Where Liar’s Dice meets Russian Roulette (6 possible shots = 6 possible shooters)

Materials Required 

• one large cup (preferably plastic).
• 5 dice (poker or numeric)

Begin by pouring shooters for each player (for ideas – go to shooterroulette.com).

• • If playing half chambers, then each player gets poured 3 shooters.

• If playing full chambers, then each player gets poured 6 shooters. 

Objective of the game

The objective of the game is to sell your roll or bid to the next player in line, in ever increasing poker values, and avoiding losing a challenge and having to drink a shooter.  The winner is the last player to have any shooters remaining.

Starting the Game

The game begins with the players rolling all the die and player with the highest score becoming the starting player (Player A). 

Opening moves

The starting player (Player A) rolls all five dice under their cup concealing their roll from the other players.

The starting player (Player A) calls out an opening bid or poker hand and passes the cup with the dice concealed under the cup to either their right or left.  This opening bid can be the actual value or it could be a higher bluff or even lower bluff.

The next player (Player B) can then either accept (i.e., believe) or call (i.e., challenge) that opening bid.  

Accepting the Bid (Believe)

If the player (B) accepts the bid from player (A), they believe that the value of the die under the cup is at least the value of the bid or higher.  The dice are then passed to Player (B) and not revealed to the other players.  By accepting the bid, Player (B) now owns the bid and must increase that bid to the next player in line (player C).  

The Player is allowed to re-roll any or all of the dice and they may roll out in the open or under the cup in their effort to increase the bid.  Note: If asked, the Player must reveal how many dice they rolled.  The Player’s objective is to increase the bid and “sell” that increased bid to the next player in line.  They may increase the bid a little or a lot but they must increase the bid to the next player.    The game continues in the original direction and the value of the bid increases with each player.

Calling the Bid (Challenge)

If the next player in line, Player(B), calls out or challenges Player (A), then the dice are revealed.   Player (B) is disputing the value of the die being hidden with what is being bid.  

Specifically, Player (B) is hoping for the value of the die hidden to be less than the bid stated.  If the die hidden is indeed less than the bid, then Player (A) loses and has to drink a shooter.  Player (A) then begins the next round and can go to either their right or their left with their first bid.

If a Player (B) calls out Player (A) and the value of the die hidden is equal to or more that the value of the bid, then Player (B) loses and has to drink a shooter.

Once the bid reaches the highest value (Five dice all showing a 6 as the face value), then the accepting player has three rolls to try and match that highest value (5 die all showing a 6 as the face value). 

If Player B is successful in rolling to match the original bid (5 die, all 6’s), then the Player A loses and must drink a shooter.  Note: Player B is allowed to save dice and roll three times (any number of dice) in their attempt to match the bid.

Of course, if Player B is unsuccessful in three tried to match the high bid (5 dice – all 6’s) then Player B loses and has to drink a shooter.

Shooter Roulette uses traditional poker bids which are shown here from highest to lowest value:

• Five of a kind
• Four of a kind
• Full house (Three of a kind and a pair)
• High straight (2,3,4,5,6)
• Low straight (1,2,3,4,5)
• Three of a kind
• Two pair
• One pair
• Highest single number

Players are eliminated from the round when they have had their last shooter.

The Winner of the Round

The game continues until all the players are gradually eliminated as all of their shooters are consumed.  

The winner is the last player to have any shooters remaining. 

The winner of the round then picks the shooters for the next round for all the other players.  By winning the last round, they can keep their original shooters but they can also order new, harsher shooters for all the other players.  This can be very strategic in a drinking game especially in the later rounds.  Often these harsher shooters would be chosen for a quick finish especially when playing the game with full chambers (6 shots/round).