Fifty Dice Game: Rules, Doubles and Odds

Fifty is a two-dice race where only doubles count. Most doubles give you 5 points, double 6 gives you 25, and double 3 sends your score all the way back to zero. The first player to reach 50 wins. There are no choices to make, so it is pure luck, and the double-3 rule means nobody is safe until the very end.

What You Need

• Two six-sided dice, or our Dice Roller set to two dice.
• Paper and a pencil to keep score.
• Two or more players.

Who Goes First

Have everyone roll one die with the Dice Roller; the highest roll starts. For a large group, spin our Random Name Picker instead. Play then goes to the left.

How to Play

These are the most common rules. Some families use different points, so agree on them first.

1. Roll two dice on your turn, then pass them on.
2. Double 1, 2, 4 or 5: score 5 points.
3. Double 6: score 25 points.
4. Double 3: your score goes back to 0.
5. Anything else: no points this turn.
6. First to 50 wins. The first player to reach 50 points or more wins the game.

The Odds of Each Roll

Two dice give 36 equally likely results, and 6 of them are doubles. In the table, “Roll” is the result, “Chance” is the exact chance on one roll, and “Points” is what it does to your score.

Five turns out of six score nothing at all. A double 6 and a double 3 are equally likely, so the big jump and the big crash come up just as often. For more on how chances like these work, see our dice probability guide.

How Long Does a Game Take?

We simulated 300,000 games for one player and 100,000 games each for 2, 4 and 6 players, with one roll per turn. “Players” is the size of the group, “Rounds (avg)” is the average number of rounds before someone reaches 50 (one round is one roll for each player), and “Rounds (typical)” is the median. These are simulated estimates.

Fifty can be a long game. Playing alone, about 6 games in 10 hit at least one double 3 on the way, and one game in ten takes 135 rolls or more. With more players someone gets lucky sooner, so a four-player game usually lasts about 25 rounds. If that is too slow, try the “roll again on a double” rule below.

Tips

• Keep a running total. Write each new score under the last one, so a double 3 is easy to mark.
• Roll fast. Most turns score nothing, so keep the dice moving.
• Use it for adding practice. Young players can count in fives and add 25 in their heads.
• Expect a comeback. Because of double 3, the leader can drop to zero at any time, which keeps the whole table interested.

Variations

• Roll again on a double: after any double except double 3, roll again. Games get shorter and more exciting.
• Hundred: play to 100 for a longer game.
• Gentle double 3: for young children, double 3 takes away 25 points instead of all of them.
• Exactly fifty: you must land on exactly 50; a roll that takes you over does not count.

Want another quick two-dice game? Try Knockout. You will find more ideas in our list of easy dice games.

Where the Game Comes From

Fifty is a traditional dice game that appears in many family games books, often with slightly different scores. We could not find a reliable record of where or when it started.

FAQ

How do you play the dice game Fifty?

Players take turns rolling two dice. Only doubles score: double 1, 2, 4 or 5 is worth 5 points, double 6 is worth 25, and double 3 sends your score back to 0. The first to 50 wins.

What happens if you roll double 3 in Fifty?

In the usual rules your score goes back to 0. Some families play a gentler rule where it only takes away 25 points.

What are the odds of rolling a double with two dice?

6 of the 36 results are doubles, so the chance is 1 in 6. Each particular double, such as double 6, is 1 in 36.

How long does a game of Fifty take?

In our simulation with four players and one roll per turn, a game lasted about 25 to 28 rounds. Rolling again after a double makes it faster.

Can you play Fifty with an online dice roller?

Yes. Set our free Dice Roller to two dice and keep score on paper.