Sic Bo Odds Calculator: Master the Three Dice

Sic Bo is an ancient Chinese dice game with dozens of betting options. Our calculator reveals the true odds behind every bet, from the low-edge Big/Small to the high-risk Triple wagers.

What Is Sic Bo?

Sic Bo uses three dice shaken in a cage. Players bet on outcomes like totals, combinations, singles, doubles, and triples. Payouts vary wildly—from even money to 180:1—but so do the house edges.

Quick Answer: Best bets are Big/Small (2.78% house edge) and specific two-dice combinations (2.78%). Worst bets are specific triples (30% edge) and Any Triple (30%). Total bets range from 9.7% to 15.3% edge. Stick to Big, Small, or Combination bets for lowest house advantage. Triple bets are sucker wagers with beautiful payouts but terrible odds.

How to Use Our Calculator

Use the Sic Bo Odds Calculator →

Select any bet type to see true probability, payout, and house edge.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Select Bet Type: Big, Small, Total, etc.

2. View Probability: True odds of winning

3. Check Payout: Standard casino pays

4. See House Edge: Casino advantage

5. Compare Bets: Find optimal wagers

Input Fields Explained

Field	Description	Example
Bet Type	Wager selection	Big
Probability	Chance to win	48.61%
Payout	If you win	1:1
House Edge	Casino advantage	2.78%
Expected Loss	Per $100	$2.78

Three Dice Mathematics

Total Combinations

Three dice, 6 faces each:
Total combinations = 6 × 6 × 6 = 216

Each combination equally likely
Probability of any specific roll: 1/216 = 0.463%

Sum Distribution

Sum	Ways	Probability
3	1	0.46%
4	3	1.39%
5	6	2.78%
6	10	4.63%
7	15	6.94%
8	21	9.72%
9	25	11.57%
10	27	12.50%
11	27	12.50%
12	25	11.57%
13	21	9.72%
14	15	6.94%
15	10	4.63%
16	6	2.78%
17	3	1.39%
18	1	0.46%

Bet Types and Odds

Big/Small Bets (Best Odds)

Bet	Wins On	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Big	11-17 (not triple)	48.61%	1:1	2.78%
Small	4-10 (not triple)	48.61%	1:1	2.78%

Why triples don't count:

Triples excluded: (1-1-1), (2-2-2), etc.
Big: 11-17 = 108 ways, minus 3 triples = 105 ways
105/216 = 48.61%

Combination Bets (Also Good)

Bet	Description	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Two-Dice Combo	Specific pair (e.g., 1-2)	13.89%	5:1	2.78%

Two-dice combination:
Ways to roll exactly 1 and 2: 6 ways
(1,2,X), (2,1,X), (1,X,2), (2,X,1), (X,1,2), (X,2,1)
where X is any number

6/216 = 2.78%, but pays 5:1
EV = (0.1389 × 5) - (0.8611 × 1) = -0.0278 = -2.78%

Total Bets (Medium Odds)

Total	Probability	Typical Payout	House Edge
4 or 17	1.39%	60:1	15.28%
5 or 16	2.78%	30:1	13.89%
6 or 15	4.63%	17:1	16.67%
7 or 14	6.94%	12:1	9.72%
8 or 13	9.72%	8:1	12.50%
9 or 12	11.57%	6:1	18.98%
10 or 11	12.50%	6:1	12.50%

Note: Payouts vary by casino. Always check the table.

Single Number Bets

Outcome	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Number on 1 die	34.72%	1:1	7.87%
Number on 2 dice	6.94%	2:1	7.87%
Number on 3 dice	0.46%	3:1	7.87%

Combined house edge: 7.87%

Double Bets (High Edge)

Bet	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Specific Double	7.41%	10:1	18.52%
Any Double	44.44%	—	Varies

Triple Bets (Worst Odds)

Bet	Probability	Typical Payout	House Edge
Specific Triple	0.46%	150:1 or 180:1	30.09% or 16.20%
Any Triple	2.78%	30:1	13.89%

Triple bets are the worst on the table

House Edge Summary

Best to Worst Bets

Rank	Bet	House Edge
1	Big/Small	2.78%
2	Two-Dice Combo	2.78%
3	Total 7/14	9.72%
4	Single Number	7.87%
5	Total 8/13	12.50%
6	Any Triple	13.89%
7	Specific Double	18.52%
8	Specific Triple	30%+

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Optimal Betting

Bet: $50 on Big Outcome: Dice show 3-4-5 (total 12)

Result: WIN $50

House edge reality:

• Per $100 wagered: $2.78 expected loss
• This session: +$50 actual
• Long-term: -2.78% converges

Example 2: Total Bet

Bet: $25 on Total 11 Payout: 6:1 Outcome: Dice show 4-4-3 (total 11)

Result: WIN $150

Probability: 12.50% Expected value: (0.125 × $150) - (0.875 × $25) = -$3.125

House edge: 12.50%

Example 3: Triple Chase

Bet: $10 on Triple 4 (all three dice show 4) Payout: 150:1 Probability: 0.46% (1 in 216)

Result after 216 rolls:

• Expected wins: 1
• Expected return: $1,500
• Expected cost: $2,160
• Net: -$660

House edge: 30.56%

Strategy Recommendations

Lowest House Edge Play

Bet only:
1. Big or Small (2.78%)
2. Two-Dice Combinations (2.78%)

Avoid everything else

Expected loss per $100:
~$2.78 (comparable to craps pass line)

Moderate Risk Play

Add to basic strategy:
- Total 7 or 14 (9.72% edge)
- Single number bets (7.87%)

Still avoiding high-edge bets

What to Always Avoid

Bet	Why Avoid
Specific Triple	30% house edge
Specific Double	18%+ house edge
Total 9/12	19% house edge
Total 4/17	15%+ house edge

Common Sic Bo Mistakes

1. Chasing Triples

Mistake: "Triple pays 180:1, huge potential!" Problem: 30% house edge destroys bankroll Fix: Accept you're paying for lottery-style excitement

2. Combining Bets Poorly

Mistake: Big bet + specific total bets Problem: Total bets have high edge, drag down overall EV Fix: Stick to Big/Small only

3. Ignoring Payout Variations

Mistake: Not checking pay table Problem: Payouts vary significantly by casino Fix: Compare before playing

4. Betting Every Roll

Mistake: Multiple bets covering the table Problem: Combined house edge adds up Fix: Fewer bets with lower edge

Sic Bo Variations

Grand Hazard

Difference	Impact
Uses different layout	Same math
Some bets differ	Check pay table
Same three dice	Identical probabilities

Chuck-a-Luck

Difference	Impact
Simpler betting	Fewer options
Rotating cage	Same randomness
Carnival game	Often worse payouts

Online Sic Bo

Consideration	Note
RNG-based	Same probabilities
Check license	Verify fairness
Compare payouts	Often better than live
Speed	Much faster = more losses

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sic Bo rigged?

Regulated casinos use certified random dice/RNG. Outcomes match mathematical probabilities. The house edge provides profit without rigging.

Can I count anything?

No. Unlike blackjack, no memory between rolls. Each shake is independent with fixed probabilities.

What's the best bet?

Big or Small at 2.78% house edge. Nearly as good as craps pass line.

Should I hedge bets?

No. Hedging in Sic Bo adds house edge, doesn't reduce it. Stick to single low-edge bets.

Why do casinos offer bad bets?

Players like exciting long-shot payouts. Casinos profit more from high-edge bets while offering variety.

Does bet position on table matter?

No. All Big bets are identical regardless of which Big area you use. Placement is only for organization.

Advanced Probability

Multiple Outcomes

Probability of at least one 6:
P(at least one 6) = 1 - P(no 6s)
= 1 - (5/6)³
= 1 - 0.579
= 42.13%

Conditional Events

P(total 10 | at least one 4):
Complex calculation
Generally not useful for betting
Each roll is independent anyway

Variance Analysis

Bet Type	Variance
Big/Small	Low
Combinations	Low
Single Number	Medium
Totals	Medium-High
Triples	Very High

Pro Tips

• Stick to Big/Small: Best odds on the table

• Two-Dice Combos: Equal edge, more variety

• Avoid the middle: Most bets have 10%+ edge

• Never chase triples: 30% edge is ruinous

• Check pay tables: Variations exist

Related Calculators

• Craps Odds Calculator - Similar dice game
• Probability Calculator - Probability basics
• House Edge Calculator - Edge comparison
• Expected Value Calculator - EV analysis
• Dice Probability Calculator - Dice math

Conclusion

Sic Bo offers exciting dice action but with widely varying house edges. Our calculator shows the true mathematics: Big/Small and Combination bets rival craps for lowest casino advantage, while Triple bets carry crushing 30% edges. Understand every bet before you place chips, and you can enjoy Sic Bo without paying the sucker tax.

Calculate Sic Bo Odds Now →

The Sic Bo table looks complex with its many betting options, but our calculator simplifies everything. Know which bets favor you (relatively) and which favor the house overwhelmingly. Stick to Big, Small, and Combinations for serious play, or accept the entertainment cost of those flashy triple payouts.