How to Play Dice 4, 5, 6

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posted on 16 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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This simple dice betting game is more often played on the sidewalk than in a casino. Played with three dice, this game is called Dice 4-5-6 after the highest scoring roll, or C-Lo.

Steps

Playing with a Banker

Select a banker. If more than one player wants to start as the banker, have them roll dice. The highest roller is the banker for the first round. The banker has slightly better odds of winning, but puts up a larger stake.

Set the stake. The banker puts up a bet of any amount. If you like, your group can decide on a minimum stake.

Match the stake. Each other dice player gets a chance to match some or all of the stake. Move on once the full stake is matched, or when no one else wants to put up a bet. Here are a couple examples: Example 1: The banker puts up $25. Player one matches $15 of that stake, and player two puts up $10. The full $25 stake is matched, so no one else can bet. Continue to the next step. Example 2: The banker puts up $100. Player one puts up $20, player two puts up $40, and no one else wants to bet. Since only $60 has been matched, the banker keeps the remaining $40 of his stake. Continue to the next step, playing for the $120 still on the table.

Roll for an automatic win or loss. Once all bets are made, the banker rolls three dice. In most versions of this game, these results immediately end the round: 4 + 5 + 6 exactly ("c-lo"): automatic win. Banker takes all the money. Any three of a kind ("trips"): automatic win. Any pair + 6: automatic win. (For example, 1 + 1 + 6 or 3 + 3 + 6.) 1 + 2 + 3 exactly: automatic loss. Banker pays out to each player, matching their stakes. Any pair + 1: automatic loss. (For example, 4 + 4 + 1 or 6 + 6 + 1.)

Find the score for other results. If the banker didn't roll one of the combinations above, the round continues. Find the banker's score: Any pair + a 2, 3, 4, or 5: the banker's score equals the value of the third die. (For example, 1 + 1 + 4 gives a score of 4. A roll of 5 + 5 + 3 gives a score of 3.) Any other result: the banker rolls all three dice again until she gets a "decision roll:" a score, an automatic win, or an automatic loss.

Try to beat the banker's score. If the banker rolled a score (not an automatic win or loss), each player gets a chance to roll three dice to try and beat it. This uses the same scoring rules, but only affects that player's stake: If a player rolls an automatic win or a score higher than the banker's, the banker pays that player an amount equal to the player's stake. If a player rolls an automatic loss or a score lower than the banker's, the player gives his stake to the banker. If a player rolls a score equal to the banker, no money changes hands. If a player rolls any other result, he re-rolls until one of the above happens.

Start the next round. Once each player has rolled (or the banker rolled an automatic result), the round is over. If money is still on the table due to a tie, it stays on the table unless the banker changes (see below). If the banker changes, the betting players pick up their stakes instead. Start the next round, using the same rules.

Switch bankers. Some groups rotate the banker position clockwise each round. Others let the banker keep the position until someone rolls a 4-5-6. That person then takes over the banker position starting next round. The old banker becomes an ordinary player. The banker role is always optional. A player can choose to turn it down.

Playing without a Banker

Place your bets. In this version of the game, there is no banker. Each player puts a matching stake into a single pot. These rules are recommended for two player games, or for groups looking for a more tense game with a top-heavy prize.

Roll until you get a result. Roll all three dice until you get a 1, 6, pair, or triple. For any other result, reroll all three dice until you get one of these results.

Have each opponent roll. Each player rolls in turn, following the same rules. Roll until everyone has a meaningful score (a 1, 6, pair, or triple).

Compare your results. In this version, there are no automatic wins or automatic losses. Whoever has the higher result wins the pot. Here are the results from highest to lowest: 4+5+6 is the highest roll. 6+6+6 is the next highest, followed by all the "trips" from 5+5+5 down to 1+1+1. Any pair + 6, down to any pair + 1. 1+2+3 is the lowest roll.

Shootout to break a tie. If two or more players tie for the highest score, they each reroll to break the tie. The highest reroll wins, ignoring the earlier rolls. There's also a special rule for breaking ties with "pair + third die:" The higher third die always wins, no matter what the pairs are. 1 + 1 + 4 beats 6 + 6 + 2, because 4 > 2. If the third die is the same, the higher pair wins. 3 + 3 + 5 beats 2 + 2 + 5, since 3 > 2.