How to play Passage

Passage is a quick game for two to eight players, played with two dice. You also need a way to keep score, on paper or in your head.

To start, everyone rolls a single die. The highest roll goes first. The lowest roll throws once more, and that value becomes the point number for the game. If the lowest player rolls a three, threes are what everyone will be hunting for.

Players take turns rolling both dice. Every die that shows the point number earns one point, so a single throw is worth nothing, one point or two. The turn passes on regardless of the result.

Keep a running score for each player. The game moves quickly, since each turn is just one throw.

The first player to reach 11 points wins. If you play several games, roll for the opening again each time, so every game gets a fresh point number and a new starting player.

A common variant awards 3 points instead of 2 when both dice show the point number, which turns doubles into small highlights and shortens the game. For a longer game, play to 21 points instead.

If you like simple races to a target, Fifty and Round the Clock are close relatives.

They roll again until one player stands alone with the highest or lowest throw. There is no official rule for it, but this is how most people settle it.

Yes. The rules take half a minute to learn, and counting hits and adding small numbers is gentle mental arithmetic practice. Younger children can join in if an adult keeps score.