Cee-lo

This article is about the dice game. For the American hip hop music artist, see Cee-Lo Green.

Cee-lo is a gambling game played with three six-sided dice. There is no one standard set of rules. There are some constants that hold true to all sets of rules. The name comes from the Chinese Sì-Wŭ-Liù (四五六), meaning "four-five-six". In America it is also called "See-Low," "Four-Five-Six," "The Three Dice Game," "Chinchirorin," and by several alternative spellings, as well as simply "Dice." In China it is also called "Sānliù Bàozi" (三六豹子), or "thirty-six leopards".

The constants include the number of dice used, which is always three. All rules describe certain winning combinations that can be rolled, and 4-5-6 is always treated as a winning combination for the first player who rolls it (though in some variants without a banker, it may be possible for several players to make a "winning combination," requiring a second shootout). Besides the winning combinations, all Cee-lo rules include certain rolls that establish a "point," and there are situations where two or more players will roll and compare their points to determine a winner.

The various sets of rules can be divided into two broad categories according to how betting is handled. In banking games, one player serves as a banker, who covers the individual bets of the other players, each of whom competes directly with the bank. In non-banking games, each player has essentially equal status, and rules must exist for the players to pool their bets and attempt to win from a common pot.

Described here is one variant of a banking game, followed by some rules for non-banking games, and other common variants.

Cee-lo with a bank

This variant includes a description of the mechanics of betting. By definition, it is a banking game, meaning that the players bet against an established banker, and it is a point game, meaning that some dice rolls establish a point for the player (similar to the popular dice game craps).

Banking

In this game, one person is established as the banker, and all other players make even money bets against the bank. If a player makes a $10 bet, then they stand to either win or lose $10 depending on the roll of the dice. The Banker has a slight advantage relative to the other players (amounting to 2 1/2 percent of the amount bet).[1] The privilege of being the banker can pass from one player to another throughout a playing session according to specific rules.

When a player is established as the banker, they put up an initial stake known as the bank, or center bet. Once they have placed there stake, and announced the amount, the other players have a chance to cover or "fade" there bet. Starting with the player to the banker's left, and proceeding clockwise around the circle, each player in turn can fade a portion of the bank, as much as they like, until the entire bank is covered or every player has had a chance to make a bet.

If the initial stake is $100.00, the first player might choose to fade $20, the next player $20, and the next player $60. Then the entire bank is covered and no more bets are placed this round. Or, if the initial stake is $100.00, six players choose to fade $10 each, and no one else wishes to bet, then the banker pockets the unfaded portion of the bank ($40) and plays for only the stakes that were covered.

After all the bets are settled according to the roll of the dice (explained below), if the same player maintains control of the bank, they may add as much money as they wish to there stake, or let the bank stand at whatever amount remains after all the bets are settled. A new round begins, the players fade again just as above, and so the game continues.

Control of the bank can change under certain circumstances. If all the players beat the banker in one round, they break the bank, and control of the bank then passes to the next player to the banker's left, who establishes his own initial stake as above. Otherwise, the first player to beat the banker by rolling 4-5-6 or triples will become the new banker (after the existing banker settles the remaining bets and pockets whatever remains of his bank).

The banker rolls the dice

Each player gets three rolls per turn. When all the bets have been established, the banker rolls the dice.

If they roll 4-5-6, or "triples" (all three dice show the same number), then they instantly win all bets.

In Chinese these two are called "4-5-6 straight kill" (四五六通杀) and "leopards" (豹子 baozi).

If they roll 1-2-3 they instantly lose all bets and break the bank.

In Chinese this is "1-2-3 straight lose" (一二三通赔).q

If they roll a pair and a singleton, then the singleton becomes there "point." E.g. a roll of 2-2-4 gives the banker a point of "4."

In a game of multiple players, if banker rolls a pair and an ace, banker continues to roll until other point is reached. Some variants also allow the banker to "push" on triple aces.

Any other point stands and then players roll to try to beat the banker's point.

In a two player game, the player who rolls a "1" on the odd die is considered to have been "aced out", losing automatically. In Chinese this is called "asshole ones" (幺屁眼). If the odd die is a "6," or "head crack", that player wins automatically. This is also called a "Two Alike Six High" in English; in Chinese "Big Six" (大六).

If the dice don't show any of the above combinations, then the Banker rolls again and keeps rolling until he gets an instant win, instant loss, or makes a point .

The Players roll the dice

In any case where the Banker rolled a point of 2, 3, 4, or 5, each player then rolls the dice to settle his individual bet against the banker. They win with a 4-5-6, triple, or any point higher than the Banker's. They lose with a 1-2-3, or any point lower than the banker's. If they tie the banker's point, then it's a "push", no winner or loser, and the player pockets his stake. If they don't roll a meaningful combination, then they continue to roll the dice until they win, lose or push.

Remember also, that the first player to win with a 4-5-6 or triple gets the privilege of being the next banker after all the bets of this round are settled.

Variations in rules for the banking game

Some variants of Cee-lo have been described that reverse the rules of winning and losing rolls for the player who is not a banker, making a 1-2-3 a win for the player, and 4-5-6 a loss. If such a rule is followed to the extent that triples become a losing roll for the player, then this slightly increases the advantage to the banker.

A non-banking variant

In this version of the game, each round involves two or more players of equal status. A bet amount is agreed upon and each player puts that amount in the pile or pot. Each player then has to roll all three dice at once and must continue until a recognized combination is rolled. Whichever player rolls the best combination wins the entire pot, and a new round begins. In cases where two or more players tie for the best combination, they must have a shoot out to determine a single winner.

The combinations are similar to those described above, and can be ranked from best to worst as:

4-5-6

The highest possible roll. If you roll 4-5-6, you automatically win.

"Trips"

Rolling three of the same number is known as rolling "trips". Higher trips beat lower trips, so 4-4-4 is better than 3-3-3.

"Point"

Rolling a pair, and another number, establishes the singleton as a "point". A higher point beats a lower point, so 1-1-3 is better than 6-6-2.

1-2-3

The lowest possible roll. If you roll 1-2-3, you automatically lose.

Any other roll is a meaningless combination and must be rerolled until one of the above combinations occurs.

In most cases there will be a single winner with the best roll.

Other non-banking variants

Some players rule that a 4-5-6 is an instant win for the first player who rolls it, and it can't be tied. To see who picks the order, each person rolls a dice and the person with the highest number chooses the order. If it is a tie, then those people roll again and again until one person has a higher number. Other rules allow for a 4-5-6 to be tied, which may be referred to as "catch up" rules but this is usually not the case.

Some non-banking games treat 1-1-1 as a losing roll, and may refer to this as an "ace out".

One variant rules that if a player wins with "trips" or 4-5-6, all players must pay double the original bet. This is known as "doubling down".

Some players designate a limited surface where players can roll, instead of throwing the dice off a wall, such as a table or a cardboard box. If the dice roll off the surface, it is called a "loose roll" or "sloppy dice," resulting in an automatic loss for the player.

Some rule that if a player rolls the dice 3 times without getting a meaningful combination, they are out.

One variation assigns a point based on the pair rolled, rather than the singleton. I.e., a 5-5-2 gives a "pair of fives" (also known by various slang terms such as "fevers"), which beats a 3-3-6 "pair of threes" (a.k.a. "treys").

A variation described as a "West Coast Version" ranks the combinations somewhat differently. It ranks pairs according to the highest pair, ignoring the singleton (as described immediately above), then treats all "trips" as an instant loss. 1-2-3 is treated as just another meaningless roll.

In a two player game, dealer/player who rolls a "1" on the odd die is considered to have been "aced out", losing automatically. If the odd die is a "6," or "head crack", the player wins automatically.

Origins and history

This game was brought to the United States by Chinese immigrants, who played it with their black colleagues.

Recently Cee-lo has had a resurgence in popularity in American urban settings. A 2003 Associated Press article presented by CBS News as "Kids Gambling - And Losing" identified Cee-lo as a current fad at inner-city schools, "played for money even by preteens."[2]

A variant of Cee-lo has been sold under the name Chinchirorin[3], which is described in detail at BoardGameGeek. According to the rules of this game, Chinchirorin is a traditional Japanese Game. Whatever renown this game may have, it has been attributed to the inclusion of a Chinchirorin "mini-game" in a popular Playstation Game, Genso Suikoden. Mainly played by older people in Japan, the game is reportedly gaining in popularity as a gambling game in that country.

References

"Four-Five-Six". The International Bone Rollers' Guild. derives from a Chinese dice game called "Strung Flowers" ("Sz'ng luk") {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

Crary, David (July 14, 2003). "Kids Gambling - And Losing". The Associated Press. ...played for money even by preteens. {{cite news}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)

"Chinchirorin". BoardGameGeek. Chinchirorin... also known by other names, including See-Low

External links

• dice-play: The Three Dice Game
• BoardGameGeek description of Chinchirorin
• Early description of the game

Events

Last year, at the George Mason University Forensics Tournament, Jay Bishen banked out on Bardia and Arya Vaseghi and completely destroyed their funds. Jay Bishen is a legend at Ceelo, and has continued to play at different tournaments all across the nation.