Liar's Dice
Also called Perudo or Dudo
Bid on how many of a number are hidden under everyone's cups. Call a bluff, and someone loses a die.
the best bit: calling “Liar!” on a bid that turns out to be exactly right
- Players
- 2–6 (best with 3–6)
- Time
- 15–30 min
- Learn in
- A minute
- Mood
- Lively
- Format
- Everyone for themselves
The 30-second version
Everyone shakes five dice under a cup and peeks at their own. Take turns bidding on how many dice of one number are on the table altogether, counting everyone's, like "six 4s". Each bid has to go higher. Think the last bid is wrong? Call "Liar!" and everyone reveals. Whoever was wrong loses a die.
read this, then walk through the steps below once.
Grab these
Set up
- Everyone gets five dice and a cup.
How to play
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Roll in secret
Everyone shakes their dice in their cup, turns it upside down on the table, and peeks at their own dice.
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Bid
The first player bids on how many dice of one number are under all the cups, counting everyone's: "Five 3s."
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Raise
Going left, each player raises the bid. Say more dice, like "six 3s", or the same number of dice with a higher face, like "five 4s".
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Call "Liar!"
Instead of raising, call "Liar!" Everyone lifts their cup and counts.
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Lose a die
If there are at least as many as the bid, the caller loses a die. If not, the bidder does. Whoever lost starts the next round, and everyone rolls again.
How to win
Lose all your dice and you're out. The last player with dice wins.
Once you know it
- Wild ones
- Ones are wild and count as any number. This is how it's played in Peru and Bolivia, where it's called Dudo.
From experience…
- About one die in six shows any given number. With 18 dice on the table, expect about three of each number.
- Your own dice are the only facts you have. Bid on what you're holding.