Centennial Dice Game Rules

Centennial is a dice game for 2-6 players. A game typically takes 15-25 minutes, and the recommended age is 8+.

Rules for Centennial: Roll three dice and race from 1 up to 12 and back again, number by number, before anyone else. Centennial is also known as Ohio or Martinetti.

2-6 players
15-25 minutes
8+ years
3 dice

Setup

Centennial is played with three dice and a simple board you make yourself: a row of twelve squares numbered 1 to 12, drawn on a piece of paper. Each player needs a counter, a coin or some other easily recognised marker. The game works for two to six players.

Everyone starts off the board. Pick a starting player, then take turns clockwise.

How to play

The aim is to move your marker from 1 up to 12 and then all the way back down to 1, in order. On your turn you roll all three dice once. You may use the value of a single die, the sum of two dice or the sum of all three.

To enter square 1 the throw must contain a 1. Square 2 needs a 2 or two 1s, square 3 needs a 3, a 2 plus a 1, or three 1s, and so on up the row.

You can move several steps in one turn by using more than one combination from the same throw. Roll 1, 2 and 4 on your first turn, for example, and the 1 takes you to square 1, the 2 to square 2, 1 + 2 to square 3, the 4 to square 4, 4 + 1 to square 5, 4 + 2 to square 6 and the sum of all three to square 7. A single throw can carry you a long way.

Illustration for Centennial: How to play

Claiming overlooked numbers

This is the clever twist in the game. If a player overlooks a number in their own throw that they actually needed, any other player who needs that same number may claim it and move. The claim has to be made as the dice are passed on to the next player. So watch everyone's throws, not just your own.

Winning

The first player to complete the whole trip, from 1 up to 12 and back down to 1 again, wins the game.

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