Rules on Playing the 10,000 Dice Game

The 10,000 dice game, sometimes referred to as Farkle, is quick to learn once players have a good understanding of the basic playing and scoring rules. The object of the game is to accumulate as many points as possible by rolling specific dice in different number combinations. Winning the game requires a total score of 10,000 points. With a few rule variations, the game becomes more interesting and strategic.

The game of 10,000 is played with six dice and two or more players. Each player rolls one die and the person with the highest number begins. When the player's turn is over, the dice are passed clockwise to the next player.

Players accumulate points as they roll the dice. With each roll, players must set aside at least one scoring dice. If no scoring dice have been rolled, the player's turn is over and the dice are passed to the next person. A player has the option to roll the remaining dice or stop and keep whatever points have been accumulated. Points must be scored with every roll or the turn is over and any points set aside are forfeited; the score is zero. If a player is successful in setting aside all six dice with multiple rolls, she is allowed to roll again to try and accumulate more points.

Rolling a one is equal to 100 points, a five is equal to 50 points and three ones is equal to 1,000 points. Rolling three twos, threes, fours, fives or sixes is equal to the face value times 100. For example, rolling three twos (2,2,2) is equal to two times 100, or 200 points, whereas three fives (5,5,5) is equal to five times 100 or 500 points. If a straight (1,2,3,4,5,6) is rolled, the point total is 3,000 points. Three pairs are worth 1,500 points.

A player rolls the six dice. The dice rolled are 1,1,2,3,3,5. She decides to set aside the two ones and the five for a total of 250 points. She has a choice to roll the remaining three dice or keep the 250 points and end her turn. She decides to roll the remaining dice and rolls a 1,2,4. She sets aside the one for an additional 100 points. Her total so far is 350 points. She again has the option to roll or keep the points and end her turn. She decides to roll the remaining two dice and this time the dice come up 3,4. These are not scoring dice and therefore, she loses her turn and all accumulated points. Rolls of the dice cannot be combined with dice that are already set aside. For example, on the first roll two ones are set aside for 200 points and on roll two, another one is rolled. This cannot be combined with the first two to make a combination of three ones for a score of 1,000 points.

To make the game more interesting, a player must roll 500 points in a turn before he is allowed to start scoring. If a player rolls four or more twos, his entire score is wiped clean and he starts over at zero. A player who rolls six of a kind wins the game automatically. To speed up the game, the total number of points needed to win can be reduced to 5,000.