Dire Straights

Dire Straights (a.k.a The Runs)

This game is loosely based off games such as Sequence, Mississippi Marbles, and Yatzy.

The game is played with six standard six sided (d6) dice and a score sheet.

Play:

Each player in turn rolls the six dice and scores points for any sequence of consecutive numbers thrown beginning with 1. In the event of two or more of the same number being rolled only one counts. However a throw that contains three 1s cancels out a players score and they must start from zero again.

If a player rolls pointers (numbers in succession) then he may elect to roll remaining dice in an effort to continue the straight. If no pointers are rolled all points for that turn are wiped out and the play moves to the next player.

If all six dice are held completing the straight 1 - 6 then the play may elect to roll all 6 dice again to continue yet another round. If no pointers are rolled, all points for that turn, including the previous straight are lost.

Rolling four 2's at any time cancels out a players score forcing their accumulative point total back to zero (0). The player must then pass the dice and wait for their next turn.

Three of a kind, or triples keeps the players turn alive in the event that a non-sequencing number is not rolled.  As fewer dice are rolled this probability diminishes rapidly.

When the player decides to hold a total of scores is kept and the first player to reach 100 points, wins the game.

1 = 5 points

1, 2 = 10 points

1, 2, 3 = 15 points

1, 2, 3, 4 = 20 points

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 = 25 points

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 = 35 points

2, 2, 2, 2 = Cancels player's score
3 of a Kind = "lifeline"

Triples (3 of a kind) constitute a "lifeline" allowing the roller to continue their turn without rolling a valid pointer. If the player rolls a 3 of a kind, but a pointer is not scored the play must re-roll the dice. Triples, in this case, do not constitute a safe play allowing the player to simply pass the dice and keep whatever points they may have accumulated for that round.

Variations:

Cut-Throat: When a player decides to hold and pass the dice, this new player in line may opt to continue the straight with the remaining dice left over by the pervious player. If this new player successfully rolls a pointer continuing the straight then they assume the point total from the previous player and continue to accumulate points according to play. If at any point the new player does not roll a pointer the original points earned by the pervious player are returned and the new player loses all points for their turn. The dice are then passed to the next player in line.

Piggy-Back: This is similar to the Cut-Throat variation except the original player keeps the points earned from his turn. Then are not "stolen" by the new player. The new player continues to accumulate the point value.

Misc: Other versions are played without the triple 1 rule and with two additional scoring combinations of five 6s scoring 35 points and six 6s scoring 70 points.