How to Play 421 (Farkle / 10,000) Dice Game: Rules & Strategy

Goal

First to 10,000 points (or agreed target).

Setup

• 2+ players, 6 standard dice.

Turn Structure

1. Roll all 6 dice.
2. Set aside scoring dice (see below).
3. Choose: Bank points (end turn, add to total) or Re-roll remaining dice to score more.
4. If a re-roll yields no scoring dice, you Farkle – lose all points from that turn.
5. Pass dice to next player.

Scoring Combinations

• Three 1s = 1,000 (other triples = 100×face: three 2s=200, three 3s=300, etc.)
• Four of a kind = 2× triple score
• Five of a kind = 3× triple
• Six of a kind = 4× triple
• Straight 1–6 = 1,500
• Three pairs = 1,500
• Single 1 = 100, Single 5 = 50

Common Variants

• Hot Dice: Roll all 6 scoring dice again without Farkle risk.
• Minimum bank threshold: e.g., must score 300+ before first bank.

Strategy Tips

• Memorize scoring combos.
• Don't get greedy – bank early if Farkle risk is high.
• Track opponents' scores to gauge risk.