How to play Liar's Dice
Bid on the dice under everyone's cups, or call “Liar!”. The last player with dice left wins.
Play Liar's Dice (free)How a round goes
hide them in a cup
or raise the bid
lift the cups
loses a die
Bidding: “four fives” means at least four 5s on the table
Everyone's dice count, yours too. You can even bid on a face you don't have.
Raising: more dice, or a higher face
| Next bid | OK? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × | Yes | Same number, higher face |
| 4 × | Yes | Same number, higher face |
| 5 × | Yes | More dice: any face is fine |
| 6 × | Yes | More dice, by any amount |
| 4 × | No | Same number, lower face |
| 3 × | No | Fewer dice, any face |
| 2 × | Yes | Ones: half, rounded up |
| 1 × | No | Ones: less than half |
Calling Liar: count the dice, and whoever was wrong loses one
- Fewer than the bid: the bidder loses a die
- As many or more (exactly is enough): the caller loses a die
Wild ones: a 1 often counts as the face that was bid
About one die in three counts for any bid (the face or a 1), not one in six.
Bidding on ones: at least half the number, rounded up
- A bid on ones counts only the 1s
- From ones back: at least double, plus one
| Last bid | To ones | From ones |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 × ones | 3 × any face |
| 2 | 1 × ones | 5 × any face |
| 3 | 2 × ones | 7 × any face |
| 4 | 2 × ones | 9 × any face |
| 5 | 3 × ones | 11 × any face |
| 6 | 3 × ones | 13 × any face |
| 7 | 4 × ones | 15 × any face |
| 8 | 4 × ones | 17 × any face |
Spot On: say the last bid is exactly right
An optional rule (also called Exact or Calza). It is off here unless you turn it on in Settings.
- Exactly right: you win back a die you lost (up to five in Perudo and here)
- Any other count: you lose a die. The bidder is safe either way
Next round: everyone rerolls, and the loser starts
If the loser is out, the next player on the left starts. After Spot On, the caller starts.
The odds: expect a third of the dice you can't see
Your matching dice (1s included) plus a third of the dice you can't see.
| Bid | Matching dice in your cup | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 4 | 79% | 92% | 98% | >99% |
| 5 | 60% | 79% | 92% | 98% |
| 6 | 38% | 60% | 79% | 92% |
| 7 | 20% | 38% | 60% | 79% |
| 8 | 9% | 20% | 38% | 60% |
| 9 | 3% | 9% | 20% | 38% |
| 10 | 1% | 3% | 9% | 20% |
Matching dice include your 1s. The other players' bids are not taken into account.
In the picture above you had one matching die, so “7 fives” had a 38% chance of being true.
FAQ
- How many players?
- 2 or more. Boxed sets such as Perudo are for 2 to 6, and more can play with enough dice
- What do you need?
- Five six-sided dice for each player, and a cup you can't see through
- Who goes first?
- Any way you like, for example the highest roll of one die. Play then goes to the left
- Can the first bid be on ones?
- Not when ones are wild. Any other number and face is fine
- What if the count is exactly the bid?
- The bid is true, so the caller loses a die. Spot On would have been right
- Are ones always wild?
- No, many play without them. Then 1 is just the lowest face. Switch it in Settings
- What are the odds without wild ones?
- Add a sixth of the dice you can't see instead of a third. Same for a bid on ones
- Can you play with 2 players?
- Yes. In Perudo and here, Spot On is off with only two left
- How long is a game?
- Hard computer players took 7.2 rounds with 2 players, 17.7 with 4 and 27.9 with 6
- How often is Liar! right?
- About half the time (50% for Hard computer players, 4 players), so both sides take a risk
- How often is a called bid exactly right?
- 29% of the time with 4 players. More with fewer players (39% with 2 players) or without wild ones (38%)
- When should I call Spot On?
- When the bid is close to what you expect. Hard players (4 players) were right 36% of the time
- Is Liar's Dice the same as Perudo?
- Perudo is a boxed version with wild ones (pacos), Calza (Spot On) and Palifico
- Where does Liar's Dice come from?
- South America, where it is called Dudo or cacho. One account traces it to the Inca Empire
- Is it the game in Pirates of the Caribbean?
- Yes. In Dead Man's Chest (2006), it shows Will Turner that Davy Jones has the key
- Are there other boxed versions?
- Milton Bradley sold Liar's Dice in 1987, and Call My Bluff won the Spiel des Jahres in 1993
- Does everyone raise the same way?
- No. Some allow more of the same face, or any number of a higher face
- What is Palifico?
- Perudo's round for a player down to one die: no wild ones, and bids keep the first face
- Any other house rules?
- With two players on one die each, some bid on the sum of the two dice
- What is Build up?
- You start with one die and gain one per lost challenge. A sixth die puts you out
- What is “common hand” Liar's Dice?
- Each player names a combination in their five dice; the next must beat it or challenge
- Can you play Liar's Dice online?
- Yes, free here against 1 to 5 computers or with friends (press Friends and send the link)
More ways to win: Liar's Dice tips
