How to play Dice Poker
- Your turn: roll all five dice.
- Keep and roll again: choose any dice to keep, and roll the rest. You can do this twice, so you get up to three rolls in all.
- Stand: you can stop at any time if you're happy with your hand. After your third roll, your hand is set.
- The round: each player takes a turn. Later players can see the hands they have to beat.
- Winning a round: the best hand wins. If two or more players share the best hand exactly, nobody wins that round.
- Winning the game: the first player to win 3 rounds wins (or 5 if you choose the longer game). The first player changes every round.
Hands, from best to worst
| Hand | Example |
|---|---|
| Five of a kind | 4 4 4 4 4 |
| Four of a kind | 6 6 6 6 2 |
| Full house: three of a kind and a pair | 3 3 3 5 5 |
| Straight: five in a row | 2 3 4 5 6 (beats 1 2 3 4 5) |
| Three of a kind | 5 5 5 1 3 |
| Two pairs | 6 6 2 2 4 |
| A pair | 1 1 3 5 6 |
| Nothing | 1 2 3 4 6 |
Between two hands of the same kind, the dice that make the hand decide: three 5s beat three 4s, and a full house of three 6s beats one of three 5s. If those are equal too, the highest other dice decide. Sixes are high and 1s are low.
Controls
- Roll: press Roll to start your turn.
- Keep dice: tap the dice you want to keep. They rise up with a yellow ring and a Keep label. Tap again to let one go.
- Roll again or stand: press Roll again to roll the other dice, or Stand to keep your hand.
- Keyboard: Tab moves between the dice and Enter keeps one, R rolls and S stands.
The list in the middle shows every hand of the round so far, so you always know what you need to beat.
Computer levels
Computer players roll the same fair dice as you, in the open. What they choose is which dice to keep and when to stand.
| Level | How it plays |
|---|---|
| Easy | Half the time it keeps dice at random. |
| Medium | Keeps its biggest group of matching dice, or two pairs, but one time in five it keeps dice at random. |
| Hard | Always keeps its biggest group or two pairs, and stands on a full house or a straight. |
| Expert | Works out, for every way of keeping its dice, its exact chance of beating the hand to beat and everyone still to roll, and keeps the dice that give the best chance. |
Tips to win
- Keep pairs, not singles. With a pair, roll the other three dice: you have a good chance of three or four of a kind.
- Two pairs? Roll the fifth die. One die in three turns two pairs into a full house.
- Don't chase a straight from nothing. Keeping four dice in a row and hoping for the fifth fails more often than you'd think.
- Rolling last is an advantage. You know exactly what to beat, so stand as soon as you're ahead, and take risks if you're behind.
- Rolling first? Aim high. Your rivals will see your hand and play to beat it.
About Dice Poker
Poker dice have been played for well over a hundred years, often with special dice showing card faces from the 9 to the ace. This version uses ordinary dice, with 6 high and 1 low, and the hands of poker: pairs, straights, full houses and more. It's quick, easy to learn and good for any number of players from two to four.
Questions
What beats what in Dice Poker?
From best to worst: five of a kind, four of a kind, a full house, a straight, three of a kind, two pairs, a pair, then nothing. The table above has an example of each.
Is a straight better than three of a kind?
Yes. A straight beats three of a kind, but a full house beats a straight.
Which straight is higher?
2 3 4 5 6 beats 1 2 3 4 5, because sixes are high.
How many times can you roll?
Up to three times on each turn: once with all five dice, then twice more with any dice you choose not to keep.
What happens if two players tie?
If two players share the best hand exactly, nobody wins that round. The next round starts with the next player.
How many people can play Dice Poker?
From 2 to 4 on one device. Playing alone, choose vs Computer and the number of players: the other seats are filled by computer players.
Is Dice Poker free?
Yes. It's free in your browser, with no download, no sign-up and no ads during a game.
Updated 8 November 2026