Balut Dice

Late in World War II, an American soldier worked out a poker-style dice contest without using cards. That wartime idea grew into Balut Dice, a tabletop game later picked up by Danish businessmen and then by clubs and organized groups in other countries. Team play fits the format, and larger player groups work too.

How to play?

Roll five standard dice on a mat or other flat surface, using a dice cup and a scorecard with seven rows. Returning dice to the cup after each throw changes which values stay in play, and each die may be rolled up to three times during a round. Pencil marks track the total after the final set aside, with one row used only once and canceled if no points are scored. Balut usually pays 30 points. The highest total after seven rounds wins.