How to Play Sic Bo for Beginners

This dice-based game is called Sic Bo. Its literal meaning in Chinese is “precious dice”, so it’s a good name in our opinion. You’ll be working with three precious dice, to be exact.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to correctly predict the outcome of three dice rolled together. There are multiple bet types you can choose from the betting table layout. This invites you to spread your risk across multiple results, like you would on the roulette wheel.

Unlike craps, which requires a pattern of consecutive rolls before they can become winning or losing bets, every roll of a Sic Bo dice has a winner and a loser. This makes Sic Bo the sibling to the game of craps.

The name of the game is easy: position your betting chips on the areas that match what you think the dice will roll next. Once your bets are placed, the dealer will roll the dice onto the table and the result is announced.

If the outcome covers one of the numbers you backed, you win at the odds displayed!

At first glance, the Sic Bo betting table can appear very loud and confusing. There are lots of betting areas, but it makes sense once you get your head around it. In essence, the table layout is a visual representation of all the different bet types available. Every section represents a different type of bet.

You’ll no doubt be keen to understand the different bet types in Sic Bo.

Here’s a breakdown of seven of the most popular bets available when you play Sic Bo online or offline:

You can decide to bet “small” which means betting on the sum of all three dice being between 4-10.

You can choose to bet “big” which means betting on the sum of all three dice being between 11-17.

Note: Both small and big bets are the best beginner Sic Bo bet, with winning bets paying out at odds of 1:1. That’s because they each have almost a 50% chance of winning. They’re similar to the outside “odd/even” and “red/black” bets you can place in roulette.

This betting option allows you to wager on the exact sum of the three dice rolled. For instance, you can bet on the next total sum being 12.

Payouts for exact sum bets in Sic Bo vary from 6:1 for the most common sums like 9, 10, 11, and 12, through to 60:1 for the least common sums like 4 and 17.

You can also place a bet on at least one die showing a specific number. For instance, if you pick the number 3, if one die shows that number, you’ll win a set amount. If two or all three dice show that number, you’ll win even more.

Place bets on a specific pair of numbers being rolled. For instance, a pair of 2s or a pair of 6s. The payout is far superior (usually 8:1), but the likelihood of it happening is obviously much lower.

If you’re feeling particularly lucky, you can also place bets on a triple being rolled. This means betting on any number being rolled three times, one on each die. The potential return on a triple bet is typically 24:1.

If you want to get even fruitier, you can bet a specific triple and pick a certain number to be rolled three times, for instance, three 6s. This carries by far the biggest odds, worth 150:1.

Finally, combo bets also give you the option to bet on two different numbers to appear. For instance, if you bet on 2 and 4, you’d need to roll a 2 and a 4 to win. It’s one of the mid-risk bets you can place at a Sic Bo table. It’s worth a payout of 5:1 if it lands.

SIC BO BET TYPE TABLE COMPARISON

Although some casino table games like blackjack allow you to deploy a strategy that minimizes its house edge, the reality is that isn’t possible in Sic Bo. This dice game is dictated by chance in every respect. There isn’t a Sic Bo strategy that can guarantee wins or even lower the house edge – but there’s still ways you can play smart.

When playing Sic Bo, some players prefer to stick to the small and big bets.

With the lowest house edge (approximately 2.8%) and a win probability of around 49%, this is one way to manage your bankroll.

If you’re prepared to take a little more risk in search of slightly bigger payouts, consider adding some Combo and Total Sum bets into the mix.

Betting on potential totals of 9 and 12 can offer a sensible balance of risk vs. reward.

Do you prefer to play Sic Bo for the biggest returns? If it’s the juiciest payouts you’re after, weave in some bets on specific triples or some of the harder-to-hit total sum bets.

Learning how to play Sic Bo is a cinch. That’s one of the main reasons why it’s such a good table game for those new to playing casino games online or in brick-and-mortar venues.

Sic Bo has genuine pick-up-and-play appeal. With one round of betting and one roll of the dice, you get your outcome. The game then restarts, and the process begins again.

It’s great for quick sessions and you’ve got the option to be flexible with your betting depending on how you feel – but we always urge you to play Sic Bo online responsibly by only risking money you can afford to lose!

The Small and Big bets offer your best chance of winning regularly at the Sic Bo tables. Make friends with these bet types first. They are simple, steady, and very predictable. 

While wins of up to 150x your initial stake are great, you also need to look at the likelihood of you winning. Betting on a specific triple to occur carries the biggest payoff. However, when you drill down into the probabilities, you’ll see the odds of it happening are one-in-216. Consider how you want to balance your bets while playing. 

Not all Sic Bo tables are made equal. Some odds differ from casino to casino, so be sure to check the payouts on offer before you start playing. When playing online, these can usually be found in the information table or 'Help' section. 

The fast action that Sic Bo offers can tempt you into betting more than you can afford. Always set a loss limit per session and never chase your losses. Playing Sic Bo online should be fun, after all!