Crown and Anchor - Drinking Game Rules & How to Play

Crown and Anchor is a drinking game in the Dice Games category for 2-10 players that takes about 15-30 min with a easy difficulty level.

Nautical dice betting game

Equipment Needed

Setup

Lay out the Crown and Anchor board (or draw a simple one with the six symbols: crown, anchor, heart, diamond, spade, and club) flat on the table. Provide three Crown and Anchor dice, each marked with the same six symbols instead of numbers. Set up a 'banker' (the house) with drinks nearby, and give each player a small drink stash to wager. Players place bets on symbols before the dice are rolled by the banker.

How to Play Crown and Anchor

  1. Set up the game according to basic rules
  2. Players take turns or play simultaneously
  3. Penalties result in drinking
  4. Success means assigning drinks
  5. Continue until winner emerges
  6. Loser faces final penalty
  7. Winner earns bragging rights
  8. Adjust rules as needed for your group

Tips & Strategies

If you're the banker, track which symbols are 'hot' and 'cold' , players love betting on streaks. Group bets on a single symbol can result in chaos, so encourage diversity by hyping up underdog symbols. If you're placing bets, remember that the dice have three sides with blanks for each symbol, so payouts can be rare; hedge your bets across multiple symbols for better odds. Always leave the dice in a big, flashy roll , keeping it casual looks more fun for the group.

Variations

Double Or Nothing: If two or more dice match the same symbol a player bet on, they can either assign drinks as usual or take a chance to double their payout by rolling a single die , a match doubles the penalty, but a miss means they drink the original number themselves.. Wildcard Banker: Rotate the banker every three rounds to keep everyone engaged. Each new banker gets to set a one-time penalty rule for their round, like drinking in sips instead of gulps or assigning drinks by age.. Drink Pot: Instead of assigning drinks directly to players, all penalties go into a 'pot' (a shared drink cup). At the end of the game, the loser finishes the pot while the winner gets to make a toast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if no dice match anyone's bet?
If no dice match, the house (banker) wins all bets, and players drink the amount they wagered as a penalty. This keeps the stakes high even for cautious bettors.
Can multiple players bet on the same symbol?
Yes, multiple players can bet on the same symbol, but the drinks assigned will multiply if the symbol wins. If two dice show the same winning symbol, drinks are doubled for all bettors.
What happens if all three dice match the same symbol?
When all three dice show the same symbol, it's called a 'Triple Crown' (or 'Triple Anchor,' etc.). The banker assigns triple the drinks to everyone who bet on that symbol.
Can players change their bets after the dice are rolled?
No, all bets must be placed before the banker rolls the dice. Changing bets afterward would ruin the flow and fairness of the game.

Players: 2-10 | Duration: 15-30 min | Difficulty: easy

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