LIAR'S DICE

Ever since Jenny and Charlie of Lady, taught us Liar's Dice, we have been searching for others to play with, and we have been teaching it if nobody around knows how to play. It is a fun game. All you need is a bag of dice!

First, you doll out dice based upon how many die are available, and how many people are playing. Every player must have an equal quantity. One of each player's dice is reserved for scoring.

Next, all dice are rolled, save the scoring dice, privately. Each player sees her dice, but no other player's dice.

Next, a first bidder, selected however, makes a bid. The first element of the bid is the quantity. The second element of the bid is the value. The bid is a prediction of the quantity of dice of a particular value that all players hold. For instance, a bid might be, six threes, meaning the total number of threes in all players' hands is six.

The player to the left of the bidder then either ups the bid, or calls the bidder a Liar. A higher bid is a greater quantity of any value, or the same quantity of higher value. In one hand, the quantity can never decrease. The value can decrease only if the quantity increases. For instance, if the first bid is, six threes, the next bid could be seven twos, or six fours.

Once a bidder is called a Liar, all dice are presented. If the bidder was a Liar, the bidder loses and ratchets her scoring die down one. If there were at minimum the quantity of the value called in the bid, the caller loses and ratchets her die down one. The loser of a hand is the first bidder in the next hand.

Players are out of the game when their scoring die goes below value, one. Remaining players play until one stands as the game winner. Play usually starts with scoring die at value, six. However, shorter games can be played from any value.

The most famous round of Liar's Dice, maybe in Pirates of the Caribbean when the Turner's play Davy Jones for each other's soul. What was the real reason Will wanted to play Davy Jones? Was Father's bid even possible, or did Father throw the game?

Get your dice anywhere. Charmed has dice from Ace Hardware in Ellenton. They had to be in stock there for fifty years. The Dollar Store and Wal Mart often have dice. Drink a bottle of Crown Royal for the velvet carry bag if you don't have a velvet bag from some other source.