IT is a game best played with a pint in your hand and a ready retort on your lips, so it should come as no surprise that a Scot is the current world champion.

Ian Smith from Glasgow is preparing to defend his title as the world's top Perudo player at a tournament in London, where he will go head to head with other aficionados of the dice-rattling game.

Perudo is a version of Peruvian game Liar's Dice, and combines skill and luck with an ability to bluff your opponents into making the wrong move.

Dice man Smith, 45, said that he began playing more than 25 years ago and described the game as "poker with dice".

He said: "It's a game where you play the people as much as the dice. You can set traps and it's all about being able to bluff well.

"Modesty prevents me from saying I'm good at it, but arrogance says that I must be because I've been Scottish champion three times and now world champion.

"I work in risk management and use a lot of statistics, so what helps me get good is that I can work out what's what and read other players' intention."

In Perudo, players start by rolling five dice each in cups, but only look at their own. The game progresses with each making predictions on the number of identical dice rolled across all players, such as two threes or five fours.

The aim is to whittle down opponents' sets by accusing them of bluffing by shouting Dudo! (Spanish for "doubt"), or calling out when a correct prediction has been made.

If a player gets their accusation wrong, they lose a dice. But making the correct call takes away one of their opponents', and those with fewer dice are quickly at a disadvantage.

The game is popular in South America, where it is also known as Cacho, Pico, Dudo, Cachito and Dadinho, with fans in Peru, Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil and other Latin American countries.

It has also risen in popularity and gained the named 'Pirate's Dice' after being featured in the film Dead Man's Chest, part of the Pirates of the Caribbean series, and is played in universities and clubs around the world.

Smith said that part of the appeal of the game was the social aspect, which can get heated as the rounds wear on to their final stages and mind games come into play.

He said: "It's a game to be played with a drink in your hand as it can get quite raucous when you're trying to get a rise out of people to get them to make a bad decision."

Ahead of the London tournament, the next big Perudo match in the UK will see around 30 players try to unseat Smith on Wednesday, June 15 at the DogHouse in Glasgow's Merchant City to try to secure the sought-after title of Scottish Perudo Champion and qualify for a place at the World Championship this autumn.

Richard Wells, sales director at Perudo maker Paul Lamond Games, said: “It will take strong opponents to defeat Ian – he’s a brilliant Perudo player – but maybe beginners' luck will come to the table in 2016.

"Whatever the outcome it is sure to be another great night in Glasgow and we wish all the players the best of luck.”