Hoo Hey How — 魚蝦蟹, literally Fish-Prawn-Crab — is the Chinese dice game that travelled with Chinese communities across Asia and the world. It is the same game as Vietnam's Bau Cua Tom Ca: three dice, six pictures, one betting mat.
| Hoo Hey How | Our table | Vietnamese |
|---|---|---|
| Fish | Fish | Cá |
| Prawn | Shrimp | Tôm |
| Crab | Crab | Cua |
| Calabash (gourd) | Gourd | Bầu |
| Cock | Rooster | Gà |
| Coin / stag | Deer | Nai |
You stake on a picture. The dealer shakes three dice under a bowl. When the bowl lifts:
Those are the classic odds of the family: the same numbers apply to Crown and Anchor, and to Sic Bo single-symbol bets. Statistically a staked picture misses completely about 57.9% of the time — which is exactly why this is a game of small stakes and big laughs.
This three-dice family has many names: Hoo Hey How in China, Crown and Anchor with British sailors, Chuck-a-luck in America, Klah Klok in Cambodia and Bầu Cua Tôm Cá in Vietnam. They share one idea: six symbols, three dice, pay 1-2-3.
Read more: chuck-a-luck in America · crown and anchor in Britain · lắc bầu cua ở Việt Nam.