Klondike: The Classic Gambling Dice Game

A fast-paced gambling game of luck and risk, Klondike is suitable for any number of players—even large groups. Outplay the banker by rolling the highest-ranking combination!

Components

10 six-sided dice
Chips, coins, or other betting tokens

Objective

To roll a higher-ranking combination of dice than the banker and win your wager.

Game Setup

Choose one player to act as the banker. The banker participates in each round and plays against every other player individually.

Gameplay Overview

Each round of play follows this sequence:

1. Place Bets: Each player puts a stake (chip, coin, etc.) in front of them.
2. Banker Covers Bets: The banker matches each player’s wager with even money.
3. Banker Rolls: The banker rolls all five dice and sets the result aside.
4. Players Roll: In clockwise order, each player rolls five dice and compares their result to the banker’s.

Winning and Losing

Each player compares the rank of their roll (see below) with the rank of the banker's roll.

• Higher Rank than Banker: You win! You keep your original stake and receive an equal amount from the banker.
• Lower Rank than Banker: You lose your stake to the banker.
• Same Rank as Banker: Tiebreaker rules apply (see below). If still tied, the banker wins the tie.

Players can continue playing as long as they like, or until they run out of chips.

Dice Combination Rankings

(From highest to lowest)

Important Rule: Dice not contributing to a recognized combination are ignored.
Aces are high: 1 is the highest number, followed by 6, 5, 4, 3, then 2.

Tiebreaker Rules

If a player rolls a combination that is of the same rank as the dealer's, use the following rules to break the tie:

• Higher matching number wins:
  • Example: 5-5-5-2-2 beats 3-3-3-6-6
• Ignore non-matching dice when comparing ranks.
• Full House: Compare triplets first; if tied, then compare the pair.
• Two Pairs: Compare the highest pair; if tied, compare the second pair.
• All Other Ties: Banker wins.

Tiebreaker Examples

• 5-5-5-5-2 beats 4-4-4-4-6
• 1-1-1-3-3 beats 3-3-3-5-5 (remember, 1s are the highest rank)
• 6-6-2-2-3 beats 4-4-3-3-5
• 4-4-2-2-6 and 4-4-2-2-1 are a tie—banker wins.

Casino Klondike Variant

A popular variation historically played in casinos using ten dice and a betting layout.

Setup

Use two sets of five dice and a game board or betting layout that includes areas labeled Win, Lose, and Beat Two Aces

How to Play

Players place bets on one or more sections of the layout, then the banker rolls five dice and sets them aside.

Each player takes turns rolling the other five dice and compares the results to the banker’s.

Betting Outcomes

• Win: Your roll must beat the banker’s combination.
• Lose: Your roll must be lower than the banker’s combination.
• Beat Two Aces: Your roll must contain at least two pairs to qualify.

Ties always go to the banker, just like in standard Klondike.