Sic Bo is an Ancient Chinese game that involves three dices and a specific gaming table.
Normally, the gameplay is as follows:
The players place their bets on different areas of the table. The bets are placed on numbers that represent the anticipated roll of the dice.
After the players have made their bet, the dealer will shake the dices. Normally, the dices are contained in a small closed chest. When the dealer has done shaking the chest, he/she will open it for the players to see what combination has come out.
The combination will appear on a display and the winning combinations will be lit on the table for the players to see.
All losing bets are to be removed from the table. Winners receive their payout according to the paying odds of their type of bet.
In general, there are eight ways for players to bet on dice combinations. They differ in regards of payout and winning chance.
Three of a Kind
The player bets only on one number, which has to appear on all of the dices. Three of a Kind is a challenging bet, but its payout is huge: 150 to 1.
Two of a Kind
The player bets on one number once again, but this time the number has to appear only on two of the dices. Two of a Kind’s payout is lower and stands at 8:1.
Any Three of a Kind
The player bets that the same number – but from 1 to 6, will appear on all of the dices. This could be a 6, 6, 6 or 4, 4, 4 or 2, 2, 2. This bet has increased chance of winning compared to standard Three of a Kind and its payout is 24 to 1.
Small Area
The Sic Bo table is divided into different areas with different payout. The Small area pays even money for the placed bet. Players bet that the sum of the combination of the dices will be equal to a number from 4 to 10. This bet excludes the Three of a Kind.
Big Area
The Big area also pays even money for any bets placed. Players bet that the sum of the combination of the dices will be equal to a number ranging from 11 to 17. Once again, Three of a Kinds are excluded from the equation.
Duo
The player bets on two numbers (different in value), both of which must appear on at least two of the dices. The payout of this bet is 5 to 1.
One of a Kind
The player bets on a single number. The number then has to appear either on one of the dices, on two of them or on all three of them. Here the payout differs, depending on how many dices the number appear on:
If it appears on one of the three, the payout is even to the bet
If it appears on two of the three, the payout is 2 to 1
If it appears on all three dices, the payout is 3 to 1.
4 to 17 Layout
Sic Bo has a wide area that contains numbers from the 4 to 17 in numerical order. This is yet another type of bet that players can place. The numbers that are listed are tied with the sum of the dices.
In other words, players can place a bet on any number from 4 to 17, which constitutes the sum of the dices. A typical payout table if the player has placed a winning bet is:
If the sum is 4, winning bets are paid 50 to 1
If the sum is 5, winning bets are paid 30 to 1;
If the sum is 6, winning bets are paid 18 to 1;
If the sum is 7, winning bets are paid 12 to 1
If the sum is 8, winning bets are paid 8 to 1
If the sum is 9, winning bets are paid 6 to 1
If the sum is 10, winning bets are paid 6 to 1
If the sum is 11, winning bets are paid 6 to 1
If the sum is 12, winning bets are paid 6 to 1
If the sum is 13, winning bets are paid 8 to 1
If the sum is 14, winning bets are paid 12 to 1
If the sum is 15, winning bets are paid 18 to 1
If the sum is 16, winning bets are paid 30 to 1
If the sum is 17, winning bets are paid 50 to 1