All dice games can be divided into three general categories:
- Point Dice Games
- Total Dice Games
- Combination Dice Games
- Compound Dice Games
Point Dice Games allow the player to determine the number he must roll to win in some manner. Craps, for example, is a point dice game, because most of the bets in craps are based on the number the player either chooses himself or gets on the come-out roll.
Total Dice Games are based on the total number of the dice used in the game. In the Highest Throw game, for example, the player who rolls a higher total number wins.
Combination Dice Games use certain combinations of dice to determine the winner. Unlike Total dice games, Combination dice games are not necessarily based on the total. Specific combinations of the dice can beat or lose to each other. A good example of combination dice games is Poker dice, where the dice card symbols and can form poker combinations. However, there also are Combination dice games that are played with standard dice.
Compound Dice Games are those based on several of the above types. Formerly popular Sheep, Captain and Crew is one of such games.
Dice Games Rules
Pig: A simple dice game somehow similar to blackjack. Each player rolls one die until he decides to hold or 1 is rolled. Each next roll adds the rolled number to the total score of the player. If one is rolled, all the score gained in this turn is lost and the turn goes to the next player in the clockwise direction. The player with the highest score after a certain number of rounds wins the game.
Shut the Box: The game is played with a pair of dice and a box with 11 tiles numbered from 2 to 12. In the beginning of each player's turn all tiles are uncovered. The player rolls the dice. The player can cover the tile that corresponds to the total number of the dice or two different tiles that in the sum make this number. Note that the exact combination of the dice is not important. For example, if two dice are 3 and 4, the total number is 7 and the player can cover tile number 7, tiles 3 and 4, tiles 2 and 5 or tiles 1 and 6. If the all possible tiles combinations are already covered, the player ends his turn and the sum of uncovered tile numbers is added to the penalty score of the player. A player who reaches the penalty score limit (e.g. 45 points) leaves the game. The last remaining player wins.