La Barca

From the box: "A truly classic board game that is as old as Rome. This game was probably played in the very first Roman tavern. It has remained an Italian favorite to this day.

Object: Most throws of the dice have a price, and players pay the board until someone throws the lucky combination that wins all.

The games in this series are from our favorite "watering holes" on four different continents. We are proud to present them to our friends here at home, and have forced ourselves to consume a lot of memorable local brews in the fulfillment of this endeavor."

Players take turns to roll two dice. Any number other than 7, 2 or 12 requires placing the stake (or stone from the set) on the number rolled on the supplied board.

Roll 2 and take the stakes from 8-12, but place a stake on 2. Roll a 12 and take the stakes from 2-6, but place a stake on 2. Roll a 7 and you take ALL the stakes, or place one stake on 7 if the board is empty.

Play continues until agreed, or all but one of the players is out of money (or stones). A Neapolitan version ignores the rules for 2 and 12, and treats them as any other non-7 roll.