Top Seven Tips for Sic Bo Players

Sic Bo, which means dice pair, is an ancient gambling game in China. It is very popular in Macau, while in the United States it is often found at Atlantic City casinos. The game uses three dice and it has quite different table layout. Sic Bo is based on luck and many experienced players have different tips for new players. Some include choosing numbers wisely, while others are more related to managing their bankroll. Continue reading to learn about some Sic Bo strategy tips that can help you win money playing the game.

1. Bet on Small or Big

The best bets you can make in Sic Bo is to bet on either Big or Small. In other words, you bet that the total score of the rolled dice is from 4 to 10 and from 11 to 17 respectively. These types of bets pay 1:1 and they have the smallest house edge (only 2.76%).

2. Use Combination Bets

In the improved Microgaming’s version of Sic Bo you can make a bet on any two specific numbers or a combination bet. This bet also has low house edge or 2.77% and the odds against this bet winning are 6:1. In other words, you can expect to win once in every seven bets.

3. The Odds on Specified Totals Vary

If you closely look at the payout table of Sic Bo you will quickly notice that the odds on certain sums vary big as well as their house edge. For example, wagers on totals from 7 to 14 offer 12:1 and have pretty lower house edge (9.7%) compared to the other specified sums. On the other hand, bets on totals from 8 to 13 or from 10 to 11 have 12.5% house edge. Other sums have pretty high house edge. A strategy tip here is to bet on the totals from 7 to 14.

4. Avoid Betting Triples

If you bet on a triple and win, which happens very rarely, it means that you have correctly predicted the only number that has come up on all three dice. A triple bet is worth 180:1, but it is the riskiest bet one can make. Therefore, more experienced Sic Bo players avoid triples entirely or use them as additional bets. You should never make a triple bet as a main bet because the bet will lose you money most of the time.

5. Don’t Place a Foolish Bet

You should always avoid placing foolish bets with a huge house edge. For example, if you bet on a total from 5 to 16, the odds of being hit are 6 in 216. According to the standard pay table the bet pays 30:1, but it has high house edge of 13.9%. Some bets have even higher house advantage and are rarely hit. Placing wager on such bet is the same as handing over your money to the casino.

6. Betting Systems Don’t Work

There is no betting system in Sic Bo that will work 100% and reduce the house edge. In the long run, the casino will surely win and no system can chance this. Sic Bo betting systems cannot guarantee a profit. After all, the game is based on luck so probably the best betting system for you is your intuition.

7. Trust in Luck

Sic Bo is an old Chinese gambling game. Because of the rather limited spoken Chinese language, some characters are pronounced similarly. Therefore, this caused some numbers to be associated with good luck, while others with bad. For example, the pronunciation of the number 9 sounds like the word long-lasting. On the other hand, the pronunciation of the number 4 signifies death. So don’t be surprised if you see some Sic Bo gamblers from China not betting on numbers like four.