By Devon Fownes
Playing drinking games in a second language can be a recipe for inebriated disaster, but in China, dice games provide the perfect ladder to climb over any language barrier at the bar. Whether you’re cheers-ing with colleagues from around the world or in a club with the bass bumping so hard you couldn’t even understand your best friend, let alone a native Chinese speaker, dice games provide a great way to bond without the mind-numbing that comes along with socializing in a second language.
The two dice games that are most often played in China (and will serve you best in such occasions) are Liars Dice and One & Six. Although the titles of these games may vary, the rules are what should be focused on. Even if you don’t remember how to say the name of the game, if you just jump right in, most Chinese people will pick up what you are putting down.
Chinese: Chui Niu, 吹牛
The Mid-Autumn Festival Dice Game is a traditional Chinese game that dates back to the Qing dynasty in the 1600s. The game is also known as “zhuang yuan bo bing”, which is an amalgamation of the words “scholar”, “gambling” and “cake” in Mandarin. The historical game hails from Xiamen, where many members of the Hokkien dialect. The Three Dice Game. Also known as Four-Five-Six, Cee-Lo and See-Low. This is derived from a Chinese banking game called Strung Flowers. As the name suggests, it is played with three dice, and also requires stakes. Play: Players place their bets against a banker who covers them. The banker rolls the three dice first. Throughout China, Liar’s Dice (說謊者的骰子, shuōhuǎng zhě de shǎizi) is played during holidays, especially Chinese New Year.The fast-paced game can be played by two or more players and the number of rounds is limitless.
Introduction: Liar’s dice is by far the most popular dice game in almost all cultures. This game can be played with as many players as there are dice to go around and requires focus and strategy. Although the gambling aspect of this game can be stressful, it is also what makes it the most fun. (Warning: Do not begin playing this game without perfecting your poker face. The bluff is probably the only place where a language barrier comes in handy.)
Need: At Least 2 People, 5 die per person and 1 cup per person
Objective: You want to be the last person in the game with any amount of die in your cup.
Rules: Best craps in vegas.
-Everyone sits in a circle in order to have as much privacy as possible
-Each round consists of a dice shake up and a cup flip.
-When you flip your cup only open it up enough for yourself to see what kind of hand you rolled at first.
-The first person to speak is whoever lost the last game first or whoever just lost the last round.
–Important Note:the number one is a wildcard and can count as any number.
-When the first person speaks, they use the dice they have to estimate how many of a certain number there will be amongst all of the players dice.
For example the first player will start out by saying: There are eight threes amongst all of us (including the 1’s in their calculation, which would count as threes).
![Chinese Dice Game Rules Chinese Dice Game Rules](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a2/6b/9e/a26b9eb78edf5cd3ac832f9692181f41--yahtzee-rules-play-yahtzee.jpg)
-Then when it’s the next person’s turn they are allowed to do one of the following:
a. Call that person’s bluff
b. Up the ante by saying that they believe there are one or higher of that same number amongst all of them. For example: There are nine threes amongst all of us.
c. Up the ante by saying that they believe there are either the same amount or higher of a number that is higher than the original number being estimated about. For example: there are eight fours amongst all of us.
-You cannot however, guess a lower amount of the original number or estimate a higher amount of a number lower than the original.
-The estimations will carry on and increase in one number or another until eventually someone is forced to call someone’s bluff.
![Dice Dice](https://www.partygameideas.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Roll-the-Dice-Gift-Exchange-Games-3.jpg)
-In the case of calling someone’s bluff, everyone must open their cups and put the dice that are relevant to the last guess on top of their upside down cup (so if the last call was eight fours, each player must put all their fours and ones on top of their upside down cup).If there are in fact less than what the player estimated of that certain number then they will lose a die. However, if they are equal to or more of the number (including ones) that the player estimated then the person calling the bluff would lose a die.
– After someone loses a die a new round is begun and people must adjust their estimates based on the new odds with the lost die accounted for.
-When one loses all of their die then they are out of the game.
-The final two people in the game will battle it out until one of them is the only person left with any number of die in their cup.
To make this into a drinking game: Instead of making the person who guesses wrong lose a dice, have them take a drink. By playing this way the odds will remain the same but the more drinking that occurs will only lead to a snowball effect of bad guesses and more drinking.
Strategy:
Lawn Dice Game Instructions Printable
-Always account for the number of dice left in the game, do not make estimations based on the original number because odds dwindle fast.
-Attempt to make a guess that is high enough to force one of your competitors to call another competitor’s bluff before it is your turn to guess again. The later you guess in a round the more likely you will be to fail.
-Don’t forget about the ones!! They can be your best friend and worst enemy in any round. Make sure they are accounted for!
-Beware of dice flippers!!!!!
– This game is particularly easy in loud clubs as you can just use your hands to show “eight fours”. Learning how to count to ten with one hand in Chinese is important here, so learn the hand signals here.
One & Six
Chinese: Yi Liu, 一六
Introduction: One & Six is a dice game that involves absolutely no strategy and at least two people with five die each. This game is the most simple to play in social situations because not only does it involve zero focus but it also clearly decides a winner.
Need: At least 2 players, 2 Cups & 10 Die (5 per cup)
Objective: Be the first person without any dice in your cup.
Rules:
-Each round consists of a dice shake up and a cup flip.
-When you flip your cup, flip it downwards and pry it open to reveal what numbers you rolled.
-If you role a one, remove that die from your cup and put it out of bounds. That die has been lost from the game. Continue rolling with the remaining dice.
-If you role a six, remove that die from your cup and give it to the person on your right.
Heads up holdem. -If you role neither a six nor a one then wait to see what your opposition rolled and do nothing.
-Continue shaking and flipping the remaining dice until one of you has no die left in your cup.
To make this into a drinking game: Whoever runs out of dice last must drink for the number of seconds that there are dice left in their cup.
Strategy: None besides being Irish.
The layout of a sic bo table
Sic bo (骰寶), also known as tai sai (大細), dai siu (大小), big and small or hi-lo, is an unequal game of chance of ancient Chinese origin played with three dice. Grand hazard and chuck-a-luck are variants, both of English origin. The literal meaning of sic bo is 'precious dice', while dai siu and dai sai mean 'big [or] small'.
Sic bo is a casino game, popular in Asia and widely played (as dai siu) in casinos in Macau. It is played in the Philippines as hi-lo.[1] It was introduced to the United States by Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century, and can now be found in most American casinos. Since 2002, it can be played legally in licensed casinos in the United Kingdom.
Gameplay involves betting that a certain condition (e.g. that all three dice will roll the same) will be satisfied by a roll of the dice.[2]
Gameplay[edit]
Players place their bets on certain areas of the table as shown in the picture above. The dealer then picks up a small chest containing the dice, which he/she closes and shakes. Finally the dealer opens the chest to reveal the combination.
Comparison to craps[edit]
Sic bo is one of two casino games involving dice, the other being craps. Sic bo is strictly a game of chance because every roll on the dice results a win or loss on any bet. In craps, some bets require certain rolls before they can become winning or losing bets, thus encouraging strategy.
Betting options[edit]
Type | Wager | Probability | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Macau | No House Edge | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Odds | House Edge | Odds | House Edge | Odds | House Edge | Odds | |||
Big (大) | The total score will be from 11 to 17 (inclusive) with the exception of a triple | 48.61% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 37 to 35 |
Small (小) | The total score will be from 4 to 10 (inclusive) with the exception of a triple | 48.61% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 37 to 35 |
Odd | The total score will be an odd number with the exception of a triple | 48.61% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 37 to 35 | ||
Even | The total score will be an even number with the exception of a triple | 48.61% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% | 37 to 35 | ||
Specific 'Triples' or 'Alls' (圍一 圍二 圍三 圍四 圍五 圍六) | A specific number will appear on all three dice | 0.46% | 180 to 1 | 16.2% | 180 to 1 | 16.2% | 150 to 1 | 30.1% | 215 to 1 |
Specific Doubles | A specific number will appear on at least two of the three dice | 7.41% | 10 to 1 | 18.5% | 11 to 1 | 11.1% | 8 to 1 | 33.3% | 25 to 2 |
Any Triple or All 'Alls' (全圍) | Any of the triples will appear | 2.8% | 30 to 1 | 13.9% | 31 to 1 | 11.1% | 24 to 1 | 30.6% | 35 to 1 |
Three Dice Total (a specific total score in the range of 4 to 17 inclusive) | 4 or 17 | 1.4% | 60 to 1 | 15.3% | 62 to 1 | 12.5% | 50 to 1 | 29.2% | 71 to 1 |
5 or 16 | 2.8% | 30 to 1 | 13.9% | 31 to 1 | 11.1% | 18 to 1 | 47.2% | 35 to 1 | |
6 or 15 | 4.6% | 18 to 1 | 12% | 18 to 1 | 12% | 14 to 1 | 30.6% | 103 to 5 | |
7 or 14 | 6.9% | 12 to 1 | 9.7% | 12 to 1 | 9.7% | 12 to 1 | 9.7% | 67 to 5 | |
8 or 13 | 9.7% | 8 to 1 | 12.5% | 8 to 1 | 12.5% | 8 to 1 | 12.5% | 65 to 7 | |
9 or 12 | 11.6% | 7 to 1 | 7.4% | 7 to 1 | 7.4% | 6 to 1 | 19% | 191 to 25 | |
10 or 11 | 12.5% | 6 to 1 | 12.5% | 6 to 1 | 12.5% | 6 to 1 | 12.5% | 7 to 1 | |
Dice Combinations | Two of the dice will show a specific combination of two different numbers (for example, a 3 and a 4) | 13.9% | 6 to 1 | 2.8% | 6 to 1 | 2.8% | 5 to 1 | 16.7% | 31 to 5 |
Single Dice Bet | The specific number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 will appear on one, two, or all three dice | 1: 34.72% 2: 6.94% 3: 0.46% | 1: 1 to 1 2: 2 to 1 3: 3 to 1 | 7.9% | 1: 1 to 1 2: 2 to 1 3: 12 to 1 | 3.7% | 1: 1 to 1 2: 2 to 1 3: 3 to 1 | 7.9% | 1: 1 to 1 2: 3 to 1 3: 5 to 1 (simplest version) |
Four Number Combination | Any three of the four numbers in one of the following specific combinations will appear: 6, 5, 4, 3; 6, 5, 3, 2; 5, 4, 3, 2; or 4, 3, 2, 1 | 11.1% | 7 to 1 | 11.1% | 7 to 1 | 11.1% | 7 to 1 | 11.1% | 8 to 1 |
Three Single Number Combination | The dice will show a specific combination of three different numbers | 2.8% | 30 to 1 | 13.9% | 30 to 1 | 13.9% | 35 to 1 | ||
Specific Double and Single Number Combination | Two of the dice will show a specific double and the third die will show a specific, different number | 1.4% | 50 to 1 | 29.2% | 60 to 1 | 15.3% | 71 to 1 |
The most common wagers are 'Big' and 'Small'.
Variants[edit]
Grand Hazard is a gambling game of English origin, also played with three dice. It is distinct from Hazard, another gambling game of English origin, played with two dice. The dice are either thrown with a cup or rolled down a chute containing a series of inclined planes ('hazard chute') that tumble the dice as they fall.[3] Threes-of-a-kind are known as 'raffles' and pay out at 18 to 1.
Dice Game Rules Printable
Chuck-a-luck, also known as 'sweat cloth', 'chuckerluck' and birdcage,[3] is a variant in the United States, which has its origins in grand hazard. The three dice are kept in a device that resembles a wire-frame bird cage and that pivots about its centre. The dealer rotates the cage end over end, with the dice landing on the bottom. Chuck-a-luck usually features only the single-number wagers, sometimes with an additional wager for any 'triple' (all three dice showing the same number) with odds of 30 to 1 (or thereabouts). Chuck-a-luck was once common in Nevada casinos but is now rare, frequently having been replaced by sic bo tables.
See also[edit]
- Cee-lo - a gambling game played with three six-sided dice
Notes[edit]
- ^Online Online Sic Bo Guide
- ^'Rules and Strategies for Sic Bo'. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
- ^ abThe Official World Encyclopaedia of Sports and Games 1979 Diagram Group p 128
References[edit]
Chinese Dice Game Rules
Regulation in the United Kingdom
Regulation in New Zealand
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