Quick Rules
Farkle is a quick, lively dice game for the whole family. You roll six dice, set aside the ones that score, and then decide: roll again for more points, or stop and keep what you have. Push your luck too far and you lose the lot.
- Roll. Every turn starts with all six dice.
- Set aside. After each roll you must set aside at least one scoring die or combination.
- Roll on or bank. Roll the dice that are left for more points, or bank your turn's points onto your score.
- Farkle. If a roll has no scoring dice at all, that is a farkle: you lose the points from this turn.
- Hot dice. If all six dice have scored, pick them all up and roll again.
- Getting on the board. Your first bank must be at least 500 points from one turn.
- Winning. The first player to reach 10,000 starts the final round; everyone else gets one last turn to beat them.
| Dice | Points |
|---|---|
| Each 1 | 100 |
| Each 5 | 50 |
| Three 1s | 1,000 |
| Three of any other number | 100 × the number (three 4s = 400) |
| Four, five or six of a kind | 1,000, 2,000 or 3,000 |
| Straight 1-2-3-4-5-6 | 1,500 |
| Three pairs | 1,500 |
| Two triplets | 2,500 |
How to Play on This Page
Tap Roll 6 Dice. Every die that can score gets a thick outline and a label underneath: 100 for a 1, 50 for a 5, Triple for three of a kind and so on. Tap a scoring die to set it aside; it moves up to Kept this turn and the points are added for you. Tapping one die of a triple sets aside all three. Changed your mind? Tap a kept die to put it back.
Then press one of the two big buttons. They always say exactly what will happen, such as Roll 3 Dice or Bank 650. Below the dice, the game explains each combination in plain words, like "three 4s = 400".
Not sure what to do? Hint sets the best dice aside for you and tells you whether to roll or bank, with the chance of farkling. Beside every computer move there is a Why? button that explains its thinking. Great to play together with a grandchild: on a tablet or computer, choose Two to four players on this device in Settings and pass it around the table.
Tips for Winning
- Mind the dice left. With 1 die you farkle two times in three; with 2 dice, about four times in nine; with 3 dice, about one time in four.
- Keep just one die sometimes. Rolled a 1 and a 5? Setting aside only the 1 lets you roll five dice instead of four, and five dice rarely farkle.
- Always roll hot dice. With all six dice back, a farkle happens only about once in 43 rolls.
- Watch the scoreboard. Far behind near the end? Play bolder. On your last turn, keep rolling until you are ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Farkle free to play here?
Yes. Play as many games as you like for free, with no account, no download and no ads over the game.
What is a farkle?
A farkle is a roll in which none of the dice score: no 1s, no 5s, no three of a kind and none of the six-dice combinations. When you farkle, you lose every point you set aside during that turn and the dice pass to the next player. Points you banked on earlier turns are safe.
What are hot dice?
If all six of your dice have scored during a turn, you have hot dice: you may pick up all six and roll again, adding to the points you already have this turn. You may also bank instead.
Why can't I bank my points?
Until you have banked once, you need a minimum in a single turn to get on the board: 500 points unless you change it in Settings. Until then the Bank button stays grey and the game tells you how much you have so far. After your first bank, any score can be banked.
Does the computer cheat?
No. Every roll in the game comes from the deal number shown above the table, not from the computer, so the computer gets random dice just like you and cannot choose them. It decides what to keep and when to bank using the real odds, and it sees nothing you can't see. Tap Why? beside any computer move to read its reason. To check for yourself, choose Replay This Deal at the end: when the same dice are kept and the same choices made, the same rolls come up again.
Can my family play together on one device?
Yes. On a tablet or computer, open Settings and choose Two to four players on this device. Type in everyone's names and start a new game. The name of whoever is rolling is shown in big letters, and you pass the device around the table. On a phone the screen is small, so there the game offers play against the computer only.
Which scoring rules does this game use?
A single 1 is 100 and a single 5 is 50. Three of a kind is 100 times the number, except three 1s, which are 1,000. Four, five and six of a kind are 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000. A straight from 1 to 6 is 1,500, three pairs are 1,500 and two triplets are 2,500. The first player to 10,000 starts the final round, and everyone else gets one last turn. In Settings you can change the entry minimum, the winning score and the four-of-a-kind scoring, and turn on a penalty for three farkles in a row.
Does the game save my progress?
Yes. The game is saved in your browser after every roll, so you can close the page and carry on later on the same device.
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