Dice games have been around almost since about 6,000BC. Dice games are great fun, require little equipment, beyond the requisite dice, and can be played almost anywhere. So the next time you are looking for something fun for your family and friends to do together, try one of these fun family dice games.
* Poker Dice – The object is to throw the highest poker hand in either one or two throws.
Number of players – Any number can play
Number of dice used – Five poker dice, whose sides bear the playing card denominations: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, Ten and Nine or regular dice, just determine which number corresponds with which playing card denomination before you begin. Generally the Ace is highest but it is sometimes played wild.
Game play – Each player throws one die to determine the order of play, highest man going first, next highest second and so on. After the first throw, the player may choose to stand pat or may draw, as in draw poker, by throwing one, two or three of the dice again. The object is to secure high poker hands which rank as follows: five of a kind, four of a kind, full house, straight, which is any five cards or numbers in numerical sequence, three of a kind, two pair, one pair. Keep in mind though that the extra die or dice not included in one of the above hands do not have any value. If a player throws 4 jacks, for example, the fifth die does not help to decide the winner in case of ties. Tying players throw off.
* Round the spot or Flower Petals – The concept of this game is that the scoring faces of the dice are those with the spots arranged around a central spot, like petals around the center of a flower. Scoring is determined by the number of spots around the center. For example, the five has four spots, or “petals”, around its center spot, so it scores four points. The three has two “petals” and is, therefore, worth two points. The ace, with only its central spot, is worth one point. It is important to note that the even faces, two, four and six, have no central spot and, therefore, have no point value. This game’s simplicity makes it a great family game. It can be played as a gambling by having each player put money in the pot before the game starts.
Number of players – As few or as many as you like.
Number of dice used – Three
Game play – During one game, the dice will pass completely around the circle of
players four times. Each time a player gets the dice, he or she rolls them three times, totaling the scoring faces as described above. There is a rather interesting special exception: If a player throws a triplet of twos, fours, or sixes in any roll, then his final total for the current turn will be doubled. Also, the triplet roll does not count as one of his three rolls per turn. If, however, he rolls a second triplet of even numbers in the same turn, he loses the right to double his score. For example: Player one rolls 1-4-5 for five points (1+0+4), then follows with a 3-3-5 for eight more points (2+2+4). His third roll is 2-2-6, which is worth nothing, so his total for this turn is 13 points.
Leave a Reply