This is a game played with three dice. “Sic bo” means "two dice" or "dice pair" and refers to the higher paying bets that a player can make. The game is also known as "small, big" since a player can make a small bet, wagering that the total of the three dice will be between four and 10, or a big bet, in which the player wagers the total of the three dice will be between 11 and 17. Payouts in sic bo can range from even money to as much as 150 to 1.

Game Play

In a classical game of sic bo, the three dice are shaken in a cup or a bowl and placed on the table so they are hidden under the cup. Players then make their bets. Those who guess the actual numbers thrown can receive much higher payoffs.

It is said that the most masterful players are supposed to be able to "hear" the way the dice fall in the cup, and are thus able to control the numbers they throw when they are shaking them. There are also those who claim to have a magical power to see through the cup.

Origin of the Game

At least one story has it the game came about when two brothers were trying to decide how to distribute their father's fortune. Although they could split up the money and most of the other goods satisfactorily, they could not decide who would get the father's pug dog. Finally, they placed four dice into a shallow bowl, shook the bowl, and threw the dice onto the table.

The dog, getting into the spirit of the game, put one of the dice into its mouth, then took the bowl and turned it over, so the bowl covered the dice. The process worked so well that the brothers and their friends continued to play this way, with three dice and a cover.

Casino Play

In modern casino play, bets are placed on numbers marked on a table, in a manner similar to a roulette table. After all bets have been made, a dealer uses a vibrating platform under a round-shape glass cover to shake the dice.

An electronic monitor shows the outcome of each of the three dice, and the spaces corresponding to the winning combinations light up on the gaming table. As in roulette, the dealer then takes the losing bets from the table, and distributes payments to the winners.