How to play Pig

Pig is one of the simplest dice games there is. All you need is a single die, paper and a pencil. 2 to 10 players can join, and the goal is to be the first to reach 100 points. The game is great for children practising addition.

On your turn you roll the die as many times as you dare. The pips from each roll are added into a turn total. You may stop whenever you like: the turn total is then added to your score, and the die passes to the next player.

If you roll a 1, your turn ends immediately. The whole turn total is lost, and you get nothing for the turn. Points banked in earlier turns are always safe.

The first player to reach 100 points or more wins. If you want to make it completely fair, finish the round so everyone has had the same number of turns, and let the highest score win.

With two dice the game speeds up: a single 1 wipes the turn total, while two 1s in the same roll wipe your entire score. This version is often called Two-Dice Pig, and it makes the game tougher and more fun for slightly older children.

In Norway the game is known as Gris, a direct translation of the name. If you enjoy weighing luck against sense, move on to Drop Dead or the big brother Ten Thousand.

A common rule of thumb is to stop once the turn total passes 20 points. That way you bank steady points without risking too much. Towards the end of the game you often have to take bigger chances, especially if someone else is close to 100.

Yes, Pig is one of the best dice games for children from around 5 to 6 years old. The rules take a minute to learn, and all the mental arithmetic is good practice. An adult can keep score for the youngest players.