BUCK DICE
[source: John Scarne, "Scarne on Dice"]

Any number can play and three dice are used. Each player throws
the dice to determine the order of play, the player making highest score
goes first, next highest second, and so on.

The low man then throws one die and the number thrown becomes
the point number. The high man begins by throwing all three dice,
scores one point for each point number thrown. He continues to throw
as long as he throws point numbers which are added as he goes along.

When he fails to throw a point number on any throw, the dice pass to
the next player.

The object is to score exactly 15 points, called Buck or game, and
each player, as he reaches this score, drops out of the game until only
one player remains who is the loser and who foots the bill. If a player
whose number is close to 15, on his next throw, reaches a total above
15, the throw does not count and he must throw again. Any three of a
kind (not point numbers) is a Little Buck and counts 5 points.When
the point number appears on all three dice, it is Big Buck or The

General which counts 15 points and eliminates the player no matter
what score he has previously made.

When played on a bar, three crosses, called bucks from their re-
semblance to the end view of a sawbuck, are drawn on the bar with
chalk. The center of the cross is erased when the player throws his first
point number and one arm of the cross is erased for each additional
point number thrown. When all three crosses are rubbed out, he has
scored fifteen.

In one popular variation, the additional rule is added that when
the shooter has 13 point numbers to his credit and 2 to go, only two
dice are thrown, and when he has scored 14 and has only I to go, only
one die is thrown.

The player shooting first has a slight advantage.