[smoore]

I don't know how many of you have played poker dice but it's a great way to pass some time while waiting for people to show up or waiting for others to bust out to start a cash game. Here are the basics:

Each die is identical, with one each nine through ace.
There are five dice
There are no suits.
Best poker hand wins.

The first player rolls the dice and selects none/any/all to keep. The player is allowed up to three throws. Play proceeds in turn with each player using no more throws than the first player to try to beat the hand. Whoever has the best hand after all have rolled is the winner. Four of a kind usually holds up. Five of a kind is a monster.

Fun and all, but poker is a game of betting, right? Here's what I came up with:

The dealer is in control of the hand. His position is indicated by a button.

All other players ante, the dealer does not.

The dealer rolls as normal, up to three throws. At this point the dealer decides if he would like to wager any amount between the ante and the size of the pot. If the dealer doesn't like his hand he can fold and all the antes stay for the next pot.

When the dealer does wager, each player in turn is given the option of matching the bet and trying to beat the current high hand, using no more throws than the dealer.

If no one calls the dealer's bet, he takes the pot uncontested.

Play proceeds in order so being last is advantageous because you are closing the action and know exactly what you have to beat. After all players have had a choice and any who have called have rolled, the high hand takes the whole pot.

Dealer button is passed and the procedure is repeated.



I was messing around with it last night playing 5 positions by myself and it seems like it can be really fun. If you have a so-so hand such as tens full of queens you could try to bet the entire pot and scare people out. If you roll a straight on your second roll you might simply bet the ante to entice people to call you and try to beat you. Although straights hold up infrequently, it does happen.

What gets really interesting is when there are three rounds of antes in the pot and the dealer rolls something like four of a kind tens. With all that cash out there, he's going to have to bet quite a bit to make people want to go away. Even with a pot sized bet someone might be feeling four kings coming their way and they feel like gamb00ling.

So yeah... new game and stuff! Anyone have any critique?

[jbdanutz]

Sounds cool. I always have a few people who get to my house early for my home game, I will talk them into tryin it out with me.

[cowboys]

I tried to find some poker dice once at all the discount stores and a few other places, but none of them carry poker dice. Thought about ordering some but the shipping would be more than the dice. Where's a good place to buy them?

[smoore]

I've seen 'em at a place called "It's Your Move" at the mall. It's a game store, you know... chess, backgammon, board games, etc. Spencers might carry them too.

I got my current set on a whim when I was ordering some other poker related stuff and just threw 'em in.

[cowboys]

Thanks, I'll keep those places in mind.

[Captn_All_In]

We do something similar to this as well, only difference is everyone antes and the first person gets a second shot at making high hand, everyone only gets three tosses.

Also my dice start with a 9 which makes it interesting to be able to go for 2 straights...

Also sometimes we play with a box kind of like liars dice, you get one shake call your hand and then pass the box- next guy has 2 chioces...believe your call and shake to try and beat it, or open the box

I am going to try and work your betting idea into a game sometime...thanks for sharing!

[cowboys]

Yeah, I was thinking poker dice had nine thru ace. I was wondering about the ones with two 10's that were referred to? Are there different versions?

[smoore]

Uhhhh... I just assumed it was two tens, it very might well include a nine. I'll go check mine.

I LOVE the idea of "liars poker". Use a cup and two sets of dice and then the dealer can keep his hand closed, under the cup, while everyone tries to beat his declared hand or call his bluff with an "inferior" hand.

That adds a whole different dimension!

I'm really tied to the idea of the dealer not having to ante for the hand though, it gives the position more clout and makes an "us against him" mentality for the game.

Battle!

edit: my dice are indeed nine through ace. I'm unobservant.

[Brewster]

We used to play a variation of Liar's Dice. Each person would put 25¢ into the pot (enterance fee) and place five dimes in front of their position (starting stacks). The die are rolled, a hand is called out, and the next person in line can either believe the roller and try to beat the called hand or call his/her bluff. If your bluff is called or you call a bluff on a made hand (basically, if you are wrong) one dime from your stack is added to the pot. The winner is the last one with dimes.

[Captn_All_In]

Originally Posted by Brewster

We used to play a variation of Liar's Dice. Each person would put 25¢ into the pot (enterance fee) and place five dimes in front of their position (starting stacks). The die are rolled, a hand is called out, and the next person in line can either believe the roller and try to beat the called hand or call his/her bluff. If your bluff is called or you call a bluff on a made hand (basically, if you are wrong) one dime from your stack is added to the pot. The winner is the last one with dimes.

That is almost exactly the way we play, but we start with quarters and you only get 3, plus 1 "on your honor" roll. The very first time I played, almost 2 years ago, I took down a $15 pot on my honor against a guy with 2 quarters...I was rolling so hot it wasn't even funny!! I haven't won since then!