Farkle Strategies

In this section, you will learn all about different farkle strategies.

Jump to a specific strategy here.

Selective Scoring

The strategy of selective scoring works by only using high value combinations. This strategy helps maximize points because it saves dice so that they can be used for a different, higher scoring combination. Here are some examples of selective scoring:

In this example, the player has just rolled all 6 dice.

The player has rolled 3 scoring dice, twos 1s and a 5. This adds up to 250 points. In the selective scoring strategy, the player would only use the two 1s because the 5 is only worth 50 points. This way, that dice is saved and hopefully can be used to roll a high scoring combination. The play will select the 1s and roll the remaining dice.

The player has rolled three 4s! Because of the selective scoring strategy, the odds of getting a three-of-kind were improved because there was one more dice available.

Rolling only a low scoring combination

When playing using the selecive scoring strategy, sometimes you only roll the low scoring combinations like 5s or three-of-kind with 2s. In these cases, you have to use the dice. Here is how this plays out:

In this roll, the player only has 1 scoring die, a 5. In this case, the player has to select the dice to continue their turn. The player selects the 5 and rolls the remaining dice.

The player has rolled two 5s. The player has to select at least one of them. With this roll, it would be smart for the player to select only one of 5s because the other 5 could be used for a better, higher scoring combination.

Risking the Last Dice

In farkle, there are conservative strategies and risky strategies. Risking the last dice is a risky strategy, but can pay off. Risking the last dice is just what is sounds like, risking the last dice in hopes to get a 1 or a 5 and having all the dice reset. Here is what it looks like:

In this roll the player has 300 points. They have a 5 selected, which totals to 350 points. Now the player has 1 die left. If they roll and get a 1 or a 5, all dice get reset and they can roll again. If they don't roll a 1 or 5, they lose the 350 points. The player is going to roll the die. The odds of them getting a 1 or 5 is 33%.

The player rolled a 1! This means they can keep rolling all six dice. If they wouldn't have rolled a 1 or 5, then the player would have lost their 350 points and their turn would be over.

Learn more about "And Rolling"

Playing it Safe

This strategy is useful when you are already winning because it gets you better chances at gaining points every round so you stay in the lead. It is a very simple strategy, that consists of ending your turn earlier than usual so your chances of rolling a scoring die are high. Here is what this strategy looks like:

In this roll, the player will select the 1 and roll the dice (selective scoring strategy) Because the player has 5 dice left, they will roll again.

The player rolled two 1s. This means they have 300 points total. Since they only have 3 dice left, there is a harder chance of rolling a scoring dice than before. Because of this, the player should end their turn so they can keep their 300 points.