Chinese Dice Game

Cafe Society
1

I spent a little over a week in China last month as part of my spring vacation. While there I of course visited a few bars with my friends and in the course of doing so came across a relatively simple dice game that they seemed to be playing everywhere. It’s a drinking game which explains why most bars are eager to have people play and supply all the necessary equipment (and sometimes girls to play the game with).

The mechanics of the game are simple; each player is given a cup and 5 dice. Each player rolls the dice in the cup and then place the cup face-down on the table so that it covers the dice. Players can look at their own dice, but can’t see any of the other players’.

Starting with the loser of the previous round (or if the first round, the loser of rock paper scissors) each player has to make a prediction as to the result of all the players’ dice, such as ‘there are at least 5 sixes’ (abbreviated to “5 6’s”). If any player does not believe that the prediction is true they lift their cup and reveal their dice. The other players then lift their cups and the prediction is checked. If it was false that player loses. If it was true then the person who called loses. If no one calls, then the next player makes another prediction with the only requirement being that they have to increase the number. So in the previous example the next player would have to say ‘there are at least 6’ somethings.

1’s are wild and are added to any total, unless someone makes a prediction regarding 1’s, in which case they cease to be wild.

It may not seem it, but my friends and I found the game to get quite intense and bought a set from one of the bars we visited. The game seemed to be played the same in both Beijing and Shanghai. I also recall there being hand signals for all the numbers to help facilitate the game being played in a dark bar.

Anyway, I’m curious as to whether or not any Chinese Dopers (China Guy, I’m looking at you :slight_smile: ) know any more about this game, such as it’s Chinese name, or if any other Dopers have seen it played outside of China.

2

Sounds very similar to Perudo, one of many Liar Dice variants played throughout the world, although I believe the idea originated in the far east. In Perudo, you lose one of your dice if you make a wrong call.

3

Very common in Hong Kong. Most people know it as liar dice.

4

It’s called Liar’s Dice. The Long Bar in Shanghai (Portman Hotel) is full of Liar’s Dice maniac’s. I’m a dice fiend although I only make the rare appearance these days (won 2 out of 2 games my last time so you’re forewarned).

The way it’s played in the Long Bar, is that the loser loses a die. When you’re out of dice, you lose and put your money on the table (generally around $6 or $12 but occaisionaly a lot higher). Winner is the last one with dice. Monster games with say 10 people can easily take over an hour to play. A lot of places don’t have the lose a die until the last man is standing rule.

Another long bar rule is that if one player wins with 5 die (actually the other Long Bar rule is that only dickheads say “die” the correct Long Bar terminology is “dices” :slight_smile: ) then the losers have to pay double. This leads to everyone on the table trying to bitch slap the guy with 5 dice. It’s freakin’ tough to win with 5 dice against experienced players.

Odds blow out below 12 dice. That is, dice are pretty statistical but below 12 the variation gets huge. So, how one plays the short game really determines who wins over time.

It’s really an addicting game. I suggest you don’t play it in certain karaoke establishments with bar girls. They cheat. A lot. The bar girls also play it where you don’t lose a die or money, that the loser drinks.