Young & Jackson's prime Flinders Street location makes it the obvious meeting point for march-goers on April 25. Open from 6.45am, the two-up ring will be in operation from 10am upstairs in Chloe's Bar, and there's a hot breakfast available from 7am (bookings are recommended).
A true-blue Aussie tradition, the gambling game of two-up is only legal in Melbourne on ANZAC Day. Brought over to Australia as 'pitch and toss' by the English and Irish, it was rife through the gold rush days and equally popular with soldiers during World War I. As a result, it’s become synonymous with April 25, during which select pubs and RSL clubs across the country host games.
How to play two-up, trad-style
1. Two coins are placed on a paddle (kip) by the ‘spinner’. You and fellow punters will need to surround them and commence bellowing things like “tennahead!” (read: I want to bet $10 on both coins landing heads up).
2. Want to take that bet? Lock eyes and vigorously wave your ten dollars in the head-better's direction, then give them your cash if they accept (heads holds the money).
3. The boxer (referee) yells ‘come in spinner’, to cease bet-making whereupon the coins are flicked in the air. They have to reach higher than the spinner’s head and fall within the circle to count as a valid toss. If it's heads, you lost. Tails? You won! One of each? The spinner keeps tossing till there's a result.
4. Celebrate/console yourself with beer. Repeat.
