Roll the Bones!

05/08

The single thing that sets NASCAR tailgating apart from all the others is the sheer length of time fans spend out in the lots. This is the marathon of the tailgate world, and so it requires, to some extent, a greater degree of planning and endurance. We're talking, in most cases, four long days of partying, and it can (believe it or not) be tough to come up with new ideas to fill all those hours with fun.

At California Speedway, over a long rainy weekend in March, the game of choice was LCR. That got us thinking, dice games really are the perfect tailgate pastime. After all, they're small, portable, can involve any number of people, and they're tolerant of most types of weather. Wind, rain, snow, or scorching sun, it's always a perfect day to roll the bones!

Here’s a few of our favorites to pack up and take out to your next tailgate party:

LCR

While game freaks will argue that isn't even technically a game, as it requires no strategy or skill whatsoever, we have to admit we a totally addicted. Of course, we always play with money in the pot, making this the equivalent of a low-tech slot machine. You get the picture? LCR is all about odds. It's the perfect game for tailgating because you can play with a huge crowd, and it doesn't matter how much you've had to drink! Here’s the basics: The game comes with three dice and a stack of chips. That's it. The sides of the dice are labeled L, C, and R, with single dots on the remaining three sides. Each player starts out with three chips. (If you need more chips, you can substitute pennies, toothpicks, bottle caps… whatever.) The dice are passed around the table, with each player rolling the dice in their turn. If you roll an L, you pass a chip to the player on your left. If you roll an R, you pass a chip to the player on your right. If you roll a C, you put a chip into the center (these chips are now out of play.) The dots have no affect on your chipstack. If you have three or more chips, you roll all three dice. If you only have two, you roll two. If one, roll one. If you don't have any, the roll passes you by. But, the cool thing about this game is that you're never out. Even if you have you have no chips, you're still in the game because the player to your left or right could have to pass their chips to you. Play continues with the dice being passed around the table until only one player has any chips remaining. In the tailgate lots, LCR is usually played with a "buy- in" of a buck or two, with the winner taking the pot. That usually keeps things interesting. This game really could not be simpler. Our friends laughed when we described it as "easier than Bunco," but it is - LCR keeps score for you! Give it a try, and you'll be surprised by the raucous crowd you draw.

Pass the Pigs

We were introduced to this game by Redskins fan Pat "Big Grin" Murphy and his wife, "Flo-Jo". Apparently it's been around forever, and the set we used Pat had owned for nearly twenty years and never played. It took a bit of figuring out (actually, we just had to read the instructions) but once we got it down we were hooked! Technically, this is a dice game, though it's played with miniature plastic pigs. (Yeah, we're talking the pink things with curly tails.) Like LCR, you can play with any number of people, so it's great for a tailgate party. The set comes with two pig dice, score pad, and pencils. Each player, in their turn, tosses the pigs and scores points based on which position the pigs land in. Razorbacks, Snouters, Trotters or Jowlers score anywhere from 1 to 60 points. You can pick up extra points for combos, and lose points if you throw an Oinker or Pig- Out. The first player to 100 points wins. There is a degree of risk and skill to this game, because it is up to each player to decide when enough is enough, cash out their points, and pass the pigs. Get greedy and roll one too many times, and you risk losing it all. There are also variants to this game that add to the fun, like Hog Calling (in which opposing players try to predict the outcome of the throw - like in Craps - to earn extra points) and a Head-to-Head version where you roll against an opponent. Like LCR, this is a simple, exciting bar game that is perfect for passing the hours (and the beers) in the parking lot!