Balut is a game of dice, similar to Yahtzee, created by United States soldiers as an alternative to poker, and is a popular pastime of businessmen overseas. The game is named after a delicacy made from the fetal duck egg available in some Southeast Asian countries.
Edgar "Eddie" Woolbright was an American soldier stationed in the Philippines who remained there for the rest of his life, becoming a successful local businessman.[1] The origin story that is recounted for the game by its players is that two U.S. soldiers were in one of Woolbright's early establishments in Tacloban, the Woolbright Tacloban Airline Hotel, stuck for a drinking/gambling game to play because they had no playing cards but wanted to play poker.[2] They settled on playing poker with dice rather than cards, inventing what they initially called "poker dice".[2]
A set of poker dice from the 1940s, of the type originally used for balut
Originally the game's format only extended to two players, but some Europeans staying at the same hotel who also wanted to play extended the game to more than two players.[2] The "poker dice" game gained its current name when Woolbright and some players out on a walk one day, hearing the cries of "balut!" by balut egg vendors, decided that that would be the name of the game.[2] Woolbright took the game from Tacloban to his later establishments in the Philippines as his businesses grew, and also played it at the British Club in Cebu City.[2] Other people exported it elsewhere: a British captain to Singapore, and some expatriate Scandinavians to Thailand.[2] An International Balut Federation was created in 1972.[2]
Denmark
The international Danish community has taken the game as a popular method of social interaction abroad and at home, with Danish expatriates/businessmen gathering to play the game monthly. Rules of the game, code of conduct including dress code are enforced by participants and by the gamemasters, and games are organized by members of the International Balut Federation, or IBF.[3]
Play
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2019)
The game involves rolling five dice up to 3 times to make various combinations, which are noted on a scorecard. A Balut is a five-of-a-kind of any denomination, but unlike in Yahtzee it counts for little in terms of points. Players who obtain a Balut announce it to the other players by calling out "Balut!"—similar to calling out "bingo!", and note it on a special scorecard. Players try to guess before gameplay how many Baluts will be made during the game; correctly guessing the total number can earn a prize.[4]
On a turn, player may roll the dice up to three times. After a roll, player may take one or more dice out of play to save their result and then roll the remaining dice. There are seven scoring combinations that the player may only achieve once. At the end of the turn, the player will score per the combo created. If the player cannot create a combo, then player must scratch one of their remaining unfulfilled combos. That scratched combo is no longer playable for the remainder of the game. Play then continues to the left until all players have completed the 7 combo possibilities with a score or a scratch. Further rounds may be played...high score wins.
Possible Combinations:
Fours - Scores 4 points for each die face of four
Fives - Scores 5 points for each die face of five
Sixes - Scores 6 points for each die face of six
Straight - Scores 50 points for a five die sequence e.g., 2-3-4-5-6
House - One Triple, one pair - scores sum of all die faces
Choice - Scores sum of all five dice
Balut - Five of a kind - Scores 30 points
South East Asia variation
In 1973, the game was brought into Singapore and a set of rules was established at Singapore Town Club in 1978. This set of rules was later spread to other private clubs in Singapore and to other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines.[5][6] Although the Singapore Town Club ceased existence in 2000 other clubs continue the name for the tournament. These Clubs organize regular local and international tournaments as well as gathering together each year for the STC Balut Interport Championship. The 28th was held at the British Club Bangkok in 2008 and the 29th was held at the Sabah Golf & Country Club in 2009. In 2017 the international competition was held at the Sarawak Club in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
The present-day clubhouse of the British Club of Bangkok, featured in a postcard from c. 1912
In 2010 the 30th STC Interport Competition was held at the British Club Bangkok on 19 to 21 November.
McCallus, Joseph P. (2010). The MacArthur Highway and Other Relics of American Empire in the Philippines. Potomac Books, Inc. ISBN9781597974974.
January 07, 2023
balut, game, this, article, uses, bare, urls, which, uninformative, vulnerable, link, please, consider, converting, them, full, citations, ensure, article, remains, verifiable, maintains, consistent, citation, style, several, templates, tools, available, assis. This article uses bare URLs which are uninformative and vulnerable to link rot Please consider converting them to full citations to ensure the article remains verifiable and maintains a consistent citation style Several templates and tools are available to assist in formatting such as Reflinks documentation reFill documentation and Citation bot documentation August 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Balut game news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Balut is a game of dice similar to Yahtzee created by United States soldiers as an alternative to poker and is a popular pastime of businessmen overseas The game is named after a delicacy made from the fetal duck egg available in some Southeast Asian countries Contents 1 Origin and initial spread of the game 2 Denmark 3 Play 3 1 South East Asia variation 4 References 4 1 bibliographyOrigin and initial spread of the game Edit Aerial of the city of Tacloban Edgar Eddie Woolbright was an American soldier stationed in the Philippines who remained there for the rest of his life becoming a successful local businessman 1 The origin story that is recounted for the game by its players is that two U S soldiers were in one of Woolbright s early establishments in Tacloban the Woolbright Tacloban Airline Hotel stuck for a drinking gambling game to play because they had no playing cards but wanted to play poker 2 They settled on playing poker with dice rather than cards inventing what they initially called poker dice 2 A set of poker dice from the 1940s of the type originally used for balut Originally the game s format only extended to two players but some Europeans staying at the same hotel who also wanted to play extended the game to more than two players 2 The poker dice game gained its current name when Woolbright and some players out on a walk one day hearing the cries of balut by balut egg vendors decided that that would be the name of the game 2 Woolbright took the game from Tacloban to his later establishments in the Philippines as his businesses grew and also played it at the British Club in Cebu City 2 Other people exported it elsewhere a British captain to Singapore and some expatriate Scandinavians to Thailand 2 An International Balut Federation was created in 1972 2 Denmark EditThe international Danish community has taken the game as a popular method of social interaction abroad and at home with Danish expatriates businessmen gathering to play the game monthly Rules of the game code of conduct including dress code are enforced by participants and by the gamemasters and games are organized by members of the International Balut Federation or IBF 3 Play EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it April 2019 The game involves rolling five dice up to 3 times to make various combinations which are noted on a scorecard A Balut is a five of a kind of any denomination but unlike in Yahtzee it counts for little in terms of points Players who obtain a Balut announce it to the other players by calling out Balut similar to calling out bingo and note it on a special scorecard Players try to guess before gameplay how many Baluts will be made during the game correctly guessing the total number can earn a prize 4 On a turn player may roll the dice up to three times After a roll player may take one or more dice out of play to save their result and then roll the remaining dice There are seven scoring combinations that the player may only achieve once At the end of the turn the player will score per the combo created If the player cannot create a combo then player must scratch one of their remaining unfulfilled combos That scratched combo is no longer playable for the remainder of the game Play then continues to the left until all players have completed the 7 combo possibilities with a score or a scratch Further rounds may be played high score wins Possible Combinations Fours Scores 4 points for each die face of four Fives Scores 5 points for each die face of five Sixes Scores 6 points for each die face of six Straight Scores 50 points for a five die sequence e g 2 3 4 5 6 House One Triple one pair scores sum of all die faces Choice Scores sum of all five dice Balut Five of a kind Scores 30 pointsSouth East Asia variation Edit In 1973 the game was brought into Singapore and a set of rules was established at Singapore Town Club in 1978 This set of rules was later spread to other private clubs in Singapore and to other Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia Thailand and Philippines 5 6 Although the Singapore Town Club ceased existence in 2000 other clubs continue the name for the tournament These Clubs organize regular local and international tournaments as well as gathering together each year for the STC Balut Interport Championship The 28th was held at the British Club Bangkok in 2008 and the 29th was held at the Sabah Golf amp Country Club in 2009 In 2017 the international competition was held at the Sarawak Club in Kuching Sarawak Malaysia The present day clubhouse of the British Club of Bangkok featured in a postcard from c 1912 In 2010 the 30th STC Interport Competition was held at the British Club Bangkok on 19 to 21 November References Edit McCallus 2010 p 64 a b c d e f g McCallus 2010 p 65 IBF website http www balut org rules html The Padang Magazine Jul Aug 2020 Issuu Retrieved 28 March 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Chivas Regal Challenge Trophy 37th Interport Balut Competition 2017 Issuu Retrieved 28 March 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link bibliography Edit McCallus Joseph P 2010 The MacArthur Highway and Other Relics of American Empire in the Philippines Potomac Books Inc ISBN 9781597974974 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Balut game amp oldid 1126260520, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
