In America’s Dairyland, the Shake of the Day ironically does not refer to a flavored frozen dairy beverage.
Here in Wisconsin, playing Bar Dice involves a blend of tradition, local variation, and social interaction, typically centered around what we supposed egghead anthropologists would call “bar culture.”
Almost every neighborhood tavern will have a cup of dice behind the bar. We’re not condoning any exchange of money or alcohol, ahem. But you should understand any stakes before you play.
Anyway, here’s how it generally goes:
- Equipment: You need a set of five six-sided dice and a dice cup, often made of leather or rubber to dampen the sound when slammed on the bar.
- Basic Play:
- Each player gets a turn to roll the dice, aiming to achieve the highest score or meet specific game conditions within three rolls.
- The game often starts with players needing to roll certain numbers in sequence, like a “Ship, Captain, Crew” (6, 5, 4 in that order) before scoring points from the remaining dice.
- Scoring:
- Points are generally based on the highest value dice after securing the initial sequence. For example, if you roll a 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2, you might score the sum of the 3 and 2, or just the highest remaining die, depending on local rules.
- Aces (ones) are often wild or can have special rules, like being required to start scoring.
- Variations:
- Shake of the Day: This is where a number is set for the day, and players try to roll that number with all dice in one roll for a chance at a prize, which could be drinks or cash from a pot.
- 7-14-21 Game: Here, players roll for ones, and specific events happen on the 7th, 14th, and 21st one rolled, like naming a drink, drinking it, or buying it.
- Social and Bar Rules:
- There’s a strong social aspect; players might buy rounds based on game outcomes, and there’s often a “bar dice” etiquette, like not putting the dice back in the cup for the next player.
- The rules can differ significantly from bar to bar or even regionally within Wisconsin, like the difference noted between Milwaukee’s general rules and those on the south side.
- Endgame:
- The game continues until one player achieves the highest score or meets the game’s winning condition, often resulting in them being “out” or winning a round of drinks.
Now, this post is going to enrage some.
“That’s not how it’s done here in “insert bar or town name here.”
And, it’s true. There are a lot of variations of this friendly competition. But this game is deeply embedded in Wisconsin’s culture, reflecting not just a game of chance but an opportunity to feel at home, even if it’s your first time in a particular establishment. Yes, where rules might be as unique as the bar itself, yet in time they are universally understood as part of the state’s ethos.
So, who’s up for the shake of the day?
