Sic bo

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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 played with three dice, and of ancient Chinese origin. Grand hazard and chuck-a-luck are variants, and of English origin. The literal meanings of sic bo, tai sai and dai siu are dice pair or dice bowl, lucky dice and big small respectively.

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. It was introduced into the USA by Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century, and can now be found in most American casinos. Since 13 May 2002, it can be played legally in licensed casinos in the United Kingdom, under The Gaming Clubs (Bankers' Games) (Amendment) Regulations 2002 (Statutory Instrument 2002/1130).

[edit] Rules

Sic bo is played with three standard dice that are shaken in a basket or plastic cup. Traditionally, in Asia, the dice were shaken on a small plate covered with a bowl, which was then lifted to reveal the roll. In modern casinos the dice are shaken mechanically, and the outcome is keyed into a computer which automatically lights up the winning zones on the table.

A player can make any number of bets on the sic bo table. Outcomes are based on the combinations that come up on the three dice. Payoff combinations are listed on a roulette-style table top that is often lit from underneath in winning areas of the layout to indicate winning combinations. The wagers available and their associated odds can differ from place to place. The wagers that are permitted in licensed casinos in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and their associated odds are set out in the table below.

Type	Wager	Probability	Odds in UK	House edge in UK	Odds in NZ	Odds in Macau	House edge in Macau
Big (大)	The total score will be between 11 and 17 (inclusive) with the exception of a triple	48.61%	1 to 1	2.78%	1 to 1	1 to 1	2.78%
Small (小)	The total score will be between 4 and 10 (inclusive) with the exception of a triple	48.61%	1 to 1	2.78%	1 to 1	1 to 1	2.78%
Odd	The total score will an odd number with the exception of a triple	48.61%	1 to 1	2.78%	1 to 1
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
Specific 'Triples' or 'Alls' (圍一圍二圍三圍四圍五圍六)	A specific triple (for example, three 1s) will appear	0.46%	180 to 1	16.74%	180 to 1	150 to 1	30.09%
Specific Doubles	A specific double (for example, two 1s) will appear	6.94%	10 to 1	18.52%	11 to 1	8 to 1	33.33%
Any Triple or All 'Alls' (全圍)	Any of the triples will appear	2.78%	30 to 1	16.74%	31 to 1	24 to 1	30.56%
Three Dice Total	A specific total score in the range of 4 to 17 (inclusive)	n/a	A score of 4 or 17, 60 to 1; 5 or 16, 30 to 1; 6 or 15, 18 to 1; 7 or 14, 12 to 1; 8 or 13, 8 to 1; 9 or 12, 7 to 1; 10 or 11, 6 to 1	n/a	A score of 4 or 17, 62 to 1; 5 or 16, 31 to 1; 6 or 15, 18 to 1; 7 or 14, 12 to 1; 8 or 13, 8 to 1; 9 or 12, 7 to 1; 10 or 11, 6 to 1
Dice Combinations	Two of the dice will show a specific combination of two different numbers (for example, a 3 and a 4)	13.89%	6 to 1	n/a	6 to 1	5 to 1	16.67%
Single Dice Bet	The specific number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 will appear on one, two, or all three dice	1 die, 34.7%; 2 dice, 6.94%; 3 dice, 0.46%	1 die, 1 to 1; 2 dice, 2 to 1; 3 dice, 3 to 1	7.94%	1 die, 1 to 1; 2 dice, 2 to 1; 3 dice, 12 to 1	1 die, 1 to 1; 2 dice, 2 to 1; 3 dice, 3 to 1	7.94%
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	1.85%	7 to 1	n/a	7 to 1
Three Single Number Combination	The dice will show a specific combination of three different numbers	9.26%	30 to 1	n/a	30 to 1
Specific Double and Single Number Combination	Two of the dice will show a specific double and the third dice will show a specific, different number	6.94%	50 to 1	n/a	60 to 1

The most common wagers are "Big" and "Small".

[edit] Variants

Grand Hazard is a gambling game of English origin, also played with three dice. (It is distinct from Hazard, another gambling game of Old English origin, played with two dice.) The dice are rolled down a chute containing a series of inclined planes that tumble the dice as they fall.

Chuck-a-luck, also known as birdcage, 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.