Barbooth is a dice game with roots in the Middle East, but in the United States, you will mostly find it played by people of Greek or Jewish ancestry. It is a gambling game with a simple, binary outcome for the main players.
The shooter starts by casting two dice. Traditionally, these are miniature dice. The rules for winning and losing are specific.
- Winning throws: 3-3, 5-5, 6-6, or 6-5.
- Losing throws: 1-1, 2-2, 4-4, or 1-2.
Any other combination is meaningless. The game moves to a second player called the fader. This person sets stakes against the shooter. The two alternate in casting the dice.
Other players at the table can make side bets. They bet on whether the shooter or the fader will win the round. The game is even. Both the shooter and the fader have exactly equal chances of winning.
When a house banks the game instead of a fader, the dynamics shift slightly. An official called the cutter runs the game. The cutter charges a percentage on each bet. This fee is usually 5 percent. The cutter uses this cut to make a profit from the action.
“The game is even, shooter and fader having exactly equal chances of winning.”
If you are looking for how to play barbooth, the core mechanic is straightforward. You either roll a winning pair or you do not. The side bets add complexity for the audience. The house edge comes only when a professional cutter is involved.
The cultural ties to Greek and Jewish communities in the US are a key part of the game’s history. It remains a niche game today. But for those who know it, the rules are clear. Roll the dice. Win or lose. The odds stay even until the house takes its cut.
