CENTENNIAL
[source: Skip Frey, "How to Win at Dice Games"]


This is a simple game of chance, particularly suitable 
as an instructional game for children learning 
addition, but a surprisingly rollicking game of fun for 
a large group of adults.

As a social game, "Centennial" can arouse a great deal 
of excitement if played for a small stake.  Each one of 
the players contributes a similar coin to the pot.  To 
determine who goes first, each player rolls three dice.  

The one with the highest score begins, and players 
follow in turn.  The one who finishes first wins the 
pot.  There is no second-place money.  As the game 
proceeds and players come nearer to the finish line, 
the excitement waxes hot.

PLAYING TIME From 5 to 15 minutes.

NUMBER OF PLAYERS Best for five or more players, but 
affords fun for even two.

NUMBER OF DICE Three.

EQUIPMENT Pencil and paper for each player, with the 
numbers 1 to 12 and 12 to 1 written as below:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

OBJECT OF GAME To be the first player to score the numbers 
1 to 12, and then 12 to 1, in numerical order.

TO START Each player rolls the dice to determine the order 
of play.  The highest roller goes first.  Play proceeds 
clockwise.

THE PLAY A player has one cast of the three dice in each 
turn.  The first number he must make is a 1. If any of the 
three dice on his cast shows a 1, the player crosses out 
that number on his score sheet.

A player failing to produce a 1 on any of the three dice on 
his first turn has no move.

Once a player has crossed out the 1, he must make a 2 to 
score, then a 3, and so on.  He may not cross out any 
number until he has eliminated the number before it.  Thus, 
an opening roll of 2-3-5 does not score.

More than one number may be eliminated in a turn, and the 
same die may be used to make more than one number.  A roll 
of 1-1-2 on a player's first cast, for instance, would 
eliminate all the numbers from 1 through 4: a 1 and a 2 are 
present; 1+2=3; and 1+1+2=4.  The best possible opening 
roll, a 1-24, would eliminate all numbers from 1 through 7.

When a player reaches 1 1, he must throw one 12 to cross 
off that number on his 1-to-12 column, then another 12 to 
cross off that number on his 12-to-1 column.  He then must 
cross off all numbers in descending order to 1.

If a player rolls three 6's while trying for his first 
12, he may score both 12's.  If he makes the 12 any 
other way, however, he must make that number a second 
time before continuing down to 1.

A player's turn continues until he fails to score on a 
cast.

The first player to cross off all numbers from 1 to 12 
and then from 12 to 1 is the winner.

VARIANT "Matterhorn" This game is a variant of 
"Centennial" in which players are not required to 
score the numbers in sequence.  In this game, the 
first player to eliminate the numbers 1 through 12 
twice (once for the "ascent," once for the "descent") 
is the winner.

As noted, numbers need not be made in numerical order.  
However, a player must eliminate all the numbers on 
the ascent (1 through 12) before beginning to work on 
the descent (12 through 1).

A player has one roll of the three dice in a turn.  
The player crosses off numbers on the score sheet 
according to the result of his throw.  He may elect to 
use the numbers of his cast individually, or in any 
combination, but he may use each number only once.  

For example, a player who throws a 1-24 combination 
may cross off either: numbers 1, 2, and 4; numbers 3 
and 4; numbers 2 and 5; numbers 1 and 6; or number 7.
"Matterhorn" demands a good deal more strategy than 
does "Centennial." In "Matterhorn," it is generally 
advisable to cross off the higher numbers first.  The 
lower numbers 1 through 6 can be made easily on any 
throw, but the higher numbers require combinations 
which are less frequently produced.  These higher 
numbers should be eliminated as quickly as possible.
(see also: Everest)