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This is a dice game based on blackjack. The object is to roll dice that add up to as close to 18 as possible without going over.

Setup

You need twelve 6-sided dice–6d6 for the house and up to 6d6 for the current player–and a way to keep track of points, such as a pen and paper or coins or other counters.

Everyone rolls 3d6; highest score becomes the house. The person to the house’s left plays first. The house and the first player rotate to the left with each play (or the house can be a permanent position for the game’s host).

Play

The house rolls 6d6 in secret and drops the three lowest dice; the discarded dice are revealed to the players. The house adds the three highest dice together; this is the roost.

If the roost is 18, the house wins the round without the players rolling.

Otherwise, the current player rolls 3d6 then can roll extra d6 dice as desired in hopes of beating the roost.

• If you go over 18, you go bust and lose to everyone except others who bust.
• If you roll 6 dice without going bust, your score automatically counts as 18.

You can stop any time (stand), reveal your dice score, and play moves to the next player. When all the players are done, the house reveals the roost.

• Those who exceed the roost without going bust gain 1 point.
• Those who tie the roost push (no points).
• Those who score less than the roost lose 1 point to the house.
• You gain 1 point for each other player you beat (or who went bust).

First player (and the house, unless permanent) rotates to the next player to the left.

Winning

First player to 18 points at the end of a round wins. (If the house is permanent, the house cannot win.)

If more than one player has 18 at the end of a round, those players have a lightning round roll-off. Roll 3d6, keep any 6s, re-roll the others (fast as you can). First to get three 6s wins.

Variations

You can say that there is no such thing as negative points (which otherwise could happen if a player at the beginning loses to the house) or say that all players start with 5 points and must get to 23 to win and any going to zero are out.

Play can go faster if each player has their own dice. You may then choose for players to keep their dice score secret until everyone has rolled for the round; then everyone reveals at once, including the house.