Sic-Bo uses three dice, although the term “sic-bo” actually means “pair of dice.” A richly lit Sic-Bo table can be found in most casinos that have Asian gaming rooms. There are many bets, all of them explained on the game table.

Each number from four to seventeen is a point and after all bets are made, the dealer “shakes” the dice container. No one in this game actually touches the dice, and each game begins with a new “shake”, after all bets have been placed.

In Sic-Bo you have 14 point numbers (4 to 17). In addition to betting on the 3 total dice that make up the points, you can also bet on the following:

THREE OF A KIND – (such as 6, 6, 6) (must specify which number)

TWO OF A KIND – (such as 6, 6) (must specify numbers)

DUO – Two different numbers (such as 4, 5) (must specify numbers)

ANY THREE – (such as 5, 5, 5) (will win any three of a kind)

SMALL: sum is ten or less (excludes any 3 of a kind)

LARGE: sum is 11 or more (excludes any 3 of a kind)

UNO – Any specific number that appears on 1, 2 or 3 dice

These seven basic bets plus the 17 point numbers and above are graphically illustrated on the beautifully lit Sic Bo table. When a decision is reached, the dealer lights the winning combinations, removes the losing chips, and pays out the winning ones at house odds.

Unfortunately, house odds are not standardized and can be slightly different from casino to casino.

The two bets with the lowest casino edge are the “big” bet and the “small” bet. Both provide a 2.7% house edge, which is the best you’ll get in Sic-Bo.

Sic Bo is a fast and exciting game, but it is usually called in Chinese. You should also exchange your chips or money for Sic Bo chips, which are similar to roulette chips. The minimums and maximums of the table are published. Most people play flat betting systems on the big and small numbers. An easy system is to increase your bet by one unit when you win and decrease your bet by one unit when you lose.

Although the odds are better in craps, Sic-Bo is a lot of fun to play, if you can find it!

The Dice Shooter © 2006 by Larry Edell

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *