Pig
One die, one decision, repeated until somebody gets greedy.
The simplest push-your-luck game there is, and a genuinely good one. You can teach it in a sentence.
How to play
- Roll one die as many times as you like, adding the numbers to a running total for the turn.
- Stop whenever you want and add that total to your score.
- Roll a 1 and you lose everything from that turn and pass the die on.
- First to 100 wins.
When to stop
The simple rule that plays close to optimal: keep rolling until you have about 20 points in the turn, then bank. Chase further only when you are behind and the leader is near 100.
The two-dice version
Roll two dice and add both. A single 1 ends the turn with nothing. Double 1 wipes your entire score back to zero. Any other double means you must roll again. It is louder and shorter.
Questions
Does rolling a 1 lose my whole score?
No, only the points from the current turn. Losing everything happens only on double one in the two-dice version.
Is there a best strategy?
Banking at around 20 points a turn is close to optimal in a race to 100, and much better than rolling on instinct.
What is the difference between Pig and the pig in Carcassonne?
Nothing at all, they share a name. The Carcassonne pig is a farm token, and its rule is on its own page.