Wednesday, November 30th -0001
Mexican, Liar's Dice How-To
By Chip Bush
MEXICAN / MEXICALI / LIARS DICE:
This game uses only two dice and involves luck, strategy and even a bald faced lie or two.
In Mexican, the higher of the two dice is the tens position, and the lower is the ones position. So if you roll a 3 and a 5, it would be announced as “Fifty-three”, never “Thirty-five.” A three and a one, or “Thirty-one” is the lowest possible roll, all the way up to a six and five, or “sixty-five.” Beating that are the doubles, in ascending order. Eleven (1-1), which is beaten by Twenty-two (2-2), and so on, up to Sixty-six (6-6). The best roll of them all is Twenty-One, or “Mexican.”
The object of the game is simple: To roll better than the person before you. But here’s the twist: If you don’t, you must lie.
Everyone playing starts with a die to keep in front of them with the 6 facing up representing the number of points they have. The first player takes the two dice and rolls them so that the cup is still sitting over the two dice. The player then peeks at what they’ve rolled, announces their roll, and passes the dice cup, still upside down, to the next player, who then has a choice. If they believe the previous player, they quickly take the dice in their hand without looking at them and take their turn. OR, if they think the previous player to be lying, can pick up the cup and reveal the bluff.
If the bluff is successfully called, then the previous player loses a point. However, if the number is indeed what the previous player says it was, then the player lifting the cup, loses a point and starts the next round. The first person with no points left loses the game, and must buy the next round.
Strategic Tip: Always have a slightly higher roll in your mind before you shake, so you don’t stammer or pause when you fail to beat the previous shooter. Then sell it with confidence!
