This is an ancient English gambling game that was allegedly first played by the crusaders while laying siege to an Arabian castle called Hazart or Asart in the 12th century.  It became hugely popular during the 17th and 18th centuries.  Then it was played all over Europe and was later exported to the Americas where it developed into Craps.  It is played with two dice and stakes.

The first player, known as the caster, starts the game by placing his stake in the centre of the playing area.  The other players who wish to bet place their stakes in the centre and the caster accepts the bets by knocking.

Once the bets have been made the caster throws the dice to establish a main point.  This must be a total of 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 and if he fails to roll one of these totals he continues throwing until he does.

Once the main point is established the caster throws the dice again to establish a chance point which must be a total of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10.  If on the chance point throw they roll an out they lose.  An out is a total of 2 or 3, known as a crab, or a total of 12 with a main point number of 5, 6, 8, or 9.  The caster wins if when throwing for the chance point he rolls a nick.  A nick is a total of 11 when the main point is 7, a total of 12 with a main point of 6 or 8, or a throw of the main point itself.

If a chance point is established he continues rolling until he either throws the chance point again and wins or until he throws the main point again and loses.

If the caster wins then they take all the stakes in the centre.  If he loses then each of the other players take their stake back with an equal amount of the caster's.