Meier
The goal of this game is to get the highest score from dice rolls.
Number of Players
The game may be played with two or more players.
Set Up
- 2 six-sided dice
- An opaque cup or bowl
Players determine play order somehow. Also, each player is assigned an agreed upon life total, which is typically 3, and is the same for all players.
Game Play
On each player’s turn, they roll the dice in either a cup or bowl and place it face down. Then, the rolling player peeks at the dice, announces what the result is, whether or not it’s the truth, ends their turn, and slides the dice, carefully, so as not to disturb the result, to the next player. The acting player may believe the passer and do the same as the passing player but announcing a value higher than the passing player with or without looking at the dice. However, if the passing player is believed to be a liar, the acting player reveals the dice. If the dice shows a result lesser than the value, the passing player loses a life. If the dice shows a greater or equal value, the calling out player will lose one life. In any case, the acting player starts a new round.
The results of the dice are not the total of the dice. Instead, it is denoted by, first, the highest die and then the lowest. For example, if 5-6 are rolled, the result is 65. There is a special roll called “Meier”, which is 21. If “Meier” is announced, one of three things can happen. If the acting player does not look at the dice, they lose one life. If they look at the dice and it is “Meier”, they lose two lives. If they look at the dice and it is not “Meier”, the passing player loses two lives.
The following from lowest to highest are the potential results and their ranking:
32, 32, 41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 54, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 21 (“Meier”)
When a player loses all their lives, they are out of the game.
Winning the Game
The game ends once there is only one player remaining. This person is the winner.
Drinking
Like many games, there is a drinking aspect. Once the game is over, all but the winning player takes a drink. The drinking rules do not allow for tie resolution. In case of ties, those players do not drink.
Gambling
Like many games, there is a gambling aspect. Each player puts in an agreed upon wager into the kitty. The winner of the game takes all wagers from the kitty.