Bollinger Bunco Babes of San Ramon

There’s a wave of dice rolling women in our city who love to gather once a month to eat, drink and chit chat while rolling dice in the easiest game there ever was.

My family moved to San Ramon 13 years ago and it wasn’t long before I was invited to substitute in a Bunco game. I had never heard of the game and told the hostess I did not know how to play.

I mean, bridge and poker are two things I just can’t get the hang of, so why would I be any better at a dice game? The hostess assured me that if I could roll three dice, I would be a pro.

What a pro I was! I not only rolled those dice like a pro, I could talk and keep score! Yes, I was that good. The rules are simple -- for a small amount of money and a gift, you’re in the game.

I’ve often been asked, well isn’t this gambling? The answer is no, because everyone is a “winner” whether it’s a cash prize or a gift. It’s just a party game, really. I personally love to win a gift. It’s just the mystery of not knowing what’s in the bag, whether it’s a new candle or a fun new patio decoration. It’s just perfect!

There are 12 women in our group, so we play with three tables of four members at each table. The Bunco Babe across from you is your partner, so if she rolls a big score, bonus for you! When the Head table rings the bell, we all start madly rolling those dice.

The first round, you roll for 1’s and the score keeper at your table tracks how many 1’s you roll. It’s very exciting when you roll all 1’s. That’s a Bunco and worth 21 points. When the dice come up with no 1’s you pass the dice and so it goes until the Head table reaches 21 and the round is over.

The losers stay and the winners move up to the next table, except the losers at the Head table – they walk the move of shame ALL the way down to the Loser table. Ah, too bad. The next round is for 2’s and the rolling begins, except this time you want those dice to come up 2’s, especially all 2’s, which is a Bunco!

I did a little research on the game of Bunco and found there are dozens of different ways to play, all with a variety of rule variations, depending on the region of the country or even within the same city. Two things are always the same though. There are three dice and really all the players find it a great excuse to get out of the house, socialize with friends and have a little downtime.

When it is my month to host, my husband says we sound like a bunch of hens as we chat and laugh and the dice click and clack. It’s exciting; not for the winning, but for the laughter and the camaraderie we all share. Our group has been playing for 12 years.

This year is special because our children were all in kindergarten when we started and now they’ll be graduating in June and heading off to college. We’ve lost a few members to moves or not being able to commit to the schedule, but basically the same members roll those dice every month, sharing our stories, and having the time of our Wednesday (or Thursday, or any night really).

We celebrate birthdays, life’s accomplishments, or sorrows and most of all; we share the dice and the wine! BUNCO babes, roll those dice!