What is Palifico?
With Palifico switched on, the first time a player is reduced to a single die, the next round is a Palifico round for the whole table. In that round ones are not wild: they count only for a bid on ones. The opening bid may name any face, ones included, and after that the face is fixed: every later bid must raise the quantity of that same face.
As usual, the player who lost a die in the last round opens the bidding, so the player who has just dropped to one die usually chooses the face for the whole round. The round is settled as usual by a challenge or an exact call, and the next round is played normally again.
Each player triggers a Palifico round only once. If several players drop to one die at the same moment, after a right Spot On, they share one Palifico round. With Calza, a player who wins a die back and later drops to one die again does not trigger another.
Rule changes
| Rule | Standard Liar's Dice | Palifico |
|---|---|---|
| Palifico round | Standard Liar's DiceEvery round is played the same way. | PalificoThe round after a player first drops to one die is a Palifico round for everyone. |
| Wild ones | Standard Liar's DiceOnes are wild: they count toward any face that is bid, except in a bid on ones. | PalificoIn a Palifico round ones are not wild: they count only for a bid on ones. |
| Raising a bid | Standard Liar's DiceRaise the quantity with any face, or keep the quantity and name a higher face. | PalificoIn a Palifico round the face named in the opening bid stays for the whole round: only the quantity can go up. |
| Opening bid | Standard Liar's DiceThe player who lost a die in the last round opens (after a right Spot On, the caller), with any quantity of any face. | PalificoUnchanged, so the player who has just dropped to one die usually opens and picks the face, ones included. |
| How often | Standard Liar's DiceThere are no Palifico rounds. | PalificoOnce per player. Players who drop to one die at the same moment share one Palifico round. |
| Other options | Standard Liar's DiceCalza, no wild ones and three to six dice each can be chosen. | PalificoPalifico works with all of them. With no wild ones, a Palifico round only fixes the face. |
History
Palifico comes from the published rules of a commercial edition of the South American game Dudo. There, a player who is reduced to one die for the first time is palifico for the next round: ones are not wild, and once the face has been named, the other players may only raise the quantity. It happens only once for each player.
Versions of the rule differ on one point: some let players who are themselves down to one die change the face during a Palifico round. Here nobody can, as in those published rules.