Zanzibar Dice Game (Fast-Paced Fun for the Ultimate Game Night)

If you’ve ever watched a group of people huddled around a table, shouting and laughing as they roll dice and tossed tokens at each other, chances are, they were playing Zanzibar. 

Zanzibar is actually a super simple, easy-to-learn dice game for anyone with three six-sided dice and some sort of counters or chips.

But here’s the twist: even when you’re losing, Zanzibar is a blast. 

This guide is your golden ticket into the world of Zanzibar, where strategy meets luck in epic showdowns during game nights…EVERYWHERE.  

Want in?

Cuz if you’re ready to roll, laugh, learn some fun variations, and maybe lose a little, you’re in the right place.

Let’s get started!

Brain Bites

• To start playing Zanzibar, you need three six – sided dice, 20 chips per player, and at least one friend, but more is awesome!
• Scoring high in Zanzibar involves aiming for a combo called a Zanzibar (4,5,6), three of the same number or summing up the dots on your dice. Avoid collecting chips to win.
• Use smart strategies in Zanzibar like knowing when to keep your roll or risk another throw to get ahead without hitting a seven.

Basic Game Rules of Zanzibar Dice Game

Zanzibar is where it’s at, so let’s roll into the basic rules:

Objective

The objective of Zanzibar is straight forward – be the first player to get rid of all your chips by NOT having the lowest score of dice at the end of each round.

What You Need:

• 2 or more players (bigger crowds, bigger laughs! Seriously, the chaos amps up with more people!)
• 3 six-sided dice (just raid any board game lying around)
• 20 chips or tokens per player (you know, whatever’s handy – poker chips, coins, candy…I once used cars from my nephews car set)
• a scoresheet for each player

Setup:

• Grab your 20 chips and get ready to roll!

How to Play:

1. Gather two or more players around the table. Everyone starts with 20 chips.
2. Decide who will roll the dice first. You can flip a coin or have everyone roll one die – highest number goes first.
3. If you’re first, you grab three dice and give them a good shake. You can roll up to THREE TIMES to score high.  After each roll, you can set aside any dice you like and only reroll the others for your next attempt.
4. Try to get the highest possible score in one of your rolls without going over three tries.
5. Everyone after the first player tries to roll a higher score in the same number of rolls or in less rolls of the first player. So, if the first player scores a 7 in 2 rolls.
6. Once everyone has had a turn rolling, compare scores. The player with the lowest tally picks up chips from everyone else – how many depends on who hit the highest marks. (see The Nitty Gritty of How to Score in Zanzibar below)
7. The player with the lowest tally picks up chips from everyone else – how many depends on who hit the highest marks.
8. Play keeps zooming around the circle until someone pops up chip-less – crowned as the master of Zanzibar.

Remember: it’s not just about luck; picking when to hold your rolls versus pushing for that killer combo is key in this game of risk and reward.

What’s Up	Cool Stuff	Not So Cool Stuff	Just a Heads Up	Who’s Gonna Love It?
Zanzibar	– Super simple and engaging, perfect for any game night. – Great mix of strategy and luck, keeps everyone on their toes. – Flexible player count; the more, the merrier (and more chaotic!).	– Losing can pile up chips fast, making comebacks tough.  – Can get repetitive if you don’t throw in some variations.	– Someone might get a little too competitive. – Dice can go rogue and end up under the couch.	– All ages, but especially fun for those who enjoy a good mix of strategy and luck. – Perfect for people who love social games with a dash of chaos. – Anyone who can handle the ups and downs of dice rolling without flipping the table.

The Nitty Gritty of How to Score in Zanzibar (a.k.a. Get Rid of All Your Dice, So You Can Win) 

Scoring in Zanzibar is where the real fun begins, bringing a mix of strategy and luck to the table. Your overall goal is to avoid racking up those chips.

You want to be the first to say goodbye to all of yours, not collect them like they’re going out of style. Let’s lay out how scoring shakes down in this dice-rolling extravaganza.

Here’s the highest ranking scoring combinations:

1. 4,5,6 “Zanzibar” – the HIGHEST combination score!
2. 1,1,1
3. 2,2,2
4. 3,3,3
5. 4,4,4
6. 5,5,5
7. 6,6,6
8. 1,2,3

All other combinations rank as a points total of the three dice added together.  Let’s take a closer look:

For example, if you rolled:

• a 1, 5, 2, then you’d have 8 points
• a 6, 2, 1, then you’d have 9 points
• a 3, 5, 2, then you’d have 10 points

A roll of 4,4,4 would beat a roll of 1,2,3.  And a roll of 1,1,1 would beat a roll of 9 points.  

And so on and so forth.

If you had the high score of the previous round, then you roll first on the next round.

THIS IS THE PART THAT HURTS…THE LOSER OF A ROUND OF ZANZIBAR

Once all players have had a turn the player with the lowest score received a number of chips from the other players.

The number of chips they receive depends on the rolled dice of the person who rolled the highest score in that round.  The loser has to take the following amount of chips FROM EVERY OTHER PLAYER:

• 1 chip is the highest score is a points total
• 2 chips if the highest score is 1,2,3
• 3 chips if the higher score is a 3 of a kind (for example, 4,4,4; 2,2,2)
• 4 chips is the higher score is 4,5,6 (ZANZIBAR)

Depending on the number of players and how high the highest score is, the loser of the round can end up with A LOT of counters.  No bueno!

Combination	Description	Outcome
Zanzibar (4,5,6)	The holy grail of rolls.	Instant win for the round. Player avoids receiving chips.
Three-of-a-kind	All dice show the same number.	Strong roll. Next highest scoring combo after Zanzibar.
Sum of the dice	When no specific combo is rolled, add up those dots.	The higher, the better. Don’t land on low numbers!
Other specific combos	Any set rules for additional combos in game variations.	Depends. You might be able to get rid of chips or end up with a bunch of them.

Scoring in Zanzibar isn’t rocket science, but it does keep everyone on their toes. Whether you’re rolling a lucky Zanzibar or adding up your dice for a grand total, each turn is a step closer to ditching those chips. 

Victory hinges on a blend of chance and choosing when to push your luck. 

Counters & Tokens: The Quirky Household Scavenger Hunt

1. Small things like beads, coins, bottle caps, or poker chips. Cheap things you can use as tokens. Different colors or shapes for different token types.
2. Printed tokens or cards. Like official token cards from games like Magic: The Gathering. Or custom tokens printed on cardboard or old playing cards. Lets you clearly show what each token is.
3. Other game pieces. Unused cards, tiles, or little figures from other games. You can use these as tokens when needed.
4. Household items. Everyday things like buttons, bottle caps, dried beans or lentils, or candy. These can work as basic counters.
5. Get creative! Use whatever small objects you have around the house. Mix and match colors and shapes. Cheap and easy way to make tokens.

Zanzibar in Action: Here’s How a Round of Zanzibar Could Be Played

Jack Hammer, Sadie Word, and Taylor Maid are ready to roll, each starting with 20 precious chips they’re trying  to ditch.

• Jack wins the opening roll-off, giving him the first crack at setting the scoring pace. His opening toss of 2, 4, 5 is decent, but he gambles by re-rolling the 2, hoping for bigger numbers. Lady Luck obliges with a 6 to complete the Zanzibar (4, 5, 6) – the highest score combination of the game! “Hah, top that you two!” Jack gloats.
• Sadie is up next, taking a calming inhale before releasing her dice. A respectable 5, 5, 2 to start, but she risks it all by re-rolling the 2 in pursuit of the three-of-a-kind. Snake eyes!  Her final 5, 5, 1 hand puts her at just 11 points, already trailing Jack’s scorching opener.
• The pressure is on Taylor to catch up. Her opening 3, 4, 1 is underwhelming, so she re-rolls the 1 and 3…and paints a 2, 6 to salvage a 12 point hand. “Phew, at least I beat Sadie this round!”

When the chips settle, the scores are:

• Jack: Zanzibar (4, 5, 6 – ZANZIBAR!)
• Sadie: 11 points
• Taylor: 12 points

Since Sadie rolled the lowest score, the punishment is harsh – she has to receive chips from the other players. 

With Jack’s Zanzibar as the top roll, poor Sadie whispers “Man, this sucks!” as she accepts 4 chips each from Jack and Taylor.

Winning Strategies for Zanzibar: How to Ditch Those Chips Like a Pro! 🎲✨

Winning at Zanzibar is all about mixing smart moves, a dash of luck, and knowing when to take a chance. Here are three tips to help you clinch the win in this super fun dice game:

1. Know When to Stick: After you roll, take a good look at the dice you’ve set aside. If you’re on the verge of getting a high score, like a Zanzibar (4,5,6) or a three-of-a-kind, you might want to risk another roll to get there. But, if you’ve already got a pretty good score, it might be smarter to stick with what you have rather than risk ending up with less.
2. Judge the Room: Keep an eye on how everyone else is doing and let that guide your next move. If someone before you has rolled high, you might need to up your game and take a bigger risk to beat them. If everyone’s scoring low, then playing it safe might be your best bet to avoid unwanted chips.
3. Be Smart with Your Chips: Remember, the goal is to get rid of your chips first. Think about how each round’s scores will hand out chips and plan your strategy accordingly. If you’re in the lead, maybe play it safe to avoid drawing attention and piling up more chips. Falling behind? Time to be bold and go for those big scores to ditch your chips faster. Plus, playing around with the number of chips you start with can make the game shorter or longer, which might change how you play right from the start.

Put these strategies into play, and with a bit of practice, you’ll get the hang of reading the game and your opponents. Before you know it, you’ll be the one everyone’s trying to beat at Zanzibar on game night.

Variations of Zanzibar Dice Game

Just when you think you’ve got Zanzibar down, the game throws a curveball with its variations. These twists keep things fresh and challenge even the most seasoned players.

Zanzibar Jackpot

Everyone puts counters into a big pot when someone rolls a Zanzibar. The winner of that round gets to give all those counters to another player. Make it even more exciting with a “rollover jackpot.” If no one wins the pot, it gets bigger for the next round, making everyone eager to play more.

Team Zanzibar

Split into teams and work together to get rid of your counters. Plan which dice to roll to get the best chance of giving away your counters. Throw in a surprise by letting each team choose one player to give an extra counter to the other team, making it a fun challenge.

Zilch Zanzibar

If you roll three 1s, you get to give two counters to every other player, making it a game-changer. If you’re having a tough time getting rid of counters, there’s a “redemption round.” This gives players a second chance with easier rules to give away their counters.

With these twists, your Zanzibar game nights will be all about fun, teamwork, and the clever challenge of not being the last one holding counters. So, grab your friends, roll the dice, and enjoy the game in a whole new way.

Zanzibar at-a-Glance

Element	Detail	Why Am I Like This?
Objective	Be the first to ditch your chips as if they’re going out of fashion.	Because who said hoarding was in? This game is about embracing the minimalist lifestyle, one chip at a time.
Players	2 or more. The more the merrier, and messier!	Because we all know chaos is a ladder…to fun! And nothing says ‘party’ like a table full of adults arguing over dice rolls.
Dice/Components	3 six-sided dice, 20 chips/tokens, and a sense of humor.	Because nothing adds excitement like the high stakes of possibly losing your nephew’s toy car collection.
Gameplay	Roll thrice or less to outscore others. It’s like bowling but with chips and less physical activity.	Because we all need that one game where strategy is just winging it and hoping for the best.
Scoring	From Zanzibar rolls to adding dots, it’s a math test you didn’t study for.	Because who knew adult game night would take us back to third-grade math class? And here you were thinking you’d never use math in real life.
Turns	Take turns rolling up to three times, because apparently, third time’s the charm.	Because everyone deserves a second and third chance to face their fate with a tiny cube of numbers.
Strategy	Roll high, but not too high, unless it’s a Zanzibar. Then celebrate like you won the lottery.	Because the fine line between victory and defeat is thinner than your patience when the dice don’t cooperate.
Winning	Getting rid of all your chips first, proving minimalism can win games.	Because in the grand scheme of things, isn’t getting rid of all your baggage the real victory?

Let the Good Times Roll with These Fun Dice Games

1. Farkle: In this classic push-your-luck game, players take turns rolling six dice, trying to score points by making certain combinations. If you can’t score, you “Farkle” and lose all your points for that turn! The first player to reach the winning score (usually 10,000) wins the game.
2. Aces in the Pot: This fast-paced game is all about rolling aces! Each player starts with a handful of chips, and the goal is to be the last one with chips. Roll the dice and place a chip in the pot for every ace you get. If you don’t roll an ace, you’re out for the round. The last player with chips wins the pot!
3. Run for It: Players take turns rolling four dice, trying to make a “run” of numbers (like 1-2-3-4 or 2-3-4-5). The player with the most points when someone reaches the winning score is the champion.
4. Candy Deluxe Dice Game: This sweet game is perfect for kids and adults alike! Players take turns rolling two dice and performing the action in the corresponding square of a 6×6 printable. Actions can include collecting candy, losing candy, or even stealing candy from other players! 

These dice games are easy to learn, quick to play, and guaranteed to provide hours of fun. So gather your friends, grab some dice, and let the good times roll! 🎲😄

Your Turn

What’s your funniest or most memorable moment from playing dice games like Zanzibar? Think about those times when luck was so good or so bad it left everyone in stitches or disbelief.