Bunco!
I have been playing this gave since I was…let’s see…about 10 years old? I started as a substitute playing with my mom’s group when I was in fourth grade. In fifth grade we had a girl scout “outing” - a night where my troop learned to play and got prizes. I started subbing more regularly with my mom’s group, and the other one in town when I got older, in high school, and when I was home from college. I still occasionally get to play with them.
When my life fell apart in the summer of 2002, and couldn’t stand sitting in the house alone with nothing to do in the winter of 2003, I went to the Westborough Public Library to see what groups in the town I could join. To my surprise and excitement I found a Newcomer’s Club that had a Bunco group! I was called to sub the first month, and subbed the rest of the year. This year I became a “full-time” member.
So last night was my second to last “regular” session. I’m so bummed, because it’s so fun to play. And I’m not saying that because I win every month, even though I do…mostly…even if it’s just the Booby Prize… Ok, ok, ok…I do win *almost* every time. My mom, grandmother, and I are known as the “Fioravante women” and win every time we play. And if one of us is subbing, the we both usually win! I know my mom has been having some bad luck of late, but when my grandmother has subbed recently, she has won, so I don’t know what happened. And I’ve won almost every time I played this year. Of course I didn’t last night, but them’s the breaks. Like I said, I usually DO win, so I don’t mind.
I’m bummed because next month is my last time. : ( Maybe I can find a group in California, if I have time. Maybe I can organize my own group. I’m sure my group will be happy to see me go - since I usually win. But also because I’m a rules person, and I pay attention to the scores. For some reason, they don’t seem to like to keep track of who’s winning. Maybe that’s why I always win!
Continue reading for “Da Rules”
“Da Rules”
Explanation of game - 12 players at 3 tables, so 4 people per table.
Each table has three dice, and you go around the table rolling, with the person sitting across or diagonal from you (based on the table) as your partner. There are 18 rounds, each round rolling the dice for a specific number. The first round you roll for ones, the second round you roll for twos, etc., through six, and then repeat 1-6 twice more. Each time you roll the number you are rolling for you get a point, and you continue rolling as long as you keep getting points. The two “special” rolls are: 1) If you roll three of a kind, but NOT the number you are rolling for, it counts a five points. 2) If you roll three of a kind of the number you ARE rolling for, it is 21 points - this is a “Bunco.”
Those are the basic rules. There are different ways to play based on the group. There’s always a head table, who starts the round by ringing a bell. The round stops when a group has reached 21 points - some groups play the round until the head table reaches 21, some play until the whichever table reaches 21.
Different groups keep track of scores different ways. My mom’s group gave prizes for most Buncos, most wins, second most wins, third most wins, or most losses (least amount of wins). This last one is called “Booby,” as in the booby prize, but hey - you still win something! The group I play with now instead of third most wins give a prize for most five-pointers.
