Any procedure mentioned here is specifically covered in the laws of poker as stated in any version of Hoyle’s.

Players

This game should work well for seven to nine players, but is also suitable for three or more as there is more action in betting than draw poker.

Cards and Dice

A standard deck of 52 cards is used with each suit ranking A (High), K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. There is no rank of suits. Generally wild cards, jokers, and bugs are not used due to the nature of the dice suit.

Three dice are also used as a fifth suit. The dice suit is ranked as the standard four suits, except that the lowest rank is 1. In play, any two or three dice can be combined to form higher ranking cards. Jacks require 11 points, Queens require 12, Kings require 13 points and Aces cost 14. Note: a player is not required to combine dice to form higher ranking cards.
For example, a player rolling 6,5,3 may choose to combine the three dice into an Ace. He may also choose to combine the 6 and 5 into a Jack. This would leave him with a J and 3 of dice. The player may also opt to leave the dice as is, he is under no compulsion to combine at all.

Rank of Hands

There are no flushes in Dice Poker, however, the nature of the dice suit allows for several combinations. From lowest to highest, the rank of hands are:

  • High card – three different cards and dice where no combination of dice and cards permit any higher hand.
  • One pair – Same as traditional poker. The pair can be a dice pair or a card pair or combination of the two. For example, the three of hearts and three of dice form a pair.
  • Bobtail – Four Card Straight that does not start with a one or an Ace. There are no wrap-around straights allowed. For example, a Bobtail could be six of dice, seven of hearts, eight of clubs, and nine of diamonds.
  • Two Pair – Same as traditional poker.
  • Three of a Kind (Barrel) – Same as traditional poker. This can be three cards, three dice, or a combination of the two. For example, the seven of hearts, seven of spades, and a dice combination of 5 and 2 will produce a three of kind with sevens.
  • Three Pair – Just what it sounds like. This can only occur when dice are not combined. For example, a hand of 2 of clubs, 2 of diamonds, 6 of spades, and 6,1,1 of dice produce three pair. (1s, 2s, 6s)
  • Odds or Evens – five or six cards in alternate sequence like A, Q, 10, 8, 6 or J, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1
  • Full house – Same as traditional poker.
  • Straight – Five card straight, same as traditional poker. No wrap-around straights are allowed, but a straight may start with an Ace or a one of dice.
  • Four of a Kind – Same as in normal poker
  • Longtom – A ‘Four of a Kind’ plus a ‘Pair’. For example, a hand of Ace of diamonds, Ace of Clubs, five of diamonds and dice of 5,5,5 produce a Longtom.
  • Double Barrel – Two barrels (two sets of ‘Three of a Kind’)
  • Five of a Kind – same as traditional poker.
  • Major Straight – Three cards and three dice that form a sequence of ranks for all six cards. A hand of 7 of clubs, 8 of diamonds, 9 of spades, and dice of 4,5,6 produce a major straight.
  • Six of a Kind – Three cards and three dice of the same rank.

Dealing

The dealer deals two face-down cards to each player and temporarily lays the deck aside. Each player rolls a die. Betting begins with the person with the higher die roll closest to the dealer. In the case of a tie, the person with the highest roll to the left of the dealer is chosen.

After the first round of betting, the dealer gives one more face-down card to each player. The deck is laid aside for the remainder of the hand. Each player rolls a second die – the person with the highest total of the two dice closest to the dealer bets first. In the case of a tie, the person with the highest total to the left of the dealer is chosen. This means that if some has rolled two 2s and another player rolls 4,6. The person with the 4,6 will bet first, despite the fact that the first person has ‘a pair’.

After the second round of betting, each player rolls their last die. Betting begins with the person with the highest total of the three dice closest to the dealer bets first. In the case of a tie, the person with the highest total to the left of the dealer is chosen. Again, it is determined by dice total, not the best poker hand or combination of dice into higher cards.

Variants

Like any game of poker, it is not necessary to bet at all.

You can also use different dice than the standard. Eight-sided dice allow for a greater chance to get an Ace and allow for more possible straights. Ideally, a seven-sided dice would be perfect. You can purchase one here.