To play Pass the Pigs game, roll the two pig figurines, scoring points based on their landing positions, such as a “snouter” or “trotter,” and accumulating points until someone reaches 100.
Ever picked up those quirky pig figurines and wondered how to play pass the pigs game? It’s a simple, yet surprisingly engaging dice game, but instead of dice, you’re tossing pigs! The objective is straightforward: be the first player to hit 100 points.
Each roll results in different poses of the pigs, with each pose earning you a different point value. The sillier the pose, the higher the score! Ready to learn the specifics and have some pig-tossing fun?
How to Play Pass the Pigs Game: A Comprehensive Guide
Ready for a game that’s silly, fun, and a little bit unpredictable? Then get ready to learn how to play Pass the Pigs! This classic dice game uses… well, not dice, but adorable little piggies! Instead of rolling numbers, you’ll be tossing these piggies and scoring points based on how they land. Sounds crazy? It is! But that’s what makes it so much fun. Let’s dive into the oinks and outs of this entertaining game.
What You Need to Play
Before you start flipping those pigs, you’ll need a few things. The good news is, it’s a pretty simple setup:
- The Pigs: These are the stars of the show! You’ll need two small, plastic pig figures. They usually have a little weight to them so they roll and land in different positions.
- Score Sheet or Paper: You’ll need something to keep track of everyone’s points. A simple piece of paper will do just fine, or you can use a pre-made score sheet if you have one.
- A Pencil or Pen: To write down your scores, of course!
- A Flat Surface: You need a table or floor where the pigs can be tossed.
Understanding Pig Positions and Scoring
The core of Pass the Pigs is understanding how the pigs land and what those positions mean for your score. Forget about normal dice rolls – these piggies have their own unique way of determining your fate. Here are the basic positions and their associated points:
Basic Scoring Positions
- Sider (Dot Up or Dot Down): When a pig lands on its side, with either the dot facing up or down, it’s called a sider. A sider earns you 1 point.
- Razorback: When a pig lands on its back, it’s called a razorback. It earns you 5 points.
- Trotter: When a pig lands standing on all four of its feet, it’s a trotter. This is worth 5 points.
- Snouter: If a pig lands balancing on its snout, it’s called a snouter and will earn you 10 points.
- Leaning Jowler: This happens when a pig lands with its snout leaning on the ground, and one side of its front or rear leg resting on the ground. This position earns you 15 points.
Combinations and Their Points
Now, the real fun starts when you roll two pigs at once! Combinations can earn you bigger points, but watch out – some combinations can cause a zero score:
- Double Sider: Both pigs land on their sides, worth 1 point.
- Double Razorback: Both pigs land on their backs. This earns 20 points.
- Double Trotter: Both pigs land standing. This scores 20 points.
- Double Snouter: Both pigs land on their snouts. This scores a whopping 40 points.
- Double Leaning Jowler: This earns a very high 60 points.
- Pig Out: This happens when one pig lands on its side and other one lands with a different position (razorback, trotter, snouter or leaning jowler). You lose all your points accumulated this turn and your turn is over.
- Oinker: If the two piggies are touching each other, this is called an Oinker. This wipes out all of the player’s points from that game.
It’s important to note that “Pig Out” and “Oinker” end your turn and you don’t get any points for that turn. This adds the element of risk to the game.
How to Start the Game
Let’s get started with the game! It’s time to learn how a turn works, and how you eventually win the game.
Deciding Who Goes First
Like most games, you need to decide who starts first. There are a couple of easy ways to do this:
- Rock, Paper, Scissors: A classic method for choosing. Play a quick round or two and whoever wins can go first.
- Age: The youngest person goes first.
- Random Choice: Write down everyone’s name on a piece of paper, put the names in a hat, and pick one out randomly.
Taking a Turn
Once you know who’s first, it’s time to toss the pigs! Here’s how each turn should go:
- The Toss: The player grabs the two pigs, holds them gently in their hand, and tosses them onto the flat surface. You don’t need to throw them super high or try to make them do a flip; just a gentle toss is all you need.
- Scoring: After they land, the player notes what positions they landed in and calculate how many points they’ve gained for that roll. Refer to the point values in the table mentioned above.
- Choice to Continue or Pass: After receiving their score, the player has the choice to either pass the pigs to the next player, or toss the pigs again. If they decide to toss again, they will accumulate more points, however, they also risk getting a “pig out” or an “oinker,” which will result in losing their turn and scoring no points for the turn.
Keeping Score
After each turn, the player that tossed the pigs will add their points to the running total. Keep track of each players score with the paper and pencil.
Winning the Game
The objective of the game is to reach a certain amount of points. Usually, 100 points is the standard for winning a game, however you can play until 50 points, or 200, or even more, that is entirely up to you! Here’s the goal:
The Goal
The first player to reach the predetermined amount of points will win the game.
End of the Game
The game ends when a player reaches or surpasses the predetermined score. That player is the winner!
Strategies for Pass the Pigs
While a lot of Pass the Pigs relies on luck, there are some simple strategies you can use to help improve your game:
- Know When to Stop: Don’t get too greedy! Sometimes it’s better to stop while you’re ahead, especially if you’ve got a lot of points in a round. If you have scored 10 or 20 points on a turn already, it can be worth passing and letting another player start at zero points.
- Risk vs Reward: You need to decide if you want to continue your turn when you have accumulated a good amount of points. Is it worth the risk of getting a “pig out” or an “oinker”? Think carefully before tossing the pigs again.
- Keep Practicing: The more you play, the more familiar you’ll get with the way the pigs roll and the probability of getting certain combinations.
Tips for a Great Game Night
Make your Pass the Pigs night a memorable one with these helpful tips:
Create the Atmosphere
- Music: Play some upbeat music to keep the energy high and create an exciting atmosphere.
- Snacks: Have some snacks and drinks to enjoy.
- Friendly Competition: While winning is fun, don’t forget to have fun! Keep things light and playful.
Adapt the Game
You can easily change the game to make it a bit more challenging or to suit the crowd that you’re playing with:
- Custom Points: Increase or decrease point values, or add new scoring methods.
- Team Play: Put everyone in groups and combine scores.
- Time Limit: Add a timer to limit the amount of time for each turn and to increase the tension.
Variations of the Game
While the original rules are fun, consider exploring these variations to add a little spice to your gameplay:
- The Piggy Bank: Instead of playing until someone reaches a certain number of points, have a running total of score that everyone is contributing to. The player who hits the total number of points gets to keep the overall score from the game.
- Sudden Death: Change up the scoring method and make it a sudden death game. You could make double snouters an instant win, or you can customize the winning score to anything that you like.
- Target Score: Instead of continuing for points, set a specific point for one turn. A player must accumulate the exact number. If the number is surpassed, no points are earned.
Why Pass the Pigs is So Popular
Pass the Pigs has gained its popularity for a reason! This game is entertaining, easy to learn, and perfect for all ages.
- Easy to Learn: The rules of Pass the Pigs are simple and easy to grasp, making it a game that anyone can pick up and play.
- Fun and Silly: The pigs landing in different positions is inherently funny, and the game is always full of surprises. It isn’t serious, and is great for a lighthearted game night.
- Portable: Because the game is so small, you can take it anywhere with you.
- Fast-paced: Each game is fast, and games usually finish quickly, making this a very good game for parties or other social events where a short game is desirable.
So there you have it, a complete guide on how to play Pass the Pigs! This game is perfect for a night with the family, game nights with friends, or even when you need a laugh by yourself. Remember, it’s about having fun, not just winning. Happy pig tossing!
How to Play Pass the Pigs | a perfect dice game
Final Thoughts
To summarize, players roll two pig figurines, scoring points based on their landing positions. A “pig out” wipes your score for the round and means you must pass the pigs. The first player to reach 100 points wins. Learn how to play pass the pigs game is quite simple. You just need luck with your pig rolls and a must-have keen eye for the various pig positions. Enjoy playing!
