How to Play Pig Dice
Pig Dice is the ultimate push-your-luck dice game — just one die, one rule, and surprisingly tense decisions every turn. The goal is simple: be the first player to bank 100 points.
Turn Structure
- On your turn, roll the single die as many times as you like
- Each roll (except a 1) adds to your turn total
- Press Hold at any time to bank your turn total and end your turn
- If you roll a 1 (the Pig) — you lose all unbanked points and your turn ends immediately
- Your previously banked score is always safe
- First player to reach 100 banked points wins
vs. the CPU
This version pits you against an AI opponent with three difficulty levels. Easy mode has the CPU banking after ~12 turn points, Medium at ~18, and Hard at ~26 — with situational adjustments when either player is close to winning.
Pig Dice Scoring Reference
| Roll Result | Effect |
|---|---|
| Roll a 1 (Pig) | Lose all turn points — turn ends, pass to opponent |
| Roll 2 | +2 to your turn total — may roll again or hold |
| Roll 3 | +3 to your turn total — may roll again or hold |
| Roll 4 | +4 to your turn total — may roll again or hold |
| Roll 5 | +5 to your turn total — may roll again or hold |
| Roll 6 | +6 to your turn total — may roll again or hold |
| Hold | Bank your entire turn total — turn ends, pass to opponent |
| Reach 100 | Win the game! |
Pig Dice Strategy Tips
The 20-Point Rule
Research shows the optimal threshold is holding at 20 turn points. Below 20, the expected gain from rolling again outweighs the risk. Above 20, you're more likely to lose to a Pig than gain.
Adjust When Winning
If you're ahead by 30+ points, bank early and let the opponent take the risks. Playing conservatively when leading is more valuable than squeezing out extra points.
Chase When Behind
If the opponent is close to 100 and you're far behind, you have nothing to lose by pushing for big turns. Roll aggressively — a conservative game you're already losing.
The Final Push
When you're within one good turn of winning, lower your threshold. If you need just 15 more points, hold as soon as you hit 15 — no reason to risk a Pig for extra points you don't need.
About Pig Dice
Pig is one of the oldest and simplest dice games in the world. The rules were first formally documented by John Scarne in 1945, though the game itself likely predates that. The name "Pig" refers to the act of being greedy — rolling too many times and losing everything.
Pig vs. Farkle: Both are push-your-luck dice games, but Pig is far simpler. Pig uses one die with a single loss condition (rolling a 1), while Farkle uses six dice with multiple scoring combinations and a "Farkle" when none score. Pig is ideal for younger players or anyone who wants a quick, high-stakes game; Farkle rewards more strategic scoring decisions.
Mathematical Analysis: Pig is a well-studied game in combinatorial game theory. The optimal strategy (proved by researchers in 2004) is to hold at 20 points on most turns, with adjustments near the target of 100. Interestingly, the first player has a very slight advantage because they move first when both players follow the optimal strategy.
Variants: Pass the Pigs uses two pig-shaped dice instead of a standard die. Big Pig raises the target to 200. Skunk replaces the die with letters and all players roll simultaneously. Each variant adds a fresh twist to the core push-your-luck mechanic Pig popularized.