How to Play 10000: A Comprehensive Guide to the Dice Game

10000, also known as Zilch, Farkle, or Cosmic Wimpout (among many other names), is a classic dice game that combines luck, strategy, and a little bit of nerve. It’s a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, making it a perfect choice for family game nights or casual gatherings with friends. The basic premise is simple: roll dice, accumulate points, and be the first to reach 10,000. However, the path to victory is filled with strategic decisions, risk assessments, and the occasional heartbreaking ‘zilch’. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every aspect of the game, from the basic rules to advanced strategies, ensuring that you’re well-equipped to become a 10000 master.

## What You’ll Need

Before you begin your 10000 journey, gather the following essential items:

* **Six Dice:** Standard six-sided dice are all you need. A set of different colored dice can be helpful for easy identification, but it’s not required.
* **Paper and Pen (or a Scorekeeping App):** You’ll need a way to keep track of each player’s score. A simple notepad and pen will do, but there are also numerous scorekeeping apps available for smartphones and tablets that can make the process easier and more organized.
* **Players:** 10000 can be played with two or more players. The more, the merrier, but keep in mind that games with a large number of players can take longer to complete.

## Basic Rules of 10000

The core gameplay of 10000 revolves around rolling dice, scoring points, and deciding when to stop rolling and bank your points. Here’s a breakdown of the fundamental rules:

### 1. Starting the Game

* Players decide on a playing order, typically through a random method like rolling a single die or flipping a coin.

### 2. Taking a Turn

* The first player rolls all six dice.
* After each roll, the player must set aside at least one scoring die (or a scoring combination, as explained below).
* The player then has the option to:
* **Continue Rolling:** Roll the remaining dice (those that were not set aside for scoring) to try to accumulate more points.
* **Bank the Points:** End the turn and add the accumulated points to their total score. These points are not yet safe and need to be written down but the player needs to eventually ‘get on the board’ which we will explain below.

### 3. Scoring Combinations

Certain dice rolls are worth points. Here are the standard scoring combinations:

* **One (1):** 100 points
* **Five (5):** 50 points
* **Three of a Kind:** Three dice showing the same number are worth 100 times that number (e.g., three 2s are worth 200 points, three 3s are worth 300 points, etc.). Three 1s are worth 1000 points.
* **Straight (1-2-3-4-5-6):** A roll of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 is worth 1500 points.
* **Four of a Kind:** Four dice showing the same number are worth double the value of three of a kind. For instance, four 2s would be 400 points (200 * 2).
* **Five of a Kind:** Five dice showing the same number are worth double the value of four of a kind. For instance, five 2s would be 800 points (400 * 2).
* **Six of a Kind:** Six dice showing the same number are worth double the value of five of a kind. For instance, six 2s would be 1600 points (800 * 2).
* **Three Pairs:** Three distinct pairs (e.g., two 2s, two 4s, and two 6s) are typically worth 800 or 600 points, depending on the variation you are playing. You should agree with the other players on the scoring for this combination before starting the game.

### 4. Zilch!

* If a player rolls the dice and cannot set aside any scoring dice, it’s called a ‘zilch’.
* The player scores zero points for that turn, and the turn passes to the next player.
* Some variations of the game have a ‘three zilch’ rule, where if a player zilches three times in a row, they lose 500 points (or some other predetermined amount) from their total score.

### 5. Getting ‘On the Board’

* In most variations, a player must score a minimum number of points (usually 500 or 1000) in a single turn before they can start accumulating points towards the final goal of 10,000. This is referred to as ‘getting on the board’.
* Until a player reaches this minimum score in a single turn, their score remains at zero, even if they have accumulated points in previous turns.
* Once a player gets ‘on the board’, all points accumulated in subsequent turns count towards their total score.

### 6. Winning the Game

* The first player to reach 10,000 points or more wins the game.
* In some variations, a player must reach exactly 10,000 points. If they exceed 10,000, their score reverts back to some lower agreed upon number, like 9000, or zero. Discuss this before the game.
* Many play that you must exceed 10,000 at the end of a turn. So, If you are at 9,500, and then have a turn where you score 700 points, you win as you have exceeded 10,000. In this scenario, other players get one last turn to try and beat your score. If they beat your score on their last turn, they win the game.

## A Detailed Walkthrough of a Turn

Let’s illustrate a typical turn with an example:

1. **Player A rolls all six dice:** The result is 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 6.
2. **Scoring:** The player has several scoring options:
* Two 5s (100 points) and a 1 (100 points) for a total of 200 points.
* A 1 (100 points) and one 5 (50 points) for a total of 150 points.
* One 5 (50 points) alone.
* A 1 (100 points) alone.
3. **Strategic Decision:** The player decides to set aside the two 5s and the 1, totaling 200 points. Three dice (2, 3, and 6) remain to be rolled.
4. **Continuing the Roll:** The player rolls the remaining three dice and gets 2, 4, and 4.
5. **Scoring:** Unfortunately, there are no scoring dice in this roll (2, 4, and 4).
6. **Zilch?:** As the player had scoring dice on the initial roll they are not zilched. But they had better get scoring dice now!
7. **Strategic Decision:** The player now faces a critical decision: roll the remaining dice in hope of scoring, or take the risk of banking the 200 points? Let’s say Player A decides to roll the dice in order to gain more points.
8. **Continuing the Roll:** The player rolls the remaining three dice and gets 1, 3, and 6.
9. **Scoring:** The player can set aside the 1 for 100 points.
10. **Strategic Decision:** Player A can bank the 300 points from this turn (200 from the first roll + 100 from this roll), and pass the turn to the next player. If player A decides to keep rolling with the two remaining dice, they risk getting a Zilch.
11. **Continuing the Roll:** The player rolls the remaining two dice and gets 4 and 2. These are non-scoring dice. If Player A banks the 300 points they earned this turn, the next player goes. But, Player A could continue rolling ALL six dice again. When you get down to less than six dice, you have the option to roll all six dice. So, the next roll is a completely new roll!
12. **Strategic Decision:** As the player already has 300 points, they are going to roll all six dice again, in order to get on the board! Player A is hoping for a score of 200 points in order to ‘get on the board’.
13. **Rolling Again:** Player A rolls all six dice and gets 1, 2, 4, 5, 5, 6.
14. **Scoring:** The player can set aside the 1 (100 points) and the two 5’s (100 points).
15. **Strategic Decision:** As the player has reached 500 points for their turn, they can now ‘get on the board’! They bank the 500 points and the next player goes.

## Advanced Strategies for 10000

While luck plays a significant role in 10000, strategic decision-making can greatly increase your chances of winning. Here are some advanced strategies to consider:

### 1. Risk Assessment

The most important aspect of 10000 strategy is accurately assessing the risk versus reward. Before each roll, consider the following:

* **Current Score:** How many points have you accumulated in this turn so far?
* **Dice Remaining:** How many dice are you rolling? The more dice you roll, the higher the chance of getting scoring dice, but also the higher the risk of getting a zilch.
* **Opponent’s Scores:** How close are your opponents to winning? If someone is close to 10,000, you might need to take more risks to catch up.
* **Your ‘On the Board’ Status:** Have you ‘gotten on the board’ yet? If not, then your focus needs to be getting the minimum required to get on the board.

### 2. Balancing Risk and Reward

* **Early Game:** In the early stages of the game, when no one is close to winning, it’s generally wise to play conservatively. Bank your points regularly to build a solid foundation.
* **Mid Game:** As players start accumulating points, you can afford to take more risks, especially if you’re behind. Going for bigger combinations can pay off, but be prepared for the occasional zilch.
* **Late Game:** In the late game, when someone is approaching 10,000, you need to be aggressive. If you’re behind, you’ll need to take significant risks to catch up. If you’re in the lead, you might want to play more conservatively to protect your lead.

### 3. Knowing When to Stop

Knowing when to stop rolling and bank your points is crucial. There’s no magic formula, but here are some guidelines:

* **Low Scores:** If you have a relatively low score in a turn (e.g., 100-300 points), it’s often best to roll again to try to increase your score.
* **High Scores:** If you have a high score in a turn (e.g., 700+ points), it might be wise to bank your points, especially if you don’t have many dice remaining.
* **Press Your Luck:** If you have a good feeling and the dice are rolling well, don’t be afraid to press your luck. However, be aware of the risks involved.

### 4. Dice Management

* **Prioritize Combinations:** When possible, prioritize setting aside combinations like straights or three-of-a-kind, as they are worth more points than individual 1s and 5s.
* **Don’t Be Greedy:** Avoid getting too greedy and trying to save every scoring die. Sometimes it’s better to set aside a few dice and roll the remaining ones to increase your chances of scoring.
* **Re-Rolling All Six:** If you end up with no dice left to roll during your turn because you have set aside all six dice as scoring dice, you get to roll all six dice again and continue accumulating points. This can be a huge advantage!

### 5. Keeping Track of the Dice

* **Mental Note:** Pay attention to the dice that have already been rolled. If you’ve already rolled several 1s and 5s, the chances of rolling more of them decrease, making it riskier to continue rolling.

### 6. Adapting to the Situation

* **Flexibility:** Be prepared to adapt your strategy based on the specific situation. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to 10000.
* **Observe Opponents:** Watch how your opponents play and adjust your strategy accordingly. If they are aggressive, you might need to be more aggressive as well.

## Variations of 10000

10000 has many variations, often with slightly different scoring rules or additional rules. Here are some common variations:

* **Minimum Score to Start:** The minimum score required to ‘get on the board’ can vary. Some variations use 500, while others use 1000 or even higher.
* **Scoring for Three Pairs:** The scoring for three pairs can vary. Some variations award 600 points, while others award 800 points. Some don’t award any points at all!
* **Three Zilches Penalty:** The penalty for three consecutive zilches can vary. Some variations deduct 500 points, while others deduct 1000 points or more.
* **Winning Score:** Some variations require a player to reach exactly 10,000 points to win. If they exceed 10,000, their score is reset. This can add an extra layer of strategy to the late game.
* **Bonus for Six Dice Scoring:** Some variations give a bonus for scoring with all six dice in a single roll (e.g., 500 or 1000 points). This encourages players to take more risks.
* **Forced Reroll:** In some variations, if a player rolls all six dice and gets scoring dice on all of them, they are forced to re-roll all six dice, regardless of their current score for the turn.
* **Progressive 1’s and 5’s**: In this version, if you roll a one, the first one is worth 100 points. If you roll a second one at the same time, it’s worth 200 points, the third is worth 300, and so on. The same applies to fives, the first five is worth 50, the second is worth 100, and so on.

## Tips for Playing 10000

Here are some additional tips to enhance your 10000 experience:

* **Learn the Rules Thoroughly:** Make sure everyone understands the rules before starting the game to avoid confusion and arguments.
* **Communicate Clearly:** Clearly announce your scoring choices after each roll to avoid misunderstandings.
* **Be a Good Sport:** 10000 can be frustrating, especially when you get a zilch. Remember that it’s just a game, and be a good sport whether you win or lose.
* **Have Fun:** The most important thing is to have fun! 10000 is a great way to spend time with friends and family.
* **Practice:** The more you play, the better you’ll become at assessing risks and making strategic decisions.
* **Use a Dice Cup:** A dice cup can help to ensure fair rolls and prevent cheating.
* **Play with Different Variations:** Try different variations of the game to keep things interesting and challenge yourself.
* **Consider a Scorekeeping App:** Scorekeeping apps can make it easier to track scores and stats, especially for larger groups.

## Why 10000 is a Great Game

10000 is a popular game for several reasons:

* **Simple Rules:** The basic rules are easy to learn, making it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels.
* **Strategic Depth:** Despite its simplicity, 10000 offers a surprising amount of strategic depth. Players need to make careful decisions about when to roll, when to bank, and which dice to save.
* **Luck and Skill:** 10000 combines elements of both luck and skill. While luck plays a role in the dice rolls, strategic decision-making can greatly increase your chances of winning.
* **Social Interaction:** 10000 is a great way to socialize with friends and family. It encourages interaction, communication, and friendly competition.
* **Portable and Accessible:** All you need is six dice and a way to keep score, making it a portable and accessible game that can be played anywhere.

## Conclusion

10000 is a timeless dice game that offers a unique blend of luck, strategy, and social interaction. Whether you’re a seasoned dice game enthusiast or a newcomer looking for a fun and engaging game, 10000 is sure to provide hours of entertainment. By mastering the rules, understanding the strategies, and adapting to the various game variations, you can become a 10000 champion and impress your friends and family with your dice-rolling prowess. So gather your dice, invite your friends, and prepare to embark on a thrilling journey to 10,000!