Dice games

Dice games have no specified origin date and almost certainly date back to stone age times. All that is required for a dice game to work is that a cube, or something approximating a cube, is created, and that indentions or markings of some kind be put into the cube so as to give some idea as to which side is shown when it is rolled. As at the invention of the first card games, dice games were the most popular game in the world, and it could be assumed that they had been the dominant game from stone age time up until the invention of the first card games. Dice games have a large role to play in terms of mythical numbers, in particular the numbers 7, 13 and 666. Dice games were outdated not only by the creation of card games but also by the education of the masses in basic mathematics. With mathematical knowledge, most dice games become rather boring and they lose their interest.

Types of early dice games

Single dice game - beat your opponent

Whilst "guess the result" games probably did exist, it is likely that the more popular type of single dice game was to try to beat your opponent. If they rolled a 3, you would need to roll a 4,5 or 6, and so forth. This game could be played with 1 die or with 1 die per player. Whilst typically 2 dice would be used, it could be played with just 1 die. This game almost certainly dates back to stone age times, yet it is still played to this day.

2 dice game - predict the result (craps)

The most popular 2-dice game is a "guess the result" game, which is currently often called "craps" [1]. Whilst a small degree of mathematical knowledge is required to play it (the ability to add 2 single digit numbers, up to a total as high as 12), most medieval people, even in the dark ages, were able to do this. Typically, one person will roll the dice and another will shout out the predicted total. Sometimes, the same player who rolls the dice will shout out the predicted total. Various amounts are bet with different odds if it is correct.

In medieval times, due to a lack of understanding of mathematics, it was commonly thought that the odds of any total were the same, and as such the game would typically be played with 2 people having money laid down, and the winner being the first one to correctly guess the result, in a 1:1 match. Obviously, if you call "7" every single time, then overall you win, and picking other likely results, such as 6 and 8, would also give you a good chance of winning.

Today, the game of craps has evolved into having odds based on the actual likelihood of different results coming up, and it is one player against the casino, as opposed to player against player.

The game of craps, or at least the medieval version (and the version that probably existed back to stone age times) is almost certainly the true origin of why the number 7 was considered to be lucky, because it is the most likely result.

3 dice games - beat your opponent

The most popular 3 dice game in ancient times was the same as the single dice game, but with 3 dice. Obviously, doing this with 2 dice could also be done, but where you tried to get a higher total than your opponent, but due to a lack of mathematical skill, the 2-dice variation was never particularly popular. Is 10 higher than 9? It would take too long to work out. The 3 dice game basically had players trying to have the majority of their dice higher than their opponents. If it was the same, then you would roll again.

For example:

Player 1: 6,3,2 vs Player 2: 5,4,3. Player 2 beats Player 1 with 2 dice higher.

This game is almost certainly the origin of the demonising of the number 666 in the Christian religion, and why it is "the number of the beast".

5 dice games - beat your opponent

Whilst the Chinese did eventually invent the 5-dice game Yahtzee, more popular in medieval and ancient times was a 5-dice variation fo the 3-dice beat your opponent game (above), with basically the same rules. This kind of game was popular amongst warmongers and it is represented in many and various medieval stories (both mythological and historical). An invader may capture someone and offer them a 5-dice game to try to prove their worth.

Comparison to other early games

Dice games may not have been the first games played. Perhaps a "run away from the beast before it kills you" kind of "chicken" game may have been played. Also, there were probably various drawing games with sticks in the dirt as well as various weapon games. Darts was probably a fairly early game as well, as that also has no set origin.

Dice games, however, was almost certainly the first gambling game. All depictions of early gambling, in any culture, feature dice games prominently, in medieval settings, ancient settings, or even stone age settings.

Likely early creation of dice

Dice were almost certainly created out of bones initially, and probably weren't particularly symmetrical in their first states. There may not have been a great need to give them markings as each side of a knuckle bone would have looked slightly differently.