Sic Bo game and rules, strategies

PokerioMokykla.comUpdated 30 August 2024

"Sic Bo is a popular dice game of ancient Chinese origin played in casinos. This gambling game is also known by other names such as dai xiu via it is sai. Translated from Chinese, this means "precious dice" or "a pair of dice", although in fact three are now played.

What is the Sic Bo game?

It is the casino game that attracts the largest number of gamblers in Asia, particularly in the Macau region, known as the "Monte Carlo of the East". The game arrived in the West in the 20th century with Chinese immigrants.

Sic Bo is played quickly and, as experienced gamblers are fond of saying, "with no nonsense". It should also be enjoyed by the majority of roulette and slot machine players, as the games share some similarities.

At first glance, the board may seem very complicated, but the Sic Bo rules should dispel this notion.

The dice are rolled by the dealer and players place bets on the outcome of certain rolls. Each bet links its payout to the probability that a certain amount or certain dice will roll.

Where best to play Sic Bo?

How to play Sic Bo? Sic Bo rules

The easiest and simplest bet is the sum of the three open skins. This is between 4 and 17, as 3 and 18 already belong to triple combinations.

Usually, the payouts are written on the board itself (especially in online casinos), so you can calculate the odds based on that - the more the casino pays out, the lower the chance of winning.

For example, three identical dice (a triple combination) ranges around 180:1 payouts.

It is also possible to bet on both the Small and Big bets (Small from 4 to 10, Big from 11 to 17). This is close to 50% (note that this is not exactly a 50:50 chance), and is therefore considered a fairly safe bet, as the chance of three ones or three sixes coming up is very small.

As these bets are relatively low risk, they will pay out similarly to a bet on red or black roulette - 1:1.

The probabilities for triple ones or triple sixes often make the big and small bets comparable to both the American roulette zero and double zero.

Combined betting

A combination bet is when two specific numbers are chosen to appear on three dice. For example, if you bet on a two and a three, you will only win if a two, a three appears on the rolling dice, and the third die is no longer as important to you.

Such bets require a little more luck or the ability to assess probabilities.

A single bet is when you bet on only one number to appear on three dice. If one of your chosen numbers lands, the payout will be 1:1, if two land, 2:1 and if all three land, 12:1. Also, the Sic Bo rules point out that a single bet with three identical dice will have a different payout than a triple bet.

A double bet is when you bet on two specific numbers to appear on three dice. For example, such a bet on deuces would win if the dice rolled in the following order: two, any number and two.

The payout if your combination is correct would be 6:1 (varies from casino to casino). Unlike the triple bet, it is not possible to bet on any two numbers, it has to be a special double, although you can bet on as many doubles as you like.

A triple bet is when you guess that all three digits of your chosen dice will come up. The odds of a triple combination are just 1 in 216, but the payout is usually, as we have already mentioned, 180:1. This can be a really good win.

Sic will be the strategy

Once you know how to play, you can think about strategies to help you win. The joke goes that the first strategy that all players of this game should adopt is to tame Fortune.

But that's far from all you need to win or play safer without taking big risks.

A short video in English on how to play:

Low risk strategy

If you want to take the minimum risk, the best bet will be where the casino has the smallest edge. The smallest edge is in the choice of small and large bets.

So if you want to have more fun at the table for longer on a smaller budget, feel free to choose between small and big bets. The wins are symbolic (1:1), but the risk is low.

Combination bets also offer low risk. You can expect your combination to land about once every 7 spins, and with a payout of 6:1, your chances of winning are pretty good.

It is recommended to prepare 15 bets on combinations. If you win two or three times in 15 rolls, you've played around the casino and it might be a good time to leave the table for a while.

Riskier strategies

If you're not afraid to risk a little more and want to go home with more money, you can try one of the following bets. Bet 3 units (whether it's three chips of 1 or 3 chips of 100 - your choice depending on your budget) on the 9 and two units on the doubles 1, 5 and 6.

You will have built 9 units in total. If 9 land, you win 24 units, and if any of the selected doubles land, you win 24 units. The chances of winning are not small, as 9s are quite common, and doubles of ones, fives and sixes are not uncommon in this game.

Another similar bet is to bet 3 units on 12 and two units on doubles 1, 2 and 12. If you win, you get 24 units, so it's very similar to the first one.

Due to the relatively large number of combinations, Sic Bo strategies can be devised by the players themselves. Some are more risky, while others allow for a much longer time at the table

But the fact is that Sic Bo engages and enthralls most people who are familiar with the rules of this dice game and are feeling a little tired of card games or are looking for something new and less familiar.

More casino game rules click here.