Sic Bo

How To Play Sic Bo – Ultimate Strategy Guide

Sic Bo is a live dealer casino game often played on physical casinos and online casinos. It has strategies to match all gambler types such as money bets for steady gamblers; decent returns for more daring punters and huge combination bets for high-rollers.

 

What Is Sic Bo/Tai Sai?

Sic bo is a popular gambling game played in Asia with dice. It spread to American and European casinos throughout the 1980s and 1990s, partially in an attempt to cater to eastern gamblers. In Chinese, the word sic bo means “dice pair.” Sic bo is a casino game originating from ancient China and is played with three dice. Sic bo goes by other names, including Tai Sai, Dai Siu, Big and Small or Hi-Lo.

Sic bo’s literal meaning is “precious dice” or “dice pair” while Dai Siu and dai sai mean “big small.” The game was first introduced as a carnival game in the United States in the early 20th century. Throughout the years, Sic bo has risen in popularity and recently gained prominence in Macau, one of the world’s largest casino markets. Sic Bo is also played in the Philippines, the US and the UK. Sic bo is amongst the few casino games that involve dice; craps is the other common dice game.

Nonetheless, unlike craps, Sic Bo is a game of chance, which makes any form of tactic almost impossible to create. Each dice roll in sic bo can result in a win or a loss on any bet, while craps bets need other rolls before they are bets to win or lose. It remains a relatively popular casino game in both casinos around the world and on the internet, given the inability to gain a clear advantage while playing Sic Bo. Part of its success is attributed to the fact that learning is extremely easy. If you understand the Sic Bo table layout and the bets available, then sic bo can be a fun game.

 

Playing Sic Bo

Sic bo uses three dice, collected in a little chest by the dealer. The dealer then shakes the dice with the chest until it is able to reveal the three dice set. If the dealer rolls the combination on which you bet, then you’re a winner. It revolves around a table that lists a variety of combinations of dice on which players can bet.

It is important to note that the table layout can differ from place to place, but the target remains the same; players may wager on the dice combinations listed on the table available. Every combination has some chance of being rolled and players must use this information to help make intelligent choices when placing their wagers.

 

Sic Bo Table Bets & Payouts

As the name implies, sic bo or hi-lo offer both high and low bets. Like craps, players are able to bet on as many combinations as they wish. The two most popular bets are low, meaning the sum of the dice drops between 4-10, and high, meaning the sum of the dice drops between 11-17. Betting available when playing sic bo is as follows:

 

Sic Bo Betting Options

TYPE	DESCRIPTION OF BET	PROBABILITY	ODDS*
Big	The Dice total will be between 11 and 17 inc, with the exception of a ‘Triple’	0.486	1 to 1
Small	The Dice total will be between 4 and 10 inc, with the exception of a ‘Triple’	0.486	1 to 1
Odd	The Dice total will be an Odd number, with the exception of a ‘Triple’	0.486	1 to 1
Even	The Dice total will be an Even number, with the exception of a ‘Triple’	0.486	1 to 1
Specific ‘Triple’s/’All’s	The number chosen will appear on all 3 Dice	0.0046	180 to 1
Specific ‘Double’s	The number chosen will appear on 2 OR 3 of the Dice	0.0741	10 to 1
Any ‘Triple’/’All’	All 3 Dice will be of equal value	0.028	30 to 1
Three Dice Total	4 or 17	0.014	60 to 1
	5 or 16	0.028	30 to 1
	6 or 15	0.046	18 to 1
	7 or 14	0.069	12 to 1
	8 or 13	0.097	8 to 1
	9 or 12	0.116	7 to 1
	10 or 11	0.125	6 to 1
Dice Combinations	2 of the Dice will show the Specific Combination, such as a2 and a 3	0.139	6 to 1
Single Dice Bet	The Specific number will appear on 1, 2 or 3 Dice	1: 34.72%  2: 6.94% 3: 0.46%	1: 1 to 1  2: 2 to 1 3: 3 to 1
4 Number Combination	Any 3 numbers of the Specific Combination will appear, such as 6, 5, 3 and 2	0.111	7 to 1
3 Single Number Combination	The Dice will have the Specific Combination of 3 different numbers	0.028	30 to 1
Specific Single/Double Combo	2 of the Dice will show a Specific Double and the 3rd will be a different number	0.014	50 to 1

 

Single Bets

Big – The dice total is down between 11 and 17. As mentioned earlier, it is one of the most popular bets when playing sic bo. This bet excludes any kind of 3; e.g. three 1s, three 2s, etc .. This particular bet has a probability of 48.6 per cent and pays 1:1.

Small – The number of the dice fell between 4 to 10. Like the big one, this bet also excludes triples and has a winning chance of 48.6 per cent, with a payout of 1:1.

Even – An even number would be the sum of the dice, except triples. This bet pays 1:1 with a winning chance of 48.6 per cent.

Odd-This dice sum is going to be an odd number. This bet excludes triples as well and pays 1:1. The odd bet winning probability is 48.6 per cent.

 

Double & Triples

Specific Triples or Alls – A unique number is displayed on all three dice. This bet has just a 0.46% of winning and pays anywhere from 150:1 to 215:1, depending on the country you’re playing.

Specific Doubles – For at least two of the three dice, a particular number appears. This bet has a 7.41 per cent chance of winning and pays between 8:1 and 11:1, depending on the country in which you play.

Three Dice Total: This bet is several different bets based on the total of the dice. The table lists these bets as a number range, e.g. 4 or 17. When you place this bet, you expect the dice to equal the amount that falls between that range. The odds and the payoff for this bet vary depending on the amount you are betting on, and various tables give different options.

Any Triple – This bet is declared a win if the three dice land at the same number. This bet has a 2.8% chance of winning and typically pays 30:1.

 

Number Combinations

Dice Combinations – This bet wins if two dice reveal a particular combination of two numbers, such as a two and a five. This bet has a 13.9 per cent chance of winning and pays 6:1.

Single Dice Bet – A single dice bet is made on a particular number from 1 to 6 to appear on one, two, or all three dice. Betting on a number to appear once has a 34.72 per cent chance of winning, twice a 6.94 per cent chance, and three times a 0.46 per cent chance. The bets pay 1:1, 2:2 and 3:3 respectively.

Four-Number Combination – This bet allows players to bet on any of the following four combinations: 6, 5, 4, 3; 6, 5, 3, 2; 5, 4, 3, 2; or 4, 3, 2, 1. Three of the four numbers must appear on the three dice to win. The chance of winning this bet is 11.1 per cent and the bet pays 7:1.

Three Single Number Combination — The dice will show a combination of three different numbers. This wager has a 2.8% chance of winning and pays 30:1.

Specific Double and Single Number Combination – This is often a combination of three numbers, however instead of three separate numbers, it contains two of a kind and a separate third number, e.g. 1-1-3. This bet has a 1.4% chance of winning and a payout of 50:1 or 60:1, depending on where you play.

 

Sic Bo Betting Strategies

When it comes to the Sic Bo strategy, the fact is that what types of bets you make can and should make a difference. Now, when you’re usually on the defence, this might not sound reasonable, however, listen carefully before concluding. The thing about the game is that since it’s a game that relies largely on chance, the fact is that persistence pays more than anything else, which means you have to be prepared to defend rather than strike.

Players that play the defensive style of Sic Bo strategy not only tend to keep more of their bankroll but are also able to remain longer in the game. If you want to play in this particular style, you will be able to make a decent profit. The best rate you’ll find in Sic Bo is about 2.78 per cent and for you to be able to win a comparable amount, it’s important to focus on both Small and Big Bet styles as well as some mix bets.

 

Big and Small Bets

If you want to make small and big bets, you should usually be able to win with them more often than not. And what are big and small bets? A Small bet is a player predicting that the total amount of the three dice roll will be between the number 4 and 10, while a Big bet is predicting that the total number of dice will be between 11 and 17. If it comes to a Big Bet, the chances are 1 to 1, which means that you risk winning less money than if you made a Small Bet, but you have a better chance of winning anything.

Unless one were to look closely at the Sic Bo rules, one would know that betting on a single number would potentially earn you more money than you would have been able to do on average, but sadly, although the payoff rate is considerably higher for a single number, the odds of winning are certainly smaller. However, if you decide to bet on a single number, you really need to focus on a single die and try as much as possible to predict which number of the six will come up. It is not unheard of to bet on the same number several times in order to get a better result.

 

Combination Bets

This bet which is a different two-number bet, players have a small advantage of about 2.77 per cent. Now, while this may not seem to be much (which is the main reason why beginners tend to ignore this kind of bet), it would be foolish to ignore this method because the chance to win in combination bets is 6 to 1 this means that players can expect a win one in every seven bets.

For better performance, combination bets should be used regularly and eventually, if you manage to master this Sic Bo technique, you’ll be assured of the kind of desired Sic Bo payouts other than those that are much riskier would not be able to deliver.

 

Sic Bo Low-Risk Strategy (Beginners Strategy)

Sic Bo for dummies strategy and actually studying the game itself is such a perfect introduction to the wonderful world of casino gaming as players can tackle this incredibly complex game with confidence that they’re not losing a lot of money.

Naturally, once players feel more comfortable playing at this level, they can move to a balanced or high roller Sic Bo strategy below. By the end of the day, the only possible downside of using a low-risk approach is that some people have found it tedious and thus boring. With all this said, we agree that it is a discipline that makes it better and that learning how to be cautious and how to limit your bets for the best outcomes should be the foundation of every great casino career.

 

Sic Bo Balanced Strategy

When you feel like you’re at the top of a low-risk strategy and have nothing left to do about it, the next port of call is the Balanced Sic Bo Strategy. Balanced Sic Bo players are players searching for bigger wins, but that doesn’t automatically mean that they should only be wary of the storm. Indeed, to satisfy the criteria of this particular strategy, the numbers that give you the best chance are 9 and 12 and this is because they have the most likely payoff.

The trick here is to make a bet on your chosen number and then combine it with three-double bets. Select doubles that have the potential to win if your chosen sum fails in order to offset the risk taken. An example of this will be the following: a total of 9 won’t win if double 1 is spun, and a total of 12 won’t win if double 6 is spun.

 

High Roller Sic Bo Strategy-Strategy for the Pros

This final Sic Bo strategy is aimed at those veteran players who just want that little bit more and are motivated by the idea of winning more than one bet for the same outcome. This can be done by players betting on a minimum of 8 or 13 (doubles and combinations) and looking for ways to win three times on the same spin.

A bet on a total of 8 will not win if the number of the dice is double 4, 5 or 6 because the sum will be greater than 8. A limit of 8 could, however, consist of a double 1, 2, or 3. A sum of 8 could also contain a mixture of 3 and 2.

 

Sic Bo Tips

Sic Bo is a game of luck; however, this doesn’t mean there aren’t any good ways to play. From watching your banks rolls to choosing the right numbers. Below are some tips for playing Sic Bo.

1. Avoid Betting Triples: When you bet on a triple and win, this happens very rarely, it means that you correctly guess the only number that has come upon all three dice. A triple bet is worth 180:1, but it’s the riskiest bet you can make. Therefore, more experienced Sic Bo players completely avoid triples or use them as additional bets. You can never make a triple bet as a big bet because the bet would cost you a lot most of the time.
2. There are no foolproof Betting Systems: There is no betting system in Sic Bo that will operate 100% and reduce the house edge. In the long run, the casino is guaranteed to win, and no system can completely overturn this. The Sic Bo betting system can not in any way guarantee a return. After all, the game is based on luck, so your intuition is probably the best betting system. 
3. Use Combination Bets: You can make a bet on any two different numbers or a combination bet in the enhanced version of Microgaming’s Sic Bo. This bet also has a small house edge or 2.77 per cent, and the odds of this winning bet are 6:1. In other words, you can win once every seven bets.

 

Play Sic Bo Now!

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Sic Bo FAQs

1. What is Sic bo?

Sic Bo is an ancient Chinese dice game that sees players gambling on the three dice roll results. Its direct translation is valuable dice, and also, confusingly, dice pair. In the early 1900s, this popular Chinese game of luck came into the western world. Players place their chips on the table in the area corresponding to the type of outcome they wish to wager on.

2. Are there any perfect strategies?

In Sic Bo, you cannot adopt any perfect strategy to adjust odds or increase your winning chances. Every betting choice simply has a corresponding likelihood and a particular house edge. Decision making after making a bet is non-existent, so there is no perfect strategy to talk about—just different outcomes with varying levels of probability.

3. How does Sic Bo compare with other casino games?

The best bet is the big or small bet, or the odds and evens bet if there is one where you play. You must give the house an advantage of 2.78 per cent on this bet. Compared to other popular casino table games, this is ok, without being great. Blackjack with excellent rules is 0.29 per cent, while on a single zero table roulette is 2.7 per cent.

4. Can I play Sic Bo online?

Sic Bo is at most, if not all of the online casinos accessible online. You’ll find variants of the game as well as the standard Sic Bo. Most online casinos provide better odds than live casinos that drive further down the edge of the house. Sic Bo is a great third choice for the live dealer to bridge the gap between online and live play.