Metro

What is cee-lo, the Chinese dice game that led to four deaths in Brooklyn?

Cee-lo is a game of chance which traces its origins to China, where it is known as Sì-Wŭ-Liù, or “four-five-six.”

In America, the game rolls out in neighborhood alleys and stoops and usually includes two or more players.

While there are many variations of cee-lo, the game typically features rolling three six-sided dice, with the winner coming up with a preferred combinations of numbers that are determined beforehand.

Some rolls are considered automatic wins, while others automatic losses — though the majority of combinations offer some number of “points” to the individual player.

Winning combinations vary depending on the preference of players. Cee-lo players place their bets in a communal pot before each roll.

In some versions of the game, players compete against one another, while in other variations, one player is designated as a “banker” who all the other players compete against. The role of banker can rotate throughout the game.