ck666 • Dice detail

Sic Bo: the result of three dice

Sic Bo reads the faces of three six-sided dice together. Keeping totals, particular faces and triples separate makes the exception in conventional small/big rules easier to understand.

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Three dice under a glass dome
Dice
Three
Per die
Six faces
Total range
3–18
Ordered outcomes
216

The total alone leaves information out

A total of six can come from 1,2,3 or from 2,2,2. The second result has three matching faces. That combination matters alongside the sum.

Read all three faces

These examples use conventional Sic Bo small/big rules. A particular version's schedule may differ.

Roulette ball and dice casino equipment

Eight ways to read the dice precisely

Identify each die's value first, then decide which condition the outcome must satisfy.

One die has a value from 1 to 6. All three values together describe the complete round outcome.
Faces

1–6

Three values
Adding every face gives the total, from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 18.
Sum

3–18

Boundaries
Three identical faces make a triple. That is a separate question from whether a total is high or low.
Triple

Three matching

Exception
Conventional small covers totals 4–10 but excludes every triple.
Small

4–10

No triples
Conventional big covers totals 11–17 but excludes every triple.
Big

11–17

No triples
Several combinations may form one total. Middle totals and extreme totals do not have the same number of combinations.
Combinations

Repetition

Different counts
For a condition involving a particular face, the number of times it appears may matter. The total alone is insufficient.
Face count

Occurrences

Not the total
Payouts may vary by version. A general example should not be treated as a complete schedule.
Payout

Version

Provisions
Concept casino scene with roulette and dice tables

Three different ways to total six

Look at the faces producing the total. A total's label does not remove an exception based on matching faces.

1,2,3
Total 6

Three different faces. It falls within conventional small and is not a triple.

1,1,4
Total 6

Two faces match, but not three. The conventional triple exclusion does not apply.

2,2,2
Total 6

All three faces match. As a triple it does not satisfy conventional small.

Order matters
Separate positions

1,2,3 and 3,2,1 are distinct ordered outcomes, even though they share a total.

Total probabilitiesNot equal

Assuming equally likely ordered outcomes, count the combinations that produce each total.

Extreme totals

3 can only be 1,1,1, while 18 can only be 6,6,6.

Middle totals

Several combinations form middle totals, so total values cannot simply be assigned equal shares.

A particular outcome

One ordered outcome has probability 1/216. A total's probability depends on its number of combinations.

The next round

This calculation does not guarantee which outcome occurs at a particular time.

Examples of totals and triples

These examples assume conventional small 4–10 and big 11–17, with all triples excluded from both.

Faces Total Triple Small Big
1,2,3 6 No Matches Does not match
1,1,4 6 No Matches Does not match
2,2,2 6 Yes Excluded Excluded
3,3,4 10 No Matches Does not match
3,4,4 11 No Does not match Matches
4,4,4 12 Yes Excluded Excluded
5,6,6 17 No Does not match Matches
1,1,1 3 Yes Outside range Outside range
6,6,6 18 Yes Outside range Outside range

A specific total may have a separate condition. This table shows only the relationship to small and big.

Three-dice probability and exceptions

A small number of dice can still produce many combinations. The condition being considered determines which information is needed.

From 216 outcomes to unequal totals

Six possible values on each of three dice produce 216 ordered outcomes. A particular sequence, such as 1 on the first die, 2 on the second and 3 on the third, is one outcome with a 1/216 probability for fair independent dice.

Total six is not limited to that sequence. Other values and orders also produce six. To calculate the probability of a total, count every relevant combination; totals from 3 to 18 cannot be divided into equal probability shares.

Why to check triples first

Under conventional small/big rules, the triple exception is an additional condition beyond the total range. Declaring 'small' as soon as you see a total of six omits the important distinction in 2,2,2.

Small, big, a specific total and a particular face are separate conditions. One condition's exception cannot automatically be applied to every other condition. Check the version-specific payouts and provisions separately rather than treating a general example as a full schedule.

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Dice section

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Six checks before reading a schedule

Knowing the general structure does not establish every special provision.

Check Why it matters
Number of dice Sic Bo uses three dice, rather than two opposing pairs.
Total boundaries Conventional small and big have different ranges.
Triple exception A total within the range can still be excluded.
Face-based conditions The count of repeated faces may be required.
Payout schedule Rates can differ between versions.
Round independence Earlier totals do not guarantee the next.
Notebook and envelope beside casino chips and dice

Do not ask about only the total

For a result question, include all three faces and the condition concerned.

Six terms used with dice

Read the structure behind each term to avoid applying it in the wrong context.

  • Face
    The value showing on one die.
  • Total
    The sum of all three values.
  • Triple
    The same face on all three dice.
  • Small
    Conventionally 4–10, excluding triples.
  • Big
    Conventionally 11–17, excluding triples.
  • Ordered outcome
    A combination that treats each die's position separately.

Common questions about Sic Bo

Read the conventional exception separately from the sum.

Does total six always satisfy small?
No. 2,2,2 is a triple and is excluded from conventional small.
Is 3 included in small?
No. The conventional small range is 4–10.
Is 18 included in big?
No. The conventional big range is 11–17.
What does 216 mean?
It is 6×6×6 ordered outcomes for three six-sided dice.
Are total values equally likely?
No. Different totals have different numbers of combinations.
Is Bac Bo the same?
No. It compares totals of two dice on each of two sides.
The sum alone does not answer whether a triple occurred.

Return to the full dice section

Compare the structures of Bac Bo's two pairs and Sic Bo's three dice in the dice section. Roulette provides a different single-outcome comparison.

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