Hazard has been described through the ages and even in Alphonso X of Castile, León, and Galicia’s Book of Games.
I will describe here the different variations as they appeared in that book and other sources. For all games of hazard, two dice are needed.
It should be noted there is an aspect of gambling in these games. As such, do not gamble using anything of monetary value. Instead, use tokens or candy, for example. Furthermore, if you have a gambling addiction, avoid these games!
Half Hazard
First, all players roll dice to determine play order. Next, each player places a bet in the kitty.
Each player, on their turn, will roll the dice. If the results are below 8 or above 13, which is called a hazard, the player win the bets placed. Everything in the middle, which are 8 through 13, are called the nick. The player rolls again. If they do not roll a hazard, this becomes known as the out. The player continues rolling until they roll either the nick or the out.
The payouts are as follows:
2 hazards are worth 4 tokens
3 hazards are worth 5 tokens
and so on
Once the nick is rolled, the player keeps all stakes. If the out is rolled, the player returns the stakes. In either case, the next player takes their turn. Once all players have taken their turns, the player with the highest stakes wins the kitty.
Raised Hazard
This is played similarly to Half Hazard except the stakes are increased by 4.
Medieval Hazard
First all players roll dice to see who will be the caster.
On their turn, the caster then rolls the dice. If the total pips are not from 5 through 9, the dice are passed on to the player to the left who becomes the new caster. If the main is determined, the caster rolls again to determine the chance, which is any number from 4 through 10. If the main is rolled, the dice are also passed to the player to the left who becomes the new caster.
Next, all other players place bets in the kitty that the caster will roll an out. Now, the caster rolls the dice again. If the caster rolls the chance, the caster wins and collects the bets. If the caster nicks, they also win and collects the kitty. If the caster is out, the kitty is divided among the other players and the dice are passed to the player to the left who becomes the new caster. To determine if the caster nicks it or is out the following is determined (note: rolling a 2 or 3 is always out):
If the main is 5, it nicks on 5, but is out on 11 and 12.
If the main is 6, it nicks on 6 and 12, but is out on 11.
If the main is 7, it nicks on 7 and 11, but is out on 12.
If the main is 8, it nicks on 8 and 12, but is out on 11.
If the main is 9, it nicks on 9, but is out on 11 and 12.
If the caster has not nicked or is not out, they may roll again or pass the dice to the player to the left who is the new caster.
Play continues until one player has all the tokens. At any time, a player may leave the game.
Wrap Up
The game of hazard is fun and entertaining. It certainly isn’t intended for someone to sink their entire fortunes on the roll of dice because, let’s be honest, there’s just too much chaos in the rolls and we all have too much chaos in our lives as it is.