10000 Dice Game Rules and Scoring for Epic, Family Fun

Diving into the 10,000 dice game, you quickly learn it’s not just about chucking dice across the table and hoping for the best—although, let’s be honest, sometimes it feels that way.

Mastering the dice game rules and scoring is your ticket to becoming the life of any game night.

This guide will transform you into a game night hero.  It’s super fun to play with, well, ANYONE.  It’s easy to learn and perfect for family fun.  Let’s get started!

Breaking Down the Basics: 10000 Dice Game Rules

Objective:

The goal is simple – be the first player to score over 10,000 points. Easy peasy, right? Well, not so fast. It takes a combination of luck, strategy, and the ability to trash talk your opponents (just kidding…mostly).

Category	Details
Alternate Names	10,000 Dice, Ten Grand, Greed, Dix Mille, Reload, 5-Dice, Cargoose, Zilch, Zilchers, Foo, Boxcar, Bogus, Lewis’ Dice, Crap Out
Similarity to Other Games	It’s like Farkle’s long-lost cousin. They’re so alike, you’d think they were separated at birth!
Notoriety	Shot to fame faster than a cat video goes viral, especially around southeast London in early 2023. “Remember when we thought we were just playing a simple dice game? Good times.”

Materials:

To play the 10,000 dice game, you’ll need six, standard, six-dided dice and a way to keep score (paper and pencil work great!).

Some players prefer to use a dice cup for rolling, but personally, I like to let the dice fly freely and see where they land. 

Setup:

• 6 standard six-sided dice (I prefer the extra large ones, because apparently I need all the help I can get)
• Paper and pencil for keeping score (or a smartphone app if you want to get all fancy)
• A few willing participants ready to roll (the more the merrier!)

Gameplay:

1. The player rolls all 6 dice.
2. After each roll, set aside any scoring dice (see scoring section below). You must set aside at least one scoring die, if possible.
3. If you have any non-scoring dice remaining, you can either:
   • Bank your points and pass the dice to the next player OR
   • Keep rolling the remaining dice to rack up more points
4. If you score with all 6 dice, you get to roll them all again and keep adding to your turn total. This is called “hot dice.”
5. If none of your dice rolled earn points, that’s a “Farkle” and your turn is over. You lose all the points earned during that turn. Ouch.
6. The next player rolls all 6 dice and follows the same rules. Rinse and repeat.
7. Keep rolling, scoring, and talking smack until a player reaches 10,000 points and wins!

10000 Dice Game Scoring Table

If you’re viewing this on a mobile device, put your finger on the table below and swipe to the left (or right) to see the full table.

Combination	Points
Each 1	100
Each 5	50
Three 1’s	1000
Three 2’s	200
Three 3’s	300
Three 4’s	400
Three 5’s	500
Three 6’s	600
Four of a Kind	1000
Five of a Kind	2000
Six of a Kind	3000
Three Pairs	1500
Straight (1-6)	1500

Keep this scoring guide handy, especially when you’re first learning.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten that three 1’s are worth more points than three 2’s. Don’t be like me.

Let’s walk through a sample turn to see how it all comes together:

1. You roll: 1 – 2 – 3 – 3 – 3 – 5
2. You could score the single 1 (100 points) and 5 (50 points) and then reroll the remaining four dice.
3. Or, you could score the three 3’s (300 points), and then reroll the 1, 2, and 5.
4. Let’s say you decide to set aside the three 3’s and reroll the other three dice.
5. You roll: 1 – 1 – 5
6. Now you can add the two 1’s (200 points) and the 5 (50 points) to your previous 300 points for a total of 550 points so far. You’ve scored all 6 dice, so it’s “hot dice” time.
7. You get to roll all 6 dice again, and let’s say you roll: 5 – 5 – 5 – 2 – 3 – 4
8. You score the three 5’s (500 points) and decide to stop there.
9. Your total for the turn would be 1050 points (300 + 200 + 50 + 500). Not too shabby.

10000 Dice Game House Rules and Variant Options (a.k.a The AntiBoredom Brigade)

Here’s 7 popular house rules and variants for the 10,000 dice game:

1. Progressive Scoring: If you roll additional matching numbers after setting aside a three-of-a-kind, the score doubles for each extra match. For example, three 4’s scores 400 points, but rolling a fourth 4 would make it 800 points, a fifth 4 would be 1600 points, etc.
2. Must Roll 1’s: Some versions require you to always set aside any 1’s rolled and continue your turn with the remaining dice. You cannot stop your turn if you roll a 1.
3. Minimum Points to Start: Lots of versions require a player to reach a certain point threshold, often 500 or 1000 points, in a single turn before they can start banking points. Until reaching that amount, a player must continue rolling.
4. Additional Scoring Combinations: Some variants award points for a straight (1-2-3-4-5-6), often 1500 points, three pairs (e.g. 2-2-4-4-5-5) worth 1000-1500 points, or a full house (three-of-a-kind plus a pair) worth 1500 points.
5. Instant Win: Rolling six-of-a-kind on the first roll of a turn is sometimes an automatic win, regardless of score. Alternatively, some play that a six-of-a-kind is worth 10,000 points.
6. Farkle Penalty: If a player rolls three times in a row without scoring any points (a “Farkle”), they lose 500-1000 points off their banked score as a penalty.
7. Winning Score Variations: While 10,000 is the standard winning score, some play to other amounts like 5000, 15000 or 20000 to adjust game length. Some require hitting the winning score exactly, while others allow going over.

The beauty of 10,000 is that the core rules are very simple, allowing for endless house rule variations to keep the game fresh and interesting for any group of players. 

Avoiding the Dreaded Farkle: Tips to Keep Scoring

What is a farkle and how to avoid it

Okay, so you’re on a roll, the dice are your loyal subjects, and then suddenly, you score zero on a roll. That, my friends, is a farkle – a turn’s worth of effort gone down the drain, leaving you with a big, fat zero.

As someone who’s had more farkles than hot meals, here’s a tip: knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing how to start.

If you’ve got a decent score on the table, maybe think twice before pushing your luck. Remember, the dice giveth, and the dice taketh away.

• Roll carefully: Only roll the dice you need to. If you’ve got scoring dice, set them aside and only reroll the remaining ones.
• Know the odds: Dice are all about probability. Rolling a single die? You’ve got a 1 in 3 chance of scoring (with either a 1 or a 5). With more dice, there are more chances, but also more risk.

Recovering from a farkle to win the game

So, you’ve farkled. Welcome to the club! The key to bouncing back is not to let it shake your confidence.

I once farkled three times in a row, and guess what? I still managed to come back and win (okay, I came in second, but who’s keeping track?). Here’s how you can do it:

• Stay positive: Keep your spirits high. A farkle isn’t the end of the world (or the game).
• Watch and learn: Use the time to observe others’ strategies. Sometimes, the best lessons come from your opponents’ successes and mistakes.

Strategies for risky rolls versus playing it safe

This is where the true essence of the 10000 dice game shines. Do you feel lucky? Or is today more about playing it safe? Here’s a nugget of wisdom from someone who’s seen both spectacular wins and hilarious defeats: balance is key.

• Risk it for the biscuit: Sometimes, you’ve got to take risks to score big. Rolling all six dice and scoring on all of them? That’s the dream. But remember, with great risk comes the potential for a farkle.
• Play it safe: Got a decent score already? Maybe it’s time to bank those points, especially if you’re leading. Let someone else take the risks.

10,000 Rules and Objectives at a Glance (A Helpful Table)

If you’re viewing this on a mobile device, put your finger on the table below and swipe to the left (or right) to see the full table.

Element	Detail	“Why am I like this?” Commentary
Objective	Reach 10,000 points	Like chasing your dreams but with dice and less existential dread.
Players	2 or more	More friends, more chaos. Less friends, quicker to snacks.
Dice	six dice ( standard with six sides)	Like all good things in life, it starts with a half dozen. Eggs, donuts, dice…
Starting Play	Roll all 6 dice. Some variants say you need 500 or 1,000 points to get “on the board” and start banking point. You decide	It’s like the universe saying, “Prove you’re worthy” with less judgment.
Scoring	Ones are 100, Fives are 50, Triple numbers are points x 100 (except 1s which are 1,000)	Remembering this is your brain’s gym workout.
Special Scores	1-2-3-4-5-6 straight (1,500), Three pairs (1,500), Four of a kind + pair (1,500), Two triplets (2,500)	The lottery tickets of the dice game. Rare but oh-so-sweet.
Turns	Roll, set aside scoring dice, and decide: keep rolling (greedy!) or bank your points (coward!).	Life’s eternal question: To risk it for the biscuit or not?
Farkle	Roll zero points on a turn	It’s like tripping in public. Just smile and wave, folks.
Winning	First to 10,000 points after everyone has had the same number of turns	A moment of glory swiftly overshadowed by debates on what game to play next.

Other Fun and Simple Dice Games to Play with Family and Friends

Here are some other fun and simple dice games you can play with friends and family:

1. Farkle (VERY similar to 10,000): A classic push-your-luck dice game where you score points by rolling 1s, 5s and special combinations like three-of-a-kind. Keep rolling to rack up points, but rolling no scoring dice ends your turn with zero points. First to 10,000 wins. I remember many tense moments deciding whether to keep rolling or play it safe.
2. Pig Dice Game: A quick game needing just one die. Take turns rolling, adding each roll to your turn total. But roll a 1 and you lose all your unbanked points. Hold your turn at any time to score your running total. First to 100 wins. My daughter loves the cute pig theme.
3. Knock Out: To play, each person agrees on a “knock out” number between 6 and 9. Then players take turns rolling two dice. Add up the numbers rolled – if it matches your knock out number, you lose all your points and your turn. If it doesn’t, you keep the sum of the 2 dice. Last player standing wins. Easy peasy.
4. Shut the Box: Roll dice to “shut” numbered tiles 1-9. Knock down combinations adding up to your roll. Keep going until you can’t match your roll. Lowest total left wins. A favorite of mine.
5. Qwixx: A fast-paced game of chance and quick thinking. Roll two dice to mark off numbers on your scoresheet in red, yellow, green and blue rows. Decide quickly which rows to mark or pass your turn. Most points after 4 rounds wins. Always a hit at our game nights.
6. Tenzi: A frenzied real-time dice fest! Everyone rolls 10 dice simultaneously, setting aside matching numbers and re-rolling the rest. Yell “Tenzi” when all your dice match to win the round. Playable by all ages and highly addictive. Our go-to for impromptu fun with any number of people.

Your Turn

What’s the most creative name you can come up with for the 10000 dice game? “Rolling Agony” and “Farkle Fiesta” are on the table.