Sic Bo Rules - Complete Guide#

Quick Answer#

What is Sic Bo? Sic Bo (also known as Xóc Đĩa, Tai Sai, or Dai Siu) is an ancient Chinese dice game played with three standard dice. Players place bets on a table predicting various outcomes of the dice roll.

How long does a game take? Each round takes 1-2 minutes. Sessions can last 15-30 minutes.

Equipment Needed#

• 3 standard six-sided dice
• A betting table or mat with marked betting areas
• Chips or tokens for betting

Objective#

Predict the outcome of the three dice roll by placing bets on the betting table. Correct predictions pay out according to the odds of each bet type.

Setup#

1. All players place their bets on the desired betting areas
2. The dealer shakes the three dice in a mechanical shaker or bowl
3. The dealer reveals the dice result
4. Winning bets are paid out, losing bets are collected

Bet Types and Payouts#

Small and Big Bets#

• Small (小): Total of 3 dice is 4-10. Pays 1:1
• Big (大): Total of 3 dice is 11-17. Pays 1:1

Specific Total Bets#

Bet on the exact total of all three dice. Payouts range from 6:1 (for totals 10 or 11) to 180:1 (for total 4 or 17).

Single Number Bets#

Bet that a specific number (1-6) will appear on at least one die:

• Appears on 1 die: 1:1
• Appears on 2 dice: 2:1
• Appears on 3 dice: 3:1 (or higher)

Double Bets#

Bet that a specific number will appear on at least two dice. Pays 10:1.

Triple Bets#

• Any Triple: Any number appears on all three dice. Pays 30:1
• Specific Triple: A specific number appears on all three dice. Pays 180:1

Combination Bets#

Bet on a specific two-number combination appearing. Pays 5:1.

Strategy Tips#

1. Focus on Small/Big bets — Nearly 50% win probability with the lowest house edge
2. Avoid specific triples — High payout but extremely low probability
3. Manage your bankroll — Set win/loss limits before playing
4. Combination bets offer reasonable odds with moderate payouts

Variations#

• Xóc Đĩa (Vietnamese): Uses coins instead of dice, similar betting concept
• Chuck-a-Luck: Western variant with a birdcage dice shaker
• Grand Hazard: Similar to Chuck-a-Luck with additional bets

Glossary#