Cho-Han
Japanese gambling game. Dealer rolls two dice in a cup. Bet odd or even. Simple but tense.
What You'll Need
About This Game
Japanese gambling game. Dealer rolls two dice in a cup. Bet odd or even. Simple but tense.
How to Play
Setup
- One player is the dealer (can rotate each round)
- You need 2 standard dice and a cup or bowl
Gameplay
- Dealer shakes two dice in the cup
- Dealer slams cup down, keeping dice hidden
- Other player(s) bet on the outcome:
- CHO (丁) = Even total (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12)
- HAN (半) = Odd total (3, 5, 7, 9, 11)
- Dealer dramatically reveals the dice
- If your guess is correct, you win
Traditional Betting
- Equal odds (1:1) for Cho vs Han
- Some versions have side bets on specific totals
- Dealer typically takes a small cut of winning bets
Two-Player Version
- Take turns being dealer
- Keep score over multiple rounds
- Winner is who has more correct guesses
Note: This is a pure luck game with 50/50 odds - the excitement comes from the ritual and tension of the reveal!
History & Background
Cho-Han (丁半) is a traditional Japanese gambling game that dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868). The name comes from the Japanese words for "even" (丁, chō) and "odd" (半, han). Historically, the game was closely associated with the yakuza, who operated illegal gambling dens called "bakuto." Players would gather in secret locations, often in the back rooms of businesses or in the countryside, to bet on the outcome of dice rolls.
The game was famously depicted in many Japanese films and TV dramas about yakuza life. The dealer, known as the "kaicho," traditionally used a bamboo cup to shake the dice and would dramatically reveal the result. The game requires no skill—it is pure chance—but the atmosphere and ritual surrounding it made it a significant part of Japanese gambling culture.
Today, Cho-Han is rarely played for money in Japan due to strict gambling laws, but it remains a popular game in fiction and is sometimes played recreationally at festivals or parties.