How to play Farkle
- Roll all six dice.
- Set aside at least one scoring die. Each 1 is worth 100 and each 5 is worth 50; three of a kind, a straight and three pairs score more (see the chart below the game).
- Bank or roll on. Bank to add this turn's points to your score, or roll the dice you have left to try for more.
- Farkle: if a roll has nothing that scores, you lose every point from this turn and the dice pass on.
- Hot dice: if all six dice have scored, you may roll all six again and keep adding to the turn.
- The end: once someone reaches 10,000, every other player has one last turn to beat them. The highest score wins.
The full Farkle rules and scoring chart cover every combination and the common house rules.
Playing on this page
- Tap the dice you want to set aside. The line under the dice shows what they are worth, and warns you if one of them does not score.
- Roll keeps those dice and rolls the rest; when they were the last ones, it rolls all six again. Bank keeps them and adds the turn to your score.
- Hint picks the dice and tells you whether to bank, using the same table as the computer.
- Opponent: play the computer, or choose Friends for 2 to 6 players taking turns on one device.
- Play to 10,000, or 5,000 for a quicker game. First bank 500+ is a common house rule: you cannot bank until you have made 500 in a single turn.
How the computer plays
The computer chooses its dice and decides when to bank by looking up the expected points of every choice in a table worked out in advance for every number of dice and every turn total. Over a long run, that scores about 600 points a turn. It does not take the other scores into account, except in the final round, when it keeps rolling until it is ahead. The same table drives the Hint button, and the Farkle strategy and odds page explains it.
The odds in one line
Six fresh dice farkle only 2.3% of the time, but the risk climbs fast as dice are set aside: 27.8% with three dice, 44.4% with two and 66.7% with one. That is the whole game: every die you keep makes the next roll riskier.
Playing with real dice?
Use the Farkle score sheet to keep score for up to eight players, or print a blank one with the scoring chart.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play Farkle online for free?
Yes. This Farkle game runs in your browser with no download and no account. Play the computer, or 2 to 6 people on the same device.
Can I play Farkle with friends online?
On one device, yes: choose Friends and the number of players, then pass the phone or computer round after each turn. There is no online multiplayer between separate devices.
What does hot dice mean in Farkle?
When every die you rolled has scored and been set aside, you have hot dice: you may roll all six again and keep adding to the same turn.
How many points do you need to win Farkle?
10,000 is the usual target. Once a player reaches it, everyone else gets one more turn, and the highest score wins. Choose 5,000 here for a shorter game.
What does the first bank 500 rule mean?
A common house rule: before your first bank, you must score at least 500 in a single turn. After that you may bank any amount.
How good is the computer at Farkle?
It plays to score as many points per turn as possible on average, about 600, which is strong but not perfect: it ignores the score except in the final round.