The best known of these games is called sz' 'ng luk, "four, five, six," commonly contracted to sing luk, and is played with 3 dice of the largest size. The throws in it in the order of their rank are: Three alike from three "sixes" down, called wai ¹; "Four, five, six," called sing luk or chűn fá ²; Two alike, the odd die counting from "six" down to ace, the last throw being called yat fat, "ace negative." One, two, three, called mò lung, "dancing dragon," shé tsai, "little snake."

The first player is determined, on throwing around, to be the one who throws the highest number of red spots. The other players lay their wagers, usually in sums divisible by 3, before them. The first player throws until be makes one of the above mentioned casts. If he throws sing luk ("four, five, six"); 3 alike; or 2 alike, "six" high, each of the players at once pay him the full amount of their stakes; but if be throws mò lung, or yat fat, he pays them the full amount of their stakes. If he throws 2 alike, "five," "four," "three," or "two" high the next player on his left throws. If the latter makes a higher cast, the first player must pay him, but if a lower cast, he must pay the first player. The amounts thus paid are usually proportionate to the difference between the throws with the odd die. If it is 4 or 3, the full amount; if 2, two-thirds, or if 1 one-third of the stakes must be paid.

The third player throws in the same way, and the game is continued until the first player is out-thrown. [Page 494]

Notes:

1. Wai means "to inclose", and is a term that is also employed in Chinese games of chess and cards.

2. Literally, "strung flowers".