How about the secrets of the dice game Chuck-A-Luck?
Chuck-A-Luck (also called Bird Cage) is becoming popular once again, and
several casinos have a chuck-a-luck game, but it is usually found in the
slot machine area rather than with the table games. Long ago, along with
Hazard, it was the forerunner of craps.
You may see a large dice ?Bird Cage? with a handle on the side filled
with three large dice.
The ?dealer? will announce to onlookers ?The Best game there is - Three
winners and three losers - Bet Just $1 - Easiest money you?ll ever make!?
Sounds like a good 50/50 proposition, but it?s a little more complicated
than that.
Wanna know the secrets that dice pros use to play Chuck-A-Luck?
Let?s find out!
Underneath the large wire Chuck-A-Luck cage is a layout vaguely
reminiscent of a craps game. It is usually green, with the numbers 1, 2, 3,
4, 5 and 6 printed on top. You place $1 on any of the numbers and if your
number appears on any one die, you get even money. If your number appears on
two dice, you get 2:1 ($2). If it appears on all three dice, you get 3:1
($3). The game begins when all six numbers have a bet placed on them.
Although on the surface this looks pretty good, let?s look at what is
really happening here.
If two 2's and one 3 are thrown the bank pays $2 to whoever bet on the 2
and $1 to whoever bet on the 3. Those who bet the 1, 4, 5 and 6 all lose. In
this case there are two winners and four losers. So the ?house? takes in $6
and pays out $3.
Now let?s say the dealer rolls three fours. Whoever bet on the four wins
$3, but all five other bettors lose $1.
The dealer?s original claim of three winners and three losers is true,
but only applies if all three dice are different. If he rolls for example,
2, 3, 4 then three people will win $1 each and three people will lose $1
each.
If you figure out the casino edge for this game it is about 7%, which is
not so good compared to other casino games. Plus, there is no strategy
involved, it is purely a game of luck.
If you see Bird Cage or Chuck-A-Luck at a County Fair, beware of cheating.
Watch out for a setup where the bottom of the cage is less than one inch
from the supporting box. This could signify a foot operated magnet that the
?dealer? uses to alter the outcome so he wins more and you win less. You
don?t have to worry about this in casinos because the 7% house edge is more
than enough for them.