Balut (game)

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.

Origin and initial spread of the game

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. 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. They settled on playing poker with dice rather than cards, inventing what they initially called "poker dice". 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. 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. 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. Other people exported it elsewhere: a British captain to Singapore, and some expatriate Scandinavians to Thailand. An International Balut Federation was created in 1972.

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.

Play

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.

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. 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 2010 the 30th STC Interport Competition will be held at the British Club Bangkok on 19 to 21 November.

References

bibliography

• McCallus, Joseph P. (2010). The MacArthur Highway and Other Relics of American Empire in the Philippines. Potomac Books, Inc. ISBN 9781597974974. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)