What is Chicago?
Chicago divided into two phases. Avoid collecting chips, then try to get rid of them.
Learn how to play this game in a few simple steps.
| Number of players | 3 to 6 |
| Game length | 20 minutes |
| Game difficulty | Easy |
| What you need to play | 3 standard six-sided dice, 2 chips for each player |
If you enjoy Chicago, check out this list of the top games to play with dice.
Object of the game
The objective of Chicago is to be the first player to discard all their chips. Players aim to avoid collecting chips in the first phase by scoring high with the dice. In the second phase, they try to get rid of their chips by rolling the dice strategically and scoring lower than their opponents.
Setting up the game
Decide which player goes first
Playing the game
First Phase
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Players take turns rolling the three dice in clockwise order. The first player has a maximum of three throws per turn. After each throw, the player can set aside any number of dice, which cannot be rolled again.
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The first player can end their turn after one, two, or three rolls. All players thereafter may not roll more times than the first player. The round ends when all players have had a turn, and players take turns to go first in each subsequent round.
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Scoring is based on the dice results, with each 1 scoring 100 points, each 6 scoring 60 points, and all other numbers scoring their face value. The player with the lowest score at the end of the round takes a chip. In case of multiple players having the lowest score, the player who went last takes the chip.
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Once all chips have been taken, players who have no chips become the winners. If all players have at least one chip, the game proceeds to the second round.
Second Phase
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The second phase follows similar rules to the first phase, with players taking turns rolling the dice. Instead of the player with the lowest score, the player with the highest score discards a chip. If multiple players have the highest score, the player who went first in the round discards the chip.
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The player with the most chips starts the first round of the second phase, and for all rounds thereafter, players take turns to go first.
Winning the game
The first player to discard all their chips by the end of the second phase becomes the winner of the game. The game offers a delightful mix of luck and strategy as players roll the dice and try to manage their chips effectively to secure victory.