Poker Dices

Special Poker dice

As the name implies, this is Poker played with dice. Five regular dice can be used, with the El counting as an ace and ranking above the E1 . Special Poker dice have faces showing actual A, K, Q, J, 10 and 9 instead of pips. The game is best for five or fewer, each with a set of dice. A turn consists of three rolls in an effort to produce the best hand. In most places, the player is allowed to set aside whatever dice turn up favorably, hoping that the remaining dice will fill out the desired hand on the next roll or two. Elsewhere, the player must decide whether to stand with the hand produced by the first roll or whether to roll all the dice a second and, perhaps, a third time. After all have had a turn, high hand wins. Hands rank exactly as in poker played with a wild card—from five of a kind downward, but without flushes. In some games, the ace can be placed either at the top or bottom of a straight and in others it is used as a wild card.

Poker Liar Dice

The several versions of this game come closer to Poker than Poker Dice does, mainly because they permit poker bluffs. In one variant, the two players are separated by a screen behind which they conceal their rolls. In another, no screen is used, two or more can play, and the dice are hidden by shaking them in cups and depositing them on the table behind the player’s sheltering hand. In all versions, the opponent to the player’s immediate left is the caller, or doubter, with special privileges. After the player rolls and looks at his concealed hand, he may decide to stay with one or more of the dice, rolling the others a second and/or third time. Having finally stayed, he then announces a complete holding—”Fives and threes with a deuce.” He is not required to tell the truth. Having heard the announcement, caller can decide whether to try to beat the hand or simply call the bluff. In the two-hand version, the bluff is called by lifting the screen that separates the two sides and inspecting the shooter’s hand. If the hand is as represented, the caller loses. But if he catches the shooter bluffing, he wins. In two-hand Liar Dice play poker, it is customary for both players to shoot at once. This speeds up the game in case doubter decides to compete rather than call a bluff. In games with more than two, each player starts with three to five chips representing that many betting units. One player shoots at a time, and losses go into a pot. Play proceeds until all but one player has been wiped out. The survivor takes the pot.

Other Poker Variants

Poker Dice and numerous modifications there of are played with great enthusiasm tips of poker in North American bars and, where law permits, at the counters of cigar stores and billiard emporiums. All variations are best when doubter is required to adhere to his first decision—competing or calling. Having refrained from calling, he may decide to try another roll or two in hope of improving his own hand. Having failed to do so, he must still engage in a showdown rather than changing his mind and calling a bluff.