Train
Train is a push-your-luck dice game where players roll six dice to assemble a complete train and score points.
Objective
Be the first player to reach 100 points.
Players
1 to 6 players.
Components
Six standard six-sided dice. Each face represents a train part:
0 (required after Engine)
Doubles total Cargo score
Setup
All six dice start in the pool. The first player rolls all six.
Gameplay
On your turn, you have up to three rolls to build the best train possible.
1. Roll
Roll all available dice (dice not yet set aside).
2. Keep
After each roll, you may set aside dice — but only in train order:
•
Engine first: You must keep an Engine (6) before anything else.
•
Coal Tender second: You can only keep a Coal Tender (5) after securing an Engine.
•
Cargo and Caboose last: You can only keep Cargo (4, 3, 2) or a Caboose (1) after securing both an Engine and a Coal Tender.
•
One Caboose max: Only a single Caboose may be kept per turn.
3. Decide
After keeping dice, choose one:
•
Bank — If you have an Engine and Coal Tender, stop rolling and score your train.
•
Continue Rolling — Pick up remaining dice and roll again (if rolls remain).
Derailing
If you use all three rolls without securing both an Engine and a Coal Tender, your train derails and you score 0 points for the turn.
Scoring
1.
Verify the train: You must have an Engine (6) and Coal Tender (5). If not, score is 0.
2.
Sum Cargo: Add the face values of all kept Cargo dice (4s, 3s, and 2s).
3.
Apply Caboose: If you kept a Caboose (1), multiply your Cargo total by 2.
Example: You end with 6, 5, 4, 3, 3, 1.
•
Engine (6) and Coal Tender (5) make the train valid.
•
Cargo: 4 + 3 + 3 = 10 points.
•
Caboose (1) doubles the score.
Special Rules
Straight Bonus
Rolling one of each value (6-5-4-3-2-1) — whether assembled across multiple rolls or all at once — awards a flat 25 points instead of the normal calculation.
Forced Bank
After your third roll, if you have a valid train (Engine + Coal Tender), you must bank your score. If all six dice are kept before the third roll, you must also bank immediately.
Winning
The first player to reach or exceed 100 points wins immediately.
Strategy Tips
•
Always keep an Engine when you roll one — you can't score without it.
•
The Caboose is powerful — doubling even a modest cargo total can make a big difference.
•
Know when to stop — banking a small score beats risking a derail.
•
The Straight is rare but rewarding — 25 points is a great single-turn haul.