Chicken road, also known as “craps” or “pass line,” is an age-old casino game that involves players betting on the outcome of rolled dice. The name “chicken road” likely originated from its popularity among informal gamblers and social gatherings outside casinos. This article will delve into the world of chicken road, examining its basic rules, variations, and significance in online gambling.
History and Etymology
While its exact origins are unclear, evidence suggests that a game similar to craps was played as Chicken Road far back as ancient Rome. The modern version is believed to have originated from England’s 16th-century dice games. Over time, the game spread throughout Europe before eventually making its way across the Atlantic Ocean. “Craps” itself stems from an early slang term for people of lower social class or background.
Basic Rules and Gameplay
The objective in chicken road is simple: players bet on either the outcome of two rolled dice (pass line) or a specific combination thereof (don’t pass). To place a bet, participants position themselves at designated sections marked “tableau” or “layout,” adjacent to one another. Bets can be made for a variety of outcomes and are determined by the number and order in which they appear.
Common bets placed include:
1. Pass Line : Players win if either of the first two dice rolled land on seven; loss is possible unless a natural (a roll with 6 or less) occurs within three consecutive rolls. A “push” results when no player wins, requiring all stakes to be returned.
2. Don’t Pass/Don’t Come : This variation allows bets against winning and places an even higher chance of losing on the table layout due to its inverse rules from pass line bets.
Types or Variations
Chicken road has numerous variants; here are several prominent examples:
1. American Craps : The variant used in Las Vegas casinos, where players roll two six-sided dice. There is also a variation using four ten-sided (two 6’s and one die) dimes at the same table.
2. High Low Dice Game : A game of probability where players aim to guess whether the total number obtained by adding two random numbers from their decks falls high above eight or low below it.
3. Chicane Road :, an informal name for a simple dice-game played in public, but not with actual money bets.