Liar’s Dice is a traditional game of bluff and chance believed to have been popular among Viking warriors during long sea voyages and in the great halls. Combining elements of cunning, deception and probability, it served as both a pastime and a means of honing strategic thinking.
Each player would be given a cup and a number of dice, typically five, though variations existed. After secretly rolling their dice, players would place the cup over them to conceal the result. They would then take turns declaring their bid — an estimate of how many of a certain value (for example, three fours) existed among all players’ dice.
The next player could either raise the bid, claiming a higher quantity or face value, or challenge the previous declaration, calling the bidder a liar. If challenged, all players revealed their dice to settle the truth. If the challenged bid proved correct, the challenger lost a die, while if it was false, the bidder lost a die.
The aim was to eliminate opponents by forcing them to lose all their dice, testing each participant’s ability to read their rivals, bluff convincingly, and calculate the odds.
Liar’s Dice captured the Viking spirit of risk-taking and quick thinking, reflecting their bold and adventurous lifestyle. Simple to learn but endlessly replayable, it was an ideal game to pass the time in longhouses or on campaign, strengthening bonds through laughter, rivalry and storytelling.
This is one of our family’s favourite games.
