Liar's Dice is not a single game with a single set of rules. Across South America, Europe, and the United States, the game has evolved under different names with distinct regional traditions. This guide explores each regional variant so you can find the version that suits your table.
What Is Dudo?
Dudo (pronounced DOO-doh) is the Spanish word for "I doubt," the call a player makes when they believe the current bid is a lie. Dudo is not merely a variant of Liar's Dice — it is the original South American game from which most modern versions descend.
The game has deep roots in Bolivia, Peru, and Chile, where it has been played for generations at family gatherings, in cantinas, and at festivals.
For a deeper look at how the game traveled from the Andes to the rest of the world, see our history of Liar's Dice.
Dudo Rules Explained
The standard South American version of Dudo follows a clear structure that balances simplicity with strategic depth:
Setup
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Each player starts with 5 dice and a cup.
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All players roll simultaneously and keep their dice hidden from opponents.
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The game supports 2 to 6 players, though 3 to 5 is considered the ideal range.
Wild Aces
Aces (ones) are wild — they count as any face value. Learn this first: most Dudo bids include wild ones. Bidding on aces directly follows special rules: the quantity required is halved (rounded up), and switching back requires more than doubling the ace quantity.
A classic Dudo hand
In the common South American ruleset, the two fours and the wild ace all support a bid on fours.
Bidding
Play proceeds clockwise. Bids claim how many of a face value exist across the table, counting wild aces. A player who does not want to raise the bid may challenge by calling "Dudo!" — all dice are then revealed and counted.
Palifico
When a player loses a die and is reduced to a single die, the next round is played under Palifico rules: aces are not wild, and bids can only increase in quantity unless the bidder is the Palifico player themselves.
Losing Dice & Elimination
The loser of each challenge loses one die. In traditional Dudo, the loser starts the next round, not the winner.
For the complete rule set with examples and edge cases, visit our full rules reference.
Regional Names for the Game
One game, many names. Here are the most common you will encounter:
Dudo
The original South American name, used throughout Bolivia, Peru, and parts of Argentina and Colombia. The most historically authentic name for the game.
Cacho & Cachito
In Chile, the game is almost universally known as Cacho or its diminutive Cachito. Commonly played at barbecues, during Fiestas Patrias, and in bars across Santiago.
Perudo (Commercial Trademark)
A trademarked name for a commercially packaged version of Dudo. The rules are essentially identical to traditional Dudo — Perudo is a brand name, not a distinct game.
Bluff
In Germany and parts of continental Europe, the game is commonly known as Bluff. The German edition won the Spiel des Jahres award in 1993.
Liar's Dice
The English-language catch-all term, widely used in the US, UK, and Australia. The game gained widespread pop-culture recognition through Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006).
Regional Rule Variations
While every version shares the core loop, the details diverge significantly by region:
Chilean Cacho / Cachito
Follows traditional Dudo rules but introduces local twists — some groups play with poker dice, others modify the wild rules entirely.
The Commercial Boxed Version (Perudo)
Packages the full South American Dudo experience with colorful dice and a polished rulebook. Some editions include a "spot-on" (calza) rule.
European Bluff
Tends to simplify the rule set — most commonly omitting the Palifico round and the special ace-bidding rules.
American Liar's Dice (Bar Game Version)
Often a stripped-down rule set — frequently drops Palifico, plays without wild aces, and uses simpler bidding.
There is also a distinct American game sometimes called "Mia" that uses a single die per player with different mechanics — a fundamentally different game, not to be confused with the multi-dice bidding game discussed here.
The following table summarizes the key mechanical differences between the most common regional variants:
Rule
Dudo (South America)
Commercial Version
European Bluff
American Bar Rules
Wild Aces
Yes, special ace-bidding
Yes, special ace-bidding
Often yes, simplified
Varies; often no
Palifico Round
Yes
Yes
Usually no
No
Spot-On / Calza
Optional (regional)
Yes (regain a die)
Rarely
Rarely
Starting Dice
5 per player
5 per player
5 or 6 per player
5 per player
Player Count
2–6
2–6
2–6
2–8+
Who Starts Next Round
Loser of challenge
Loser of challenge
Varies
Varies
Which Version Do We Use?
This site implements the full South American Dudo rules — the most strategically rich and historically authentic version of the game:
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Wild aces — ones count as any face value, with special half-quantity rules for bidding on aces directly.
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Palifico rounds — when a player drops to a single die, the next round uses constrained bidding.
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Optional spot-on (calza) — claim the current bid is exactly right to recover a lost die.
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5 dice per player, supporting 2 to 6 players.
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Loser starts the next round after a challenge.
We chose these rules because they produce the deepest gameplay — wild aces create richer probability calculations, Palifico keeps eliminated players in the conversation longer, and spot-on adds a dramatic third dimension to every decision point.