Once synonymous with illicit gambling, the dice game is now friendly fun, perfect for a girls’ night in!
Dice
So the children have been back to school for a few weeks now and the routine is starting to take hold, right? Why not reward your efforts with a girls’ night? One of my favorite girls’ nights is Bunco, a dice game. Each player rolls three dice, attempting to roll a target number. For example if the target number is three and you roll two threes and a six, you score two points. Bunco had a reputation as a gambling game during Prohibition as it was popular in speakeasies, but since the 1980s it has enjoyed a resurgence as family-friendly and group-friendly fun. So no moonshine or big money bets at this particular Bunco night.
Your group is going to need gaming stations—large tables will work—that allow four people to roll dice per station. They will also need a sheet of paper and a reliable pen to keep score. When I host I tape a piece of paper on a magazine or catalog to give the guests a little more stability. And in a pinch I have used catalogs and magazines to create a flatter rolling surface when the group got larger than expected. You will also need a bell and three dice per station.
First choose a head table. They will be the group that “leads” the game and they get the bell. The game starts with the group rolling for twos. The head table starts the rolling and everyone rolls until the head table’s point total reaches 21. A point is awarded for each two a player rolls. Once 21 is reached by the head table each group totals their scores. We play the two highest scores stay at the table and the two lowest scores move to another table. The game proceeds through rolling for threes, fours, fives and then sixes.
There are two specialty rolls: If you roll three of whichever number the group is rolling for then that’s a Bunco and worth 21 points. Three ones is snake eyes and wipes out all accumulated points on that number. Avoid.
No skill is required but that might be just what is needed. Throughout the year you can hold special Buncos such as Holiday Bunco where there is a gift exchange or Spa Bunco where there is a gift exchange of spoil me products. You can even do couples Bunco, but beware the boys can get competitive. Most of all remember to have fun!
