Zilch
Zilch is a push-your-luck dice game from the "10,000" family. Roll six dice, set aside scorers, and decide whether to bank your points or keep rolling — but if you can't score, you Zilch and lose everything from that turn.
Objective
Be the first player to reach 10,000 points.
Players
2 to 6 players.
Setup
All six dice start in a shared pool. The first player rolls all six.
Gameplay
1. Roll
Roll all available dice. If any dice can score, you must set aside at least one scoring die or combination before continuing.
2. Keep
Select one or more scoring dice to set aside. Their point value is added to your running turn total.
3. Decide
After keeping dice you have two choices:
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Bank — Add your turn total to your permanent score and end your turn.
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Continue Rolling — Roll the remaining dice and repeat from step 1.
Zilch (Bust)
If a roll produces no scoring dice at all, you have "Zilched." You lose all points accumulated during that turn and your turn ends immediately.
Hot Dice (Free Roll)
If you manage to score with all six dice during a single turn, you pick up all six and continue rolling. Your turn total carries over.
Scoring
2 × the three-of-a-kind value
Special Rules
Opening Score
To "get on the board," a player must accumulate at least 500 points in a single turn before they are allowed to bank for the first time.
Banking Minimum
After opening, each subsequent bank must be worth at least 300 points for that turn.
Three Zilches Penalty
If a player Zilches on three consecutive turns, they lose 500 points from their total score. The streak then resets.
Strategy Tips
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Know when to stop. The more dice you re-roll, the higher the chance of Zilching.
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Hot Dice are rare but powerful. If you score with all six, you get a fresh roll with maximum dice and your turn total intact.
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Watch the opening threshold. Until you bank 500+ in one turn, none of your points count.
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Track Zilch streaks. Avoid the −500 penalty by banking when you have a modest score rather than pushing for more.