Poker-Based

These games are all based on poker and, if they are dice-style games may use “poker dice”.

Liar’s Dice

Liar’s dice is a very old dice game dating to the Latin American Inca Empire during the 15th century and spread to Europe by way of the Spanish Conquistadors.

Number of Players

The game may be played with two or more players.

Set Up

Determine play order using whatever method works best for the players.

Wild Cards

Before play begins, if players want to have wild faces, all players agree on which one(s) are wild. Historically, Aces, or 1 pipped faces, are wild.

Game Play

The game is simple. Each player rolls their dice in the cup and flips the cup onto the surface while not revealing the dice. Then, the first player peeks at their dice and bids what they think all players have. For example, a player may bid “2 fives” if they believe that amongst all players there are two fives rolled. The next player will go. If they think there are higher results among the players, they may say that will raise the bid or call out “Liar!”, at which time all players reveal their dice. If the bid made by the previous player is correct, or at least minimally, the last player to bid wins. Otherwise, the player who called out “Liar!” wins and the last player loses one die. For example, the last player bids “2 twos” and there are 1 twos or anything else, the last player loses. Another example, the last player bids “2 twos” and there are 5 twos, the last player wins.

Raising the bid is simple. A player may add more dice to the bid, up to 5 dice. For example, raising the bid from “2 twos” to “5 twos” is possible. A player may also increase the face value. For example, a bid might be “2 twos”, but another player may raise the bid to “1 three”.

The loser of the last round starts bidding for the next round unless they’re eliminated. A player is only eliminated if they do not have any remaining dice. In which case, the next player starts the bidding.

Betting

Players place bets using some sort of mechanism (e.g. anteing or blinds) into the pool called a “kitty” before the game begins. This can be done through any mechanism, but tokens placed in the kitty, such as poker chips or money, are preferred.

Once all bets are placed, the game proceeds as defined. The winning player gets the kitty. In case of ties, the kitty stands in the next round.

Meier

The goal of this game is to get the highest score from dice rolls.

Number of Players

The game may be played with two or more players.

Set Up

Players determine play order somehow. Also, each player is assigned an agreed upon life total, which is typically 3, and is the same for all players.

Game Play

On each player’s turn, they roll the dice in either a cup or bowl and place it face down. Then, the rolling player peeks at the dice, announces what the result is, whether or not it’s the truth, ends their turn, and slides the dice, carefully, so as not to disturb the result, to the next player. The acting player may believe the passer and do the same as the passing player but announcing a value higher than the passing player with or without looking at the dice. However, if the passing player is believed to be a liar, the acting player reveals the dice. If the dice shows a result lesser than the value, the passing player loses a life. If the dice shows a greater or equal value, the calling out player will lose one life. In any case, the acting player starts a new round.

The results of the dice are not the total of the dice. Instead, it is denoted by, first, the highest die and then the lowest. For example, if 5-6 are rolled, the result is 65. There is a special roll called “Meier”, which is 21. If “Meier” is announced, one of three things can happen. If the acting player does not look at the dice, they lose one life. If they look at the dice and it is “Meier”, they lose two lives. If they look at the dice and it is not “Meier”, the passing player loses two lives.

The following from lowest to highest are the potential results and their ranking:

32, 32, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 54, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 21 (“Meier”)

When a player loses all their lives, they are out of the game.

Winning the Game

The game ends once there is only one player remaining. This person is the winner.

Drinking

Like many games, there is a drinking aspect. Once the game is over, all but the winning player takes a drink. The drinking rules do not allow for tie resolution. In case of ties, those players do not drink.

Gambling

Like many games, there is a gambling aspect. Each player puts in an agreed upon wager into the kitty. The winner of the game takes all wagers from the kitty.

Poker Dice

Poker dice is a very old dice game that uses dice instead of cards to play the game of poker.

Number of Players

The game may be played with two or more players.

Set Up

Determine play order using whatever method works best for the players.

Using dice with Pips

It is entirely plausible that standard six-sided dice to play the game. The translation of faces may be as follows:

Wild Cards

Before play begins, if players want to have wild faces, all players agree on which one(s) are wild. Historically, Aces are wild.

Game Play

The game is simple. Each player rolls the dice to create “hands”. They may roll up to three times, keeping as many dice as desired from the previous roll. Each “hand” has a rank that determines which player wins.

Hand Ranking

Here is the ranking from lowest to highest

Betting

First, before play begins all players need to agree what betting rules will be used (e.g. anteing or blinds). Next, some mechanism, preferably an opaque cup will be used to roll the dice. After that, when the dice are shaken in the cup, immediately flip the cup over in a way that does not reveal the results to other players. Next, each player may peek at their results at any time in a way that does not reveal the results to other players. Finally, players place bets into the pool called a “kitty” to determine who has the best hand. This can be done through any mechanism, but tokens placed in the kitty, such as poker chips or money, are preferred.

Once all bets are placed, all players reveal their dice results. The highest ranking player gets the kitty. In case of ties, the kitty stands in the next round.

Straight Poker

Poker is a very old card game.

Number of Players

The game may be played with two or more players.

Set Up

Determine play order using whatever method works best for the players.

Wild Cards

Before play begins, if players want to have wild faces, all players agree on which one(s) are wild. Historically, Aces are wild.

Game Play

The game is simple. Shuffle the deck and deal 5 cards to each player. The players then bet and raise until nobody will bet any more. At this point, all players reveal their hands. Each hand has a rank that determines which player wins.

Hand Ranking

Here is the ranking from lowest to highest

Betting

First, before play begins all players need to agree what betting rules will be used (e.g. anteing or blinds). Next, some mechanism, preferably an opaque cup will be used to roll the dice. After that, when the dice are shaken in the cup, immediately flip the cup over in a way that does not reveal the results to other players. Next, each player may peek at their results at any time in a way that does not reveal the results to other players. Finally, players place bets into the pool called a “kitty” to determine who has the best hand. This can be done through any mechanism, but tokens placed in the kitty, such as poker chips or money, are preferred.

Once all bets are placed, all players reveal their dice results. The highest ranking player gets the kitty. In case of ties, the kitty stands in the next round.