Dice have been around since before the Common Era and remain popular today. Dice-based games have become so popular that they’ve migrated from offline to online formats, often involving real money bets. But before you sit down at the table and start competing, you should learn the rules of dice.
The history of the dice game
It remains unknown who invented the game of dice. The first mention dates back to the Predynastic Period—over 3500 BC. At that time, the ancient Egyptian board game Senet was widespread. References to it are found in the Book of the Dead. Pharaohs’ courtiers and rulers enjoyed passing the time by rolling dice on a special board.
The Senet playing set was placed in the tombs of the deceased.
Ancient dice were also discovered during exploration of settlements in Turkey. The dice were dated back to 3000 BC. However, they had an unusual shape and a different number of faces.
In ancient Rome and Greece, dice with six denominations and beveled edges were used for the game. These dice date back to 753 BC.
Dice similar to modern ones were found during excavations in China. It was established that they were used for the game by emperors in 500-600 BC.
Dice became popular in Europe thanks to the Roman patricians. Their popularity peaked during the Middle Ages. The game was especially popular among members of the upper class and the clergy.
In Rus’, there was also a place for block-based entertainment. However, it was only the common people who were fascinated, and church officials tried their best to ban it.
In the 20th century, gambling establishments began to open everywhere. Customers were offered a variety of table games, including several variations of dice.
Classic rules
The traditional version of the game involves collecting regular and poker hands. The number of participants ranges from 2 to 5. Each player places a bet at the start, the amount of which is agreed upon in advance.
Five dice are used in games. Opponents take turns rolling dice, one to three times per turn. The resulting combination is written down on a piece of paper. The number of points scored is written opposite it.
The winner of the game is the opponent with the most points at the end of the game. They receive the entire pot at stake.
Probability of winning
Modern table games use symmetrical dice. This means each side has an equal chance of landing, preventing players from calculating their chances of winning or landing a particular combination.
Types of cubes
Tabletop games use different types of dice. They differ not only in size but also in the number of faces.
| Name | Peculiarities |
| D4 | It has the shape of a tetrahedron and four sides. The top edge is missing, so the results of the throw are determined by the rules of the game. |
| D6 | A traditional six-sided die numbered from one to six. |
| D8 | It has the shape of an octahedron and eight sides. |
| D10 | A decagonal die numbered 0 to 9 |
| D12 | It has the shape of a dodecahedron. The numbers from 1 to 12 are engraved on its faces. |
| D20 | A die shaped like a regular icosahedron. Its spherical shape allows it to roll easily when thrown. |
Other variations and rules of dice games
Dice have become a staple of many board games. There are dozens of variations. Below, we’ll explore the most popular and interesting ones, and how to play dice according to the rules.
Craps
There is no limit on the number of participants. Each opponent takes turns rolling two dice and recording the sum of the dice. To win, the dice must be 7 or 11. If the dice rolls 2, 3, or 12, the game is lost. Any other result is called a “point.” The participant continues rolling until they reach the winning sum or roll 2, 3, or 12.
Online craps game
Indian bones
Any number of players can be at the table. The main goal is to collect hands of a pair or higher. The first player to get the highest hand wins.
The game uses five dice. The first opponent to take the turn can roll one to three times, and they can stop at any of them. This determines how many times the other opponents will roll the dice. They cannot roll more than the first opponent.
Game of 13
There is no limit to the number of players. The game is played with two dice—one with values ranging from one to six and two to seven. Five rolls are allowed per turn. To win, you need to score 10 points. Points are awarded for dice values that are multiples of 13.
| The amount the throws brought in | Number of points |
| 13 | 1 |
| 26 | 2 |
| 39 | 3 |
| 52 | 4 |
| 65 | 5 |
| 78 | 6 |
The sums obtained on the dice can be added, subtracted, divided, or multiplied by 2, 3, and 4. These features in the dice game rules make it easier for players to reach the required number of points, and games don’t drag on too long.
Martinetti (Ohio)
The game takes place on a special table with twelve numbered squares. There is no limit to the number of players. At the start, each player receives a chip. The first opponent rolls three dice up to three times. If none of the dice roll a 1, the next opponent takes the turn.
When the dice roll a one, the player places their token on the number 1 space and rolls again. Now they must roll a two, then a three, and so on until their token lands on the number 12 space.
If a single roll results in 1 and 2 or 1, 2, 3, you are allowed to move the dice to the second or third square. The dice rules also allow you to add up the numbers you get.
In Martinetti, the winner is the opponent whose piece lands on the 12-square first.
2 cubes
The game requires two dice, a pencil, and a pen. Any number of players can participate, but 4-8 is ideal. They take turns rolling and drawing a rectangle with sides equal to the numbers they’ve rolled. The winner is the opponent whose pieces take up the most space on the paper.
4 cubes
Between 2 and 10 players participate. Games are played with two black and two white dice, as well as a small box. Each player draws a die at random. If it’s white, points are awarded; if it’s black, a zero is recorded on the scoreboard. After 10 rounds, the opponents’ scores are totaled. The player with the most points wins.
Black and white bones
Twos and fives
The game is designed for 2-10 players. Opponents take turns rolling. The numbers rolled are totaled as points. The total is recorded in a scoreboard. The only caveat is that if twos and/or fives are revealed during a roll, they are removed and no points are awarded. The winner is the player with the most points at the end of the game. A game can include 10 or more rounds.
Help your neighbor
The game can be played by 2 to 7 people. They each receive 10 chips. Additionally, each opponent is assigned a number from 1 to 6 by lot. When a player’s number is rolled, they contribute to the pot. This continues until one player runs out of chips. They win and take the entire pot.
Chicago
The number of participants is unlimited. Two dice are used. Competitors must play 12 rounds. Each player takes turns rolling the dice. The goal is to get a number corresponding to the current round number. The first player to do so records the same number of points in their scoreboard. The results of all 12 rounds are totaled. The player with the most points is declared the winner.
Liar
Any number of players can be at the table. Five dice are used. Before the start, each player at the table makes three bets using chips of any agreed-upon denomination.
The first opponent shuffles the dice in the cup and rolls. They then tell their opponents their hand of a pair or higher, but don’t reveal it. They must guess whether their opponent is lying or telling the truth.
When the opponents don’t believe the player, the hand is revealed. If it turns out to be false, the player places one bet in the center of the table into the pot and gives the other to the opponent sitting to the left. Then the next opponent takes action, and so on.
If the opponents agree on the announced combination, it is not revealed. The right to act immediately passes to the opponent sitting next to them. In this case, they must announce a higher combination.
Anyone who loses their chips is eliminated from the game. The winner is the player who has kept at least one bet and receives the entire current pot.
Salt
Any number of players can participate in the game. Each opponent takes five dice and rolls them. The ones, called aces, are moved to the center of the table, the twos are given to the opponent sitting next to them, the fives go to the opponent on the right, and the remaining dice are kept for themselves. The other players follow the same pattern.
The game continues until all the dice are in the center of the table. The last player to roll a one is declared the loser.
Pig
Games are played with a single die. Any number of players can participate. The first player to go can roll as many times as they want. The numbers rolled are added together. The goal is to be the first to reach 100 points.
The rules of the Pig dice game include one caveat: when a 1 is rolled, any previously accumulated points are cancelled. Therefore, it’s important to stop in time and pass the turn to your opponent.
Goblin Bones
A unique board game with racing elements. Two to six players can participate. One player commands “Run!” and all opponents must roll the dice in the center of the table. Each player then takes two dice and places them next to them, without flipping the numbers they rolled.
Goblin Bones
In the next stage, participants must move goblin figures along a track. To do this, the number rolled on the dice must match the number on the card depicting the road segment. The first opponent to reach the finish line is declared the winner.
Bank of Bones
The game involves only two players. One is the banker, the other is the punter. Three dice are used. Before rolling, the punter places a bet on any number from 1 to 6. The numbers rolled are then looked at. If the number rolled matches the player’s bet, they receive a 1:1 payout. If the number rolled on both dice is the same, the payout is 2:1; if on three dice, it’s 3:1. However, if the desired number isn’t rolled, the bet goes to the banker.
Thousand
1000 uses 5 six-sided dice. It can be played by 2 to 8 players. With more players, the gameplay becomes longer and less dynamic.
The goal is to be the first to reach 1,000 points. These points are awarded for dice with values of 1 and 5, for which the player receives 10 and 5 points, respectively. Three or more dice of the same value are also valuable. Points for these dice are awarded according to their value multiplied by 10. For example, three fours are worth 40 points, four are worth 20, and five are worth 100.
Each participant can make up to three throws per turn. If they fail to score even 5 points, a zero is recorded on the scoreboard and a bolt is placed. Three “empty” throws result in a penalty of 100 points.
There are the following nuances for the game Thousand:
- When a participant gets 200 to 300 or 600 to 700 points, he ends up in the pit.They need to score enough points in one turn to get out of the game immediately. For example, if a player’s current score is 235, they must score at least 65 points in 1-3 throws, otherwise they incur a penalty.
- When one of the opponents scores more points than the previous opponent, but not an equal amount, it is considered an overtake.In this case, the lagging participant is deducted 50 points.
- If one of the opponents reaches 555 points, he ends up on the dump truck.This results in the complete annulment of his game progress.
- When a participant scores 880 or more points, he sits on the barrel.Within three attempts he needs to reach the thousand mark to become a hundredbe the winner. Otherwise, a 120-point penalty is imposed.
When a player lands on a barrel for the third time and does not reach a thousand, he loses all his points.
Bluff
The game is designed for two players. The goal is to form poker hands of a pair or better. Each player has five dice. They are shuffled using a special cup, then rolled.
Opponents are free to keep the dice numbers hidden from each other. They can cover them with their hand and name any combination. The opponent must figure out whether it’s a bluff or not. If they spot the bluff, they win immediately.
When the named combination matches the one already formed, the second player reveals theirs. The player with the higher combination wins the current round. The next rolls are then made, and so on.
Hi Dice
The game is designed for two players. One player acts as the banker, the other as the punter. The game uses two regular or octahedron-shaped dice. Points are calculated based on the sum of the rolled numbers.
Dice for playing High Dice
At the start, each participant places bets. These bets form the pot. Then the punter throws, followed by the banker. If the first opponent has more points, they receive a payout equal to one bet. If the punter has fewer points, they put their money into the bank.
In High Dice, players can agree to make two or three throws before scoring. However, in this case, the payout is doubled or tripled, respectively, as is the pot contribution if the punter loses.
Buck Dice
Any number of players can participate in a game. Each player rolls one die at the start. The player with the lowest number rolls the dice again. The resulting number becomes the game number, scoring one point. If the same number appears on two dice simultaneously, it scores two points; if it appears on three dice simultaneously, it scores 15.
According to the rules of the Buck Dice game, a player receives five additional points for 3 identical values.
The goal is to reach 15 points as quickly as possible. Once this number is reached, the participant is eliminated and receives a payout. The last remaining opponent is left without a prize.
Twenty one
The game is similar toblackjack, but dice are used instead of cards. Any number of opponents can be at the table. Each player starts by placing a bet of one chip. They then take turns rolling the dice. The goal is to reach 21 points. Points are awarded based on the dice values rolled. If, after each roll, the opponent’s total exceeds 21, they automatically lose.
Sea bones
A game consists of 12 rounds. In each round, players are allowed to make three throws. However, they can choose not to use all of them if they get a pair or better on their first or second try. Players agree in advance on the number of points they will receive for each round. Whoever has the most points at the end of the 12 rounds wins the game.
Interesting facts
There are many interesting facts about dice:
- The numbers on opposite sides add up to seven.
- Emperors used dice when making important decisions.
- The Egyptians preferred to play with 20-sided dice. For rulers, these were made of serpentine.
- In the Middle Ages, special cubes were made for representatives of spiritual authority; instead of denominations, they were engraved with images of virtues.
- In ancient Rome, ordinary citizens were allowed to play dice during certain seasons.
- The world’s most expensive cubes are made of gold and encrusted with diamonds. Their owner is American Geoffrey Parker.
Another interesting fact: in the early 2000s, Kevin Cook entered the Guinness Book of World Records for his collection of 11,097 dice. By 2014, his collection had grown to 51,000.