Crown and Anchor
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Crown and Anchor is a simple dice game, traditionally played for gambling purposes by sailors in the British Navy. It is still popular in the Channel Islands and Bermuda, but is strictly controlled and may only be played on certain days, such as the Channel Islands' three annual agricultural shows, or Bermuda's annual Cup Match cricket game.
Three special dice are used in Crown and Anchor. The dice are equal in size and shape to standard dice, but instead of one through six pips, they are marked with six symbols: crown, anchor, diamond, spade, club and heart. (The last four are the same symbols used on playing cards).
A canvas or felt mat is used for placing bets. A player can wager on one or more symbols. He then throws the three dice, and is paid by the banker accordingly. Even money is paid if one of his bets comes up, 2:1 if two, and 3:1 if three. On average a gambler should expect to lose 7.9% of each turn's stake.
[edit] Variations
The rules of Crown and Anchor are the same as those of the American game chuck-a-luck. There is a similar Flemish version called Anker en Zon, or "Anchor and Sun", in which a sun symbol replaces the crown. The French version again uses the sun, and is called Ancre, Pique et Soleil. A version played in China and Vietnam is called Hoo Hey How or Bau cua ca cop.
