Bar Dice Games

I came across this article in the SF Gate which discusses the underground dice scene in San Francisco, especially in Chinatown. (I hadn't even thought about these types of games since my early 20s when I actually hung out in bars.) Evidently it can get pretty pricey. You might start playing for dollars and then have things quickly escalate to the $20 level with pots exceeding $1000.

What got my attention was this quote about the game 1-4-24

Quote:

Although mathematicians would disagree, the consensus of every bartender interviewed was that 4s are much more common rolls than 1s or 6s. "Four are easy, so if they take that 4, that's a good tell that they haven't played before," says Lola Lugo-Gomez, who tends bar at Black Magic Voodoo Lounge.

So there are drunk people with money who think 4s are rolled more often than 1s or 6s. Interesting.

The article discusses three games. Liars Dice (which most here have probably heard of) is considered the most challenging since you need both a poker face and ability to adjust to all the various house rules each bar has. Midnight (or 1-4-24), sort of a very simple version of Yahtzee, uses six dice of which you must get a 1 and a 4 and score the rest. Then there's Topsy Turvy (which I've never heard of nor can find rules for) which is sort of a dice version of Casino War.

I'm also familiar with the bar dice game Ship, Captain, and Crew which I actually think, with some tweaking, would make a fun casino game on a craps-like table.

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone here is currently a barfly who is familiar with these and similar games. Any tips on who, what, when, where and how to play?

How about " Shut The Box"?

There are many Bunco groups, mostly women, many in private clubs like BPOE or moose, some bar leagues, played either as individuals or teams. In that game, they use 3 dice, aces and 5s have value, along with pairs and trips. You get points scored, and usually prizes, but illegal money also changes hands in some places.

Sample rules (different from what I've played in some respects, but similar)

https://www.dicegamedepot.com/bunco-rules/

We play 6-5-4 in our lodge

Played with 5 dice and cup

Three rolls per turn

Object is to get a 6 then a 5 then a 4 and best possible score with remaining two dice.

This must be done in sequence high to low
If you roll 6&5 or 6-5-4 in the same roll you may keep all. You can not keep a 5 until you have a 6. Can’t keep a 4 until you have a 5.

The total of the remaining dice is your score

12 being the highest

You may roll the two remaining dice to try to improve your score if you have any of your rolls left. However, you must roll both you can not keep one high die and roll the other.

If tie money carries over to next pot.