The Ultimate Guide to Sic Bo Strategy: Game Strategies For Making Informed Bets

Over the past decade, various games traditionally not super established in the global land-based gaming scene have become online mainstays, and one of these has been Sic Bo, which has enjoyed a strong presence in the brick-and-mortar sector in Macau and the Philippines. In the world’s top gambling capital, the Chinese special administrative region of Macau, this game is probably the second most played one alongside baccarat, which is the casino king in Asia.

For those unfamiliar with Sic Bo, this is a dice game that usually has an intimidating table for newbies with listed bet options and payouts. This is what many call an unequal game of chance, one that has roots in an ancient Chinese three-dice pick. Many historians believe that the game originated during the Han Dynasty (around 200 BC), and it’s considered the predecessor of all chuck-a-luck and grand hazard variants. We should also add that the name Sic Bo translates to precious dice.

For many, Sic Bo is an appealing gaming choice on account of its variety of betting options, simplicity, and random nature. Every roll here is an independent event, and there is no skill or prior knowledge required for you to enjoy the action. Still, that is not to say that measures do not exist that can help you boost the odds of ending your round with a little more than when you sat to play. Here, we tell you about tips that can aid you in accomplishing this while also explaining this game to those who have not come across it at offline and online casinos.

Understanding the Core Mechanics of Sic Bo

In Sic Bo, rounds begin with you placing bets on marked wagering choices. These correspond to the potential outcomes of the round’s dice roll. Once you make your bet or bets, the dealer or game software initiates a dice roll. In live casino versions and at gaming venues, this happens with the help of an automated dice shaker. In software picks, a random number generator decides arbitrarily which numbers will come up.

After the dice settle, the total sum or specific combinations are compared to bets made. Then, payouts get awarded to winning ones using a predefined structure.

While you can try to predict the exact outcome in Sic Bo rolls, most gamblers choose to strategically make wagers that balance risk and reward.

The Sic Bo Table & Dice

As noted in the intro, many game-of-chance lovers who fancy casino play and have not enjoyed Sic Bo before get turned away from trying this game after seeing its table. Without question, its layout can appear daunting at first glance. That is so because it is rich with many grids of boxes, numbers, and labels. The sections of the table feature wager types, such as the total sum of the dice, specific numbers, and range choices, and each section will have payout odds listed. Hence, you get insight into the potential returns for each bet possible.

Now, it is vital to note that the design and available wagers may vary slightly between casinos or online platforms, as each operator is free to add their twist to the gameplay. Yet, the fundamental structure should remain the same.

The Dice Roll Process

The game uses three dice, which typically get rolled using an automated mechanism at brick-and-mortar casinos. In most online versions, the presentations of Internet Sic Bo options use a visual representation of such a device to provide a sense of authenticity, naturally, even though a random number generator decides what numbers will come up.

The physical automated shaker tumbles the dice using air or spins them. For the most part, this is a transparent, motorized container that vibrates the dice before stopping and letting them settle. Its goal is the same as the RNG: to produce an unbiased result that no one can predict.

In Sic Bo, once the bets get placed and are locked in, the dealer or software initiates the roll. The moment of revelation regarding what numbers will come up is what drives the game’s thrill.

Placing Bets on the Sic Bo Layout

As noted, Sic Bo tables can differ. In general, there is a standard set of wagers that most Sic Bo games use. These start with big and small ones. Big wagers win if the sum of the three dice is between eleven and seventeen, except in scenarios where the three dice show the same number. That gets called a triple, and triples also lose if you have bet on a small field, meaning that the sum will be between four and ten, and a triple shows up.

Then, you have wagering on specific doubles, total sums, two-dice combos, and single-dice bets.

To place a wager in a Sic Bo round, you position your chips (physical or digital) onto the designated area of the table that matches your prediction. Yes, you can place multiple bets in a single round. Of course, you must do this before the roll begins and the dice start moving. At land-based casinos, the dealer will typically announce when betting is ending, and online, a timer will count down to such a deadline.

Payouts & Winning Outcomes

Once the dice have settled and the result is clear, the game pays out winnings.

Small/big wagers pay one-to-one. If you guess the triple, you will get the game’s high prize of eight hundred to one, and if you just bet on any triple showing up, and that hits, you shall win a thirty-to-one reward. Specific doubles pay ten to one, and totals produce prizes of sixty to one to six to one, depending on how difficult the target sum is. Combination bets pay six to one, and single dice ones pay out one to one, two to one, or three to one, depending on if a specific number will show up on one or the three dice.

The diversity of betting options in Sic Bo influences the payout structure based on the difficulty level that each bet will win, and each wager in this game carries a different house edge, but more on that later.

Exploring the Betting Options & Probabilities: Understanding the Wagers

We already went through the range of betting options available in Sic Bo, but let us cover this again in a bit more depth, adding probabilities in the mix, as this is the foundation of this game, where a roll’s outcome determines which bets win based on predefined criteria and payouts. Calculating the probability of a Sic Bo result entails determining how many of the two hundred and sixteen possible combinations satisfy a given bet’s conditions.

Big & Small Bets

For many, this is the most accessible Sic Bo betting choice, considered an entry point for new players. So, how do they work? Well, a Big bet wins if the total sum of the three dice falls between eleven and seventeen, inclusive, while a Small bet wins if the sum ranges from four to ten. The winning probability for both these bets is 48.61%

A pivotal caveat these wagers carry is that if all three dice show the same number, the bet loses. Because the ranges covered by Small and Big wagers are quite decent, they both typically pay one-to-one, meaning you double your wager when you win.

Betting on Dice Totals

For totals, Sic Bo lets you bet on a specific number between three and eighteen. Unlike with ranges, here you need pinpoint accuracy. The payouts in play here vary as they reflect the differing probabilities of each total occurring. For example, a total of ten can be formed in six possible ways. It pays six to one, but four can be produced in only one way, making it a high-risk choice, which is why it pays sixty to one.

Specific Triples & Any Triple Bets

A Specific Triple is betting that three fours will land, and they do land. An Any Triple is wagering that the dice will produce three identical numbers; it does not matter which, and that occurs. The probability of you guessing correctly a specific triple is 0.46%, and the odds of you betting that any triple will hit and that happening is 2.78%. Note that we are not talking about the house edge here but about the probability of something transpiring.

Specific Doubles & Any Double Bets

Specific Doubles focus on two of the three dice showing the same number. For instance, two threes land. The third die can be any other number. Each specific double has eleven possible winning combinations out of two hundred and sixteen, yielding a probability of about 5.09%. This wager typically pays ten or eleven to one.

On the flip side, an Any Double bet wins if any pair of dice match, regardless of which number they show. So, it is all the same if you have made this wager and they come up two-two-five, or six-six-two. You win in both instances, and you have a 13.89% chance of getting this bet right for payouts of eight, nine, or ten to one, depending on what the party offering the game has decided.

Betting on Combinations of Numbers

This involves wagering on a specific pair of numbers appearing on two of the three dice. Again, the result of the third die is meaningless. There are fifteen possible two-number combinations, and each has six winning outcomes for a probability of 2.78%. The payouts here can be five to one or six to one, depending on the difficulty of the wagered combo.

Betting on Single Numbers

We think this is pretty self-explanatory and is one of the most straightforward options in Sic Bo. You wager that a particular number from one to six will appear on at least one of the three dice. The probability of a chosen number appearing at least once is high, around 34.72% for one occurrence. Many say this is a bet appealing to newcomers to the game.

Understanding the Math Behind the Game

Understanding the math behind Sic Bo is not a complex academic exercise. At least, remembering the chief principles should not be a sizable mental stretch for anyone. No one is asking you to do complicated calculations. So, let us break down a few of the core math-based concepts behind this surging casino game that shapes its odds/payouts. Not counting probabilities, as we went through those above.

The House Edge Explained

If you have had anything resembling a fleeting interest in casino fun, then you likely already know that the house edge is the casino’s long-term statistical advantage. It is in place, built into all gambling products offered at casinos, offline and online, to ensure that their operators are profitable.

Here, the casino advantage ranges depending on the type of bet. For instance, it is 2.78% for Big/Small wagers, 13.89% for Any Triple, 7.41% for Specific Doubles, 11.11% for Any Double, 16.67% for Two Number Combos, 7.87% for Single Numbers, and just over 30% for Specific Triples. The payouts reflect the odds. The lower your winning chances, the better the reward you stand to win.

Expected Value (EV) & Its Role in Sic Bo

If you repeat a gambling round infinitely, the produced average would be the EV or expected value, calculated by multiplying each result by its probability and summing the totals. Since all bets in Sic Bo favor the casino, the EV is always negative in this game. Bets with lower negative EVs, like Big and Small, preserve funds longer, while high-EV losses in triples signal caution.

The Return to Player (RTP) Percentage

The Return to Player specification is the flip side of the house edge and an odds format that gets featured in most online versions of Sic Bo. This is something that got popularized by online slots, and then virtually all Internet gambling games adopted. Thus, if the house edge for a Big/Small bet is 2.78%, this would make the RTP of this wager 97.22%, which means that for every $100 wagered, the game should pay back $97.22 as rewards and keep the rest.

Most Popular Online Sic Bo Games

We said multiple times in this Sic Bo guide that this game has gotten a decent hold on the online gambling scene over the past few years. Consequently, it should come as no shock to anyone that loads of RNG-powered and live dealer Sic Bo choices are now on hand at many of our top-reviewed crypto casinos. Here are five of these products that seem to have gotten the most play time in top markets.

Lightning Sic Bo

This is Evolution’s 2024 Sic Bo entry into their streaming Lightning series, which blends traditional table action from casino classics with multiplier features. Here, you bet on the outcome of three rolled dice, with multipliers boosting payouts up to x2,000. There are fifty-two betting choices in this game, which imposes a 20% Lightning Fee per round to fund its multiplier system.

Mega Sic Bo

Mega Sic Bo, unleashed by Pragmatic Play in 2020, is another Sic Bo live dealer product featuring multipliers, random ones on select bets, offering payouts up to x1,000. These get applied after betting closes, enhancing payouts on specific positions.

Speed Super Sic Bo

Speed Super Sic Bo is a fast-paced version of Evolution’s Super Sic Bo, where you have ten-second betting rounds and multipliers up to x1,000. The ten-second angle is the main selling point here. This version was introduced by Evolution in 2021 and is pretty widely available.

Ultimate Sic Bo

Ultimate Sic Bo is a live pick managed by streaming provider Ezugi, which operates under Evolution. It, too offers random multipliers placed on the betting layout after a round begins. These enhance payouts up to x1,000 on select wagers.

Sic Bo Dragons

Here we have a Wazdan creation and one of many established RNG iterations of Sic Bo. Others you can check out come from providers like BGaming, Habanero, Galaxsys, One Touch, 1×2 Gaming, and Belatra. The different thing about Sic Bo Dragons is that here, you can place an additional wager on a fourth green die, and the max payout this Wazdan game can produce is x1,240.

Making Smart Betting Choices in Sic Bo

Sic Bo’s betting options cater to conservative and bold gamblers. While you cannot overcome Sic Bo’s randomness, you can choose to play this game in a way that will seek to minimize losses. That is if you can contend with modest prizes.

Low-Risk Betting Strategies

If you are looking for longevity in your sessions, you will always be going for Big and Small bets. Why? Well, these have almost 49% odds. That makes them attractive for cautious players. We would say that it is best to think of them as wagering on red or black in European Roulette. Single-number bets also supply decent prize chances and fit the low-risk mode somewhat, offering frequent small wins.

Understanding the High-Risk Bets

These are specific triples and totals. They are high-risk because they promise hefty rewards at great odds. That makes them fit for those with deep pockets who can survive win-less streaks, individuals looking to get a hit of adrenaline, who are not worried about steady gains. They seldom win, which is why they are not a reliable strategy.

Consistent Bet Placements & Methodical Play

Sticking to a selected wager type, for example, Big bets or single numbers is something that adds predictability to your gameplay. Such methodical play reduces variance and emotional bets. Know that if you select to bet consistently, this will build familiarity with outcomes and shall probably curb your desire to make impulsive decisions, leading to a healthier bankroll as a product of a healthier mind.

Understanding Variance in Sic Bo

As we discussed, there are two hundred and sixteen possible combinations from the three dice in Sic Bo. Hence, results can swing wildly. You can face extensive dry spells here, as ups and downs are inherent to Sic Bo’s design. They are a byproduct of the unpredictability of the three dice and how they spin and settle on each roll, whether through an RNG or an automatic shaker.

Therefore, discipline is critical when facing variance. Chasing losses is likely to only amplify deficits. You may recoup, but you are more likely to fall into a major financial hole as each roll is unaffected by prior outcomes. Please be mature and recognize the natural ebbs and flows of the game.

Developing a Bankroll Management Plan

This refers to having a structured approach to budgeting gambling funds. You should do this to foster sustained play and prevent long-term losses. You do this by setting aside a fixed amount you’re willing to spend for each single session. Then, divide this sum into smaller units, such as forty $2 bets. Also, try to set time, loss, and win limits. The latter ensures you walk away once you have hit a desired profit point, not risking giving your chosen casino some of your winnings back.

Recognizing & Avoiding the Gambler’s Fallacy

After five losing Small bets, you might think a win is now likely to happen. Yet, the reality is that each Small roll faces the same 48.61% chance of winning. The dice have no memory. So, do not get lured into this trap that raising bets to “correct” a streak is something you should do to recoup losses. Sic Bo’s results are purely probabilistic. Other traps, like overconfidence after wins or desperation after losses, also distort judgment. Stay clear of these pitfalls as well. Try to, at least.

Conclusion: Playing Sic Bo with a Smarter, More Informed Approach

Sic Bo is a game for dice lovers who enjoy having multiple wagering choices that can fit a given mood they are in. In this dice pick, gamblers are not limited to a high or low option; they can bet on ranges and have other betting choices on the table. Pun intended.

Luck drives all Sic Bo outcomes in the same way as it impacts all other casino game strategies, and the smartest wagers to make here are the Big and Small ones, as they offer close to 50/50 winning odds. Naturally, the trade-off is that you get one-to-one payouts with these, and you still face a house edge of 2.78%. Still, if you feel a bit more frisky, you can explore riskier betting choices in this simple gaming product with a rich history.

Aside from responsible play and the same-old progressive betting systems we always talk about, there is not much else you can do to try and boost your Sic Bo performance. We suggest recognizing the standard psychological traps such as the gambler’s fallacy and sticking to the Big and Small wagers while always budgeting wisely and ensuring that you are playing with a clear head, with reason and not emotions at the wheel.

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