Bauernroulette

For fans of roulette’s history and its different variations, there are always intriguing adaptations of the world’s greatest table game to enjoy, but Bauernroulette has to be one of the most charming and it’s very easy to play.

As you’ve probably guessed from the name, this is a roulette variant exported from Germany.

The locals go crazy for it!

Despite its name, Bauernroulette, or “poor man’s roulette”, this game looks like a distant cousin of the John Huxley roulette wheel that we all know and love.

The only part of the “wheel” that moves is a spinning top – imagine a charming folky wooden board and you’re half-way there!

Be warned though- this game still has a roulette house edge, some things never change!

This is a game beloved of its rustic roots. Its name refers to bauer or “farmer” – the early players of the game, these workers would never have been able to afford to take a spin on a real roulette wheel which was the game of the wealthy at the time.

This is a simple game which is part of its enduring charm with children playing it too.

The board’s small size lent it to its use on the farms of Germany in its early days.

While the board is traditionally a four cornered affair, modern games are sometimes played on an octagonal board, but the principals remain the same.

The aim of the game is to be the first person to reach a score of one thousand and balls are used to earn points.

Wooden Tops

To kick off the action you spin a wooden top which then spins into six balls (one red, one green and four white) which then in turn are pushed into a variety of divots in the board. These holes are all worth different amountss. The red balls earn double points if they land in a hole and the green ball, working against you, removes points from the round’s total.

In each corner is a pocket linked to the main board through a hole and these areas are the hardest to land (if balls fall off the board you earn no points.) These are the most sought after holes for their points value.

At the end of the spin or round you add up your points. If you are lucky or skilled enough to place all the balls in pockets or divots then you get to spin again to begin the next round.

Many fans of roulette would question how close this variant is to its more famous cousin, but it has to be said that there is a certain charm about the game.

Bauernroulette has been played by generations of ordinary people in Germany and is still popular, only now you don’t just find people crowded around a wooden board in a field!