Sic Bo is a
dice game of Asian origin. The name means "two dice" or "dice
pair" and refers to the some of the higher paying bets that a
player can place. In fact the game uses three 6-sided dice and a
variety of betting options are available as marked on the Sic Bo
table, all based on predictions of what dice combinations the
throw will yield.
Objective
Players place their bets on the
Sic Bo table, predicting various outcomes, totals and
combinations of the three dice. Multiple bets can be placed and
they pay off according to the odds indicated on the table.
Betting and the odds
There are seven different types
of bets in Sic Bo:
Dice Face: players may bet that
any one of the six dice sides will show. If that number comes up
on any one of the dice, the player wins even money. If two of
the dice show the selected face, the bet is paid off at 2-to-1.
And if all three dice show the same face, the bet is paid at
3-to-1. The house edge on this bet is approximately 8%.
Two Faces: this is a bet that a
combination of two particular numbers will appear. If the player
bets, for example, that a 1 and a 6 will appear and it does, the
house pays off at 5:1. The house advantage here is about 17%.
Totals: players can wager on
the total of all three dice. The player selects a specific total
from 4 to 17. Since the combination of faces that can result in
the selected total varies, so too does the payoff (see chart).
The chart gives the corresponding house advantage on that
particular totals bet.
| Total |
Payout |
House |
| 4 or
17 |
60:1 |
29.1% |
| 5 or
16 |
18:1 |
47.2% |
| 6 or
15 |
14:1 |
30.5% |
| 7 or
14 |
12:1 |
9.7% |
| 8 or
13 |
8:1 |
12.5% |
| 9 or
12 |
6:1 |
18.9% |
| 10 or
11 |
6:1 |
12.5% |
Small or Big: this wager is a
bet that the total of the three dice will fall in a specific
range. A bet on "Small" is on the total being between 4 and 10.
A bet on "Big" is on the dice totaling between 11 and 17. But
see the small print that says "Lose on any triple"? If any
three-of-a-kind comes up, the house takes your wager. Still, the
odds of winning Small or Big are by far the best on the table.
Here the house holds about a 3% edge.
Triple: Here you're betting
that all three faces will come up with a specific number. The
payoff is large, 150:1, but for good reason. The chances are
215:1 against you, giving the casino a 30% advantage.
Any Triple: You're betting that
all three faces will be the same. This pays out at 24:1, but the
true odds are 35:1. Again, you're fighting a 30% house
advantage.
Any Pair: Betting that a pair
of any particular number will come up pays 8:1. Believe it or
not on this bet is one of the worst on the table. The house
holds a 33% advantage.
Payoff
Payoffs in Sic Bo are marked
right on the table and vary according to the type of bet you
place.
Strategy
Because Sic Bo is a game of
chance, the best strategy is to stick with the best odds.
Looking back over the numbers you'll see that the house edge on
Small and Big bets is a fairly reasonable 3%. If you're going to
play smart, that's your bet. If you feel lucky, the table is
yours.
Rules
How to play Sic Bo
by Max Drayman
