Sic bo strategy
Three dice cannot be predicted, so a real sic bo strategy comes down to two choices: which bets you make and when you stop.
Best sic bo bets, ranked by house edge
| Bet | Pays | Wins | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small / Big | 1 to 1 | 48.61% | 2.78% |
| Odd / Even | 1 to 1 | 48.61% | 2.78% |
| Single number | 1, 2 or 3 to 1 | 42.13% | 7.87% |
| Total 4 or 17 | 60 to 1 | 1.39% | 15.28% |
| Total 5 or 16 | 30 to 1 | 2.78% | 13.89% |
| Total 6 or 15 | 17 to 1 | 4.63% | 16.67% |
| Total 7 or 14 | 12 to 1 | 6.94% | 9.72% |
| Total 8 or 13 | 8 to 1 | 9.72% | 12.50% |
| Total 9 or 12 | 6 to 1 | 11.57% | 18.98% |
| Total 10 or 11 | 6 to 1 | 12.50% | 12.50% |
| Two-number combination | 5 to 1 | 13.89% | 16.67% |
| Specific double | 10 to 1 | 7.41% | 18.52% |
| Any triple | 30 to 1 | 2.78% | 13.89% |
| Specific triple | 180 to 1 | 0.46% | 16.20% |
Atlantic City pay table, exact over all 216 dice outcomes. Pays differ in Macau and online.
- Small or Big – house edge 2.78%. The best bet on the table.
- Single number (one die face, e.g. a 4) – house edge 7.87%.
- Total of seven or fourteen – house edge 9.72%.
- Total of ten or eleven – house edge 12.50%.
Example: you bet Small. You win on totals of four to ten, unless all three dice show the same face – that triple is where the house edge comes from. See the full rules on sic bo rules.
Sic bo bets to skip
- Specific double (e.g. two 5s) – 18.52%
- Total of nine or twelve – 18.98%
- Two different faces (e.g. 2 and 6) – 16.67%
- Specific triple (e.g. three 3s) – 16.20%
- Total of four or seventeen – 15.28%
- Any triple – 13.89%
Big payouts on triples and rare totals come with a much bigger house edge, not a better deal.
Betting systems do not change the dice
Raising or lowering your bet after a win or a loss does not change the house edge on any bet. Past rolls do not affect the next roll – see the gambler's fallacy.
You can test Martingale, Paroli and other systems on even-money bets in the system tester – the average result still follows the house edge.
Run a system in the tester before you trust it – the average session still ends below zero.
Sic bo tips for limits
- Pick a loss limit before the first roll and stop when you reach it.
- Pick a time limit – the house edge works on every roll you make.
- Use small, flat bets on Small or Big to play longer with the same money.
- Treat any win as luck, not proof of a method.
Practice for free in the sic bo simulator and watch your balance over many rolls.
Questions
What is the best bet in sic bo?
Small or Big has the lowest house edge at 2.78%. Single number bets come next at 7.87%.
Is there a sic bo strategy that wins?
No. The dice cannot be predicted and no betting system removes the house edge, so the casino comes out ahead over time. Strategy can only lower how much you lose on average.
Which sic bo bets should you avoid?
Avoid the specific triple (16.20%), totals of four or seventeen (15.28%) and totals of nine or twelve (18.98%). Their house edge is many times higher than Small or Big.
Does Small or Big lose on a triple?
Yes. Small and Big both lose when all three dice show the same face, which is why the chance of winning Small is 48.61% instead of half.