Farkle strategy: bank or roll?
The best decision depends on your unbanked points, the dice remaining, your position and the target. There is no single bank threshold that is right for every game.
| Dice rolled | Farkle outcomes | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 / 6 | 66.67% |
| 2 | 16 / 36 | 44.44% |
| 3 | 60 / 216 | 27.78% |
| 4 | 204 / 1,296 | 15.74% |
| 5 | 600 / 7,776 | 7.72% |
| 6 | 1,080 / 46,656 | 2.31% |
Fewer dice usually mean more risk
With one die left, only a 1 or 5 scores: four of six faces cause a Farkle. With three dice, triples also give you a scoring option. The probability table counts every possible next roll under our house rules.
Protect a strong turn
At 900 unbanked points with one die left, a Farkle would lose 900. The immediate probability-weighted loss is 900 × 4/6 = 600 points. That is the downside only, not a complete expected-value calculation or an optimal-play recommendation.
Your first bank is different
Before entering play you need 500 in a turn, so banking 350 is not available. After entry, banking a smaller score can be a reasonable choice if you want to avoid the risk of losing the turn.
The final round changes the decision
If you are behind with your final turn remaining, banking below the leader cannot win. You may need to keep rolling. If you are ahead, protecting that lead can matter more than maximizing the average score.
Hot dice offers a choice
Six dice have more ways to score, but a new Farkle still loses everything unbanked from the turn. Hot dice is an option to reroll, not a requirement.