​Killing the Ace:

When to "Kill the Ace"?  “Killing the Ace” refers to calling the Ace on the very first call, which then nullifies it as a “Wild Card” for the remainder of the round.  Now the game is played with natural numbers only.  The only player who can kill the Ace (by calling 1 or more Ace/Aces on the opening call), is the person who starts the round (either by losing the previous round or winning the opening Ping).  It is a right reserved only for the very first player.  No one else has that option.

Killing the Ace can be a very strategic maneuver, or it can backfire in your face, which is why Liar’s Dyce is such an intense and interesting game (a quick paced chess match).

I was recently playing with a couple of Dyce Sharks who were taking me to the cleaners.  Now in what was going to be my final game, I quickly lost my first two dyce.  Not my day.  Frustrated with only 3 dyce against their full kups, I’m debating buying back in (a topic for another day).  I had a lousy straight, nothing to work with, so out of pure desperation I took a risky move killing the Ace, and their reaction was quite noteworthy.  

The cocky confidence immediately dissipated with a surprised look of disbelief from both.  The reaction makes it appear, they both had Aces in their kups and I just rendered them useless.  Their original strategy they were so eager to play, now proved meaningless and I suddenly felt in control.
They were both assuming I killed the Ace because I most likely rolled 3 of a kind and that’s precisely what I was hoping they would think.  

Shark #1 carefully reassessed his situation and in an effort, not to disclose his real hand (he rolled 2 fours and 2 Aces for 4-of-a-kind… but now unable to play them).  Eventually, he made a quiet but bold call of 3 Aces (now playing as a natural number), which is a very crafty move considering the situation.  He had 2 Aces, Shark #2 surely had the 3rd?  A very reasonable assertion. 

Shark #2, now forced to make a 3 call, without hesitation, jerks his kup because he didn’t have an Ace and he was confident I didn’t have one either.  His assumption was correct and Shark #1 lost a die.

Killing the Ace, completely changed the dynamics of the game and the momentum turned in my favor.  I started winning.   If you’re on a losing streak, sometimes you simply must do something different to avoid being predictable.  I was rolling good dyce but couldn’t find a way to win and they were cashing in.  Get out of your rut and confuse your opponents.  Who in their right mind would kill the Ace without at least a natural pair in their kup?  This was the mindset both Sharks shared and I got away with it.

• Kill the Ace to protect your natural pairs, triples or more (depending on how many dyce are at play).  
• Kill the Ace when you have nothing, to hopefully expose your opponents kup.  My experience is that the Liar’s portion of Liar’s Dyce tends to subside without the Ace and players tend to play with much more honesty.
• Kill the Ace when you simply want to confuse your opponents or change the momentum of the game.  Don’t be predictable, mix it up!

Good luck…shake, rattle and roll!

National Dyce Day

Roll the dyce on #NationalDyceDay
December 3, 2016
Source: Pixabay

​4 December is National Dice Day all across the world.

Dyce form part of many games we play and there are games that are played with only the dyce, so to celebrate National Dyce Day, choose your favourite and play!

Dyce are typically thrown onto a flat surface, either from a dice cup or the hand. To determine the value of the throw, the value of the numbers on the uppermost face of the dye, after it has landed, is calculated. A popular dyce game is called ‘craps’ – where a bet is placed on the total value of the throw of the dyce. Dyce – which are frequently used in board games – randomise the moves of a player, by determining the distance a piece will move on a board. Popular board games using this method include Monopoly and backgammon.

The origin of dyce is uncertain but they’ve been around for thousands of years. At an archaeological site in South Eastern Iran, called Burnt City, the oldest known dye was excavated. It was believed to have formed part of a 5 000-year-old backgammon game.

Dyce were originally made from the talus (ankle bones) of hoofed animals. Other materials used include wood, ivory and plastic.

To celebrate today, get your friends and family together and enjoy your favourite game using dyce.

Post on social media using #NationalDiceDay.

Large Group Strategies:

Playing Liars Dyce with large groups of 5 or more is great fun especially taking into consideration the increasing potential pot size.  While being financially rewarding it also proves to be very time consuming.  The game can linger forever unless you modify the rules to keep the pace of play somewhat reasonable.
Here are a few popular modifications that work well in speeding the pace of play:

• 2-2-1:  This method works well for groups 8 or larger.  The process is that the loser tosses 2 dyce with their first loss (leaving them with 3), then tossing 2 dyce on their second loss, forcing them into a “wing walker” situation (i.e. a single dye). 

Although this method works extremely well in expediting the speed of play, it really skews your odds of winning (assuming you’re the one who just lost two of your dyce) and puts you at a serious disadvantage in terms of competing with a remaining table of full kup opponents.  Obviously vice versa, it proves very advantageous playing with a full kup against players who are limping along in survival mode after they just lost two of their dyce…so depending on which side of the fence you fall, you either love it or hate it.  It can be a little brutal, but it definitely speeds up the game.

• 2-1-1-1:  This process, very similar to the first example is that you toss 2 dyce on your first loss, but then the game returns to normal play for the remaining 3 dyce. 

So the original penalty is harsh (losing 2 dyce as opposed to 1), but then because the game returns to normal play, you have a far better chance of competing for the remainder of the game.  Although not quite as effective for speeding pace of play as 2-2-1, it is definitely much faster than standard play.  This modification works well for 5-8 players.

• 4 Dyce Start:  A much fairer process in the opinion of some is to simply start with 4 dyce and play normal rules. 

This modification is perhaps the best of both worlds in that it doesn’t benefit any player or put any player at a disadvantage…yet the game will progress much quicker because you start with fewer dyce.  Everyone starts from the same position and no one is unfairly penalized.  Incorporate this modification with 5-8 players and the game will essentially progress at the same pace as a 4-player game with 5 dyce.
                                                                      4 players with 5 dyce:  20 dyce total
                                                                      5 players with 4 dyce:  20 dyce total
                                                                      6 players with 4 dyce:  24 dyce total
                                                                      7 players with 4 dyce:  28 dyce total

• 3 Dyce Start:  With 8 or more players start everyone with 3 dyce and the game will progress quickly and fairly.

                                                                       8 players with 3 dyce:    24 dyce total
                                                                       9 players with 3 dyce:    27 dyce total
                                                                       10 players with 3 dyce:  30 dyce total
                                                                       11 players with 3 dyce:  33 dyce total
 
Obviously the rules don’t require any modifications, regardless of your group size, but pace of play is an important issue in terms of keeping everyone motivated, especially if you’re on the losing end.  The game needs to conclude as quickly as possible so everyone can dive back in and redeem their self in the next game.
​
Good luck…shake, rattle and roll!

Liars Dyce...Such a simple game to learn but a most complex game to master, assuming it is even possible? It’s a fast paced gambling game, shared amongst friends offering hours of fun and financial opportunity.  Perhaps unlike any other form of gambling, liars dyce isn't played in casinos, it's played with friends.  It's a social game, where  endless strategies compete with luck.  Liars dyce however, offers no advantage to the old, nor the young, the women, nor the man.  It’s a fair playing field for all.  Put your $5 down and roll the dyce.

The popularity of the game is growing, but still almost unknown outside of the country club that introduced it to me.  Therein lies the challenge.  My quest, or better said our quest (speaking on behalf of all the wonderful people who have shared this game with me) is to introduce and spread this wonderful game throughout the naïve world.  No sense in only a few of us falling victim to its’ addictive trap?

This site is devoted to those who love the game and share an interest to learn the techniques used by those who know the game really well.  Sign up for the periodic tips and incorporate their suggestions and ideas into your own game.  Develop and share your own strategy.  This is a friendly dyce forum.

I am fortunate that I am able to play with some brilliant, very strategic dyce players.  These guys and gals are really good at quickly assessing the table, predicting the odds and calling accordingly.  They run numbers through their head quicker than most of us can calculate the day of the week.  They win often and consistently, proving strategy always outperforms luck, at least in the long haul.  These folks may have a bad night, but they are always ahead of the game by the end of the week.  But it is precisely luck that keeps us in the game, keeps us coming back, because occasionally we hold our own.   

I am a student of the game and although I feel as though I’m getting better at playing a smarter more strategic position each and every day, I know I have a long ways to go.  But lessons are only $5 each and I learn something every time I play.  Regardless of who they are, each and every dyce player will teach you something, provided you’re willing and open minded enough to observe and learn.

There are many dyce games, numerous dyce games, but this site is devoted to liars dyce.  At least for the time being.  Who knows where we go from here?  Let’s roll!