by persons of Greek or Jewish ancestry. The shooter casts two dice (traditionally miniature dice). If he throws 3–3, 5–5, 6–6, or 6–5, he wins; if he throws 1–1, 2–2, 4–4, or 1–2, he loses. Other combinations are meaningless. A second player (the fader) sets stakes in betting against the shooter and alternates with him in casting the dice. Other players may make side bets on whether the shooter or the fader will win. The game is even, shooter and fader having exactly equal chances of winning. When banked by a house (in place of the fader), the official responsible (the cutter) charges a percentage on each bet, usually 5 percent, in order to make a profit.

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