Farkle Complete Guide: The Risk-Rward Dice Game — Greed, Scoring Combos, and the Ultimate Push-Your-Luck Game
Learn Farkle — the classic risk-reward dice game where every roll is a gamble. Master scoring combinations, optimal banking strategy, and why this simple dice game has been played for over 200 years.
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Farkle Complete Guide: The Risk-Rward Dice Game
Farkle is the ultimate push-your-luck dice game — every roll is a gamble between banking your points or risking it all. With simple rules but deep risk-reward decisions, it has been played for over 200 years under various names across the world.
Basic Rules
Setup
- 2+ players (no upper limit, best with 3-6)
- 6 standard dice
- Paper and pencil for scoring
- First to 10,000 points wins
Objective
Be the first player to reach 10,000 points.
Gameplay
Turn by Turn
- Roll all 6 dice
- Set aside any scoring dice (see scoring table)
- You must set aside at least one scoring die to continue
- Choose to bank your points or roll again with remaining dice
- If all 6 dice score, you get a "hot dice" bonus — pick up all 6 and keep rolling
- If your roll produces zero scoring dice, that's a FARKLE — you lose all points accumulated that turn
Scoring
| Combination | Points |
|---|---|
| Single 1 | 100 |
| Single 5 | 50 |
| Three 1s | 1,000 |
| Three 2s | 200 |
| Three 3s | 300 |
| Three 4s | 400 |
| Three 5s | 500 |
| Three 6s | 600 |
| Four of a kind | 1,000 |
| Five of a kind | 2,000 |
| Six of a kind | 3,000 |
| 1-2-3-4-5-6 straight | 1,500 |
| Three pairs | 1,500 |
| Two triplets | 2,500 |
Example Turn
Roll 1: 1, 3, 3, 5, 6, 2 → Set aside 1 (100) and 5 (50) = 150 points
Roll 2 (4 dice): 3, 3, 3, 6 → Set aside 3-3-3 (300) = 450 total
Roll 3 (1 die): 1 → Set aside 1 (100) = 550 total → HOT DICE! (all scored)
Roll 4 (6 dice): 4, 2, 2, 6, 3, 1 → Set aside 1 (100) = 650 total
Roll 5 (5 dice): 4, 2, 6, 3, 4 → FARKLE! Lost 650 points this turn
Strategy
1. The Banking Threshold
- Most experienced players bank at 300-500 points
- Below 300: usually worth one more roll
- Above 500: risk increases significantly
- With only 1-2 dice left, almost always bank
2. Hot Dice Strategy
- When you get hot dice (all 6 score), you're essentially starting fresh
- This is a free roll — no additional risk from the hot dice itself
- But accumulated points from previous rolls are still at stake
3. Which Dice to Keep
- Always keep 1s and 5s — they're the only single-dice scorers
- With three of a kind, keep them as a set (worth more than singles)
- Sometimes breaking up three 5s (500) into three single 5s (150) lets you roll more dice — usually not worth it
4. Endgame Play
- Once someone reaches 10,000, every other player gets one final turn
- During the final turn, you must gamble aggressively — there's no reason to bank safely
- This "last chance" turn creates dramatic come-from-behind wins
5. Probability Awareness
- With 1 die left, probability of farkling: 66.7% (only 1 or 5 score)
- With 2 dice left: 44.4% chance of farkling
- With 3 dice left: much lower — more scoring combinations possible
- The more dice you roll, the safer you are
Variations
Zonk
- The original name — identical gameplay
- Popular in the 1960s-70s American counter-culture
- Some versions have different scoring for straights
Wimp Out
- Same game with a different name
- Popular in the Midwest United States
- "Wimp out" = banking early
Ten Thousand
- The generic name used in many rule books
- Identical rules with slightly different scoring tables
- Some versions require minimum 500 points to bank
Farkle Party
- Commercial version with a scoring mat and dice cup
- Standardized rules and scoring
- Made by Legendary Games
History
Origins
- Farkle has been played for over 200 years under various names
- Origins are disputed — possibly French, German, or American
- The name "Farkle" may come from "farkleberry" or be a nonsense word
- Gained popularity in the American Midwest in the mid-20th century
Modern Popularity
- Commercial versions have sold millions of copies
- Popular at camping trips, family reunions, and bars
- Simple enough for children, engaging enough for adults
- Often played for small stakes (quarters or dollars)
Statistics
- Farkle uses 6 standard dice
- Designed for 2+ players (best with 3-6)
- Target score: 10,000 points
- A single 1 is worth 100 points
- A single 5 is worth 50 points
- Three 1s: 1,000 points (highest triple)
- Farkle probability with 1 die: 66.7%
- Farkle probability with 6 dice: ~2.3%
- A typical game lasts 15-30 minutes
- Suitable for ages 8 and up
- Played for over 200 years across cultures
- Known by at least 10 names worldwide
- One of the best push-your-luck games ever designed
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