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How to play Pass the Pigs (2026): Pass the Pigs is a push-your-luck dice game where the dice are two tiny rubber pigs. You toss them, score points for how they land, and decide whether to keep going or bank your points before a bad roll wipes out your turn. The first player to 100 wins. This guide follows the official Winning Moves rules: what is in the box, a full turn, every scoring position, the penalties and the Hog Call variant for pig fanatics.
Get the game: Pass the Pigs
The box holds two pig dice, a pig-sty carrying case, a scorepad with a scoring chart and a pencil. It costs about $17 and travels anywhere, which is why it turns up at cabins, tailgates and holiday tables.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $17) · Check today’s price on Amazon
What comes in the box
- A plastic pig-sty dice cup with a lid
- Two pig dice
- A pig scoring guide and scorepad
- Illustrated instructions
- One pencil
Pull the cover off the scorepad first. It doubles as a quick reference chart for every position, which helps a lot in the first few games.
Setup in one minute
- Pick one player to be the swineherd. That person writes down everyone’s scores.
- Choose who goes first.
- Clear a flat surface. A table or a hard floor gives the pigs room to tumble without falling off.
Taking a turn with the pigs
On your turn, toss both pigs into the air at the same time and see how they land. Score the position, then decide: become a “pig-head” and throw again for more points, or stop and keep what you have. You can throw as many times as you dare. Your turn ends in one of three ways:
- You stop. The swineherd adds your turn total to your score and you pass the pigs.
- You throw a Pig Out. The pigs land on opposite sides. You score zero for the turn and pass the pigs.
- You throw an Oinker. The two pigs land touching each other. You lose every point you have scored in the whole game so far.
Pass the Pigs scoring chart
| Position | Points |
|---|---|
| Sider (both pigs on the same side) | 1 |
| Razorback (one pig on its back) | 5 |
| Trotter (one pig standing on four legs) | 5 |
| Snouter (one pig on snout and front legs) | 10 |
| Leaning Jowler (one pig on snout, ear and one front leg) | 15 |
| Double Razorback | 20 |
| Double Trotter | 20 |
| Double Snouter | 40 |
| Double Leaning Jowler | 60 |
Mixed combinations add together. A Trotter plus a Snouter scores 15, and a Razorback plus a Leaning Jowler scores 20. A single fancy position with the other pig on its side scores the fancy position only.
Penalties: Pig Out, Oinker and Piggy Back
- Pig Out: pigs on opposite sides. Lose the points from this turn only.
- Oinker: pigs touching in any position. Lose your entire game score and pass the pigs.
- Piggy Back: one pig lands on top of the other. The official rules call it a totally undignified position, and you are out of the game.
Racing to 100 points
The first player to reach 100 points wins. Because one Oinker can erase everything, a player near 100 often stops after a single good throw, while players far behind take more risks.
Game 2 for pig fanatics: the Hog Call
Play exactly as above, with one addition. Once a player has 20 or more points, they may make a Hog Call when it is someone else’s turn. Before the pigs are thrown, shout “Sooee!” and predict how the pigs will land. The first player to shout gets the call for that throw.
- Correct Hog Call: the caller earns double the points for that throw, and the thrower loses double those points from their total.
- Wrong Hog Call: the caller loses double the points scored, and the thrower earns double.
- Nobody can drop below zero, and the thrower keeps going until they stop, Pig Out or throw an Oinker, as in the basic game.
Tips for smarter pig tossing
- Set a personal stop line, such as 20 points per turn. It keeps you from throwing away a strong turn.
- Toss from the same low height each time. High throws make the pigs bounce together and raise the Oinker risk.
- When an opponent is close to 100, take bigger risks. You need points fast to catch up.
- Kids can keep score with tally marks. It is a sneaky bit of addition practice.
Love games where you choose when to stop? See our best push-your-luck board games and best dice games, or try a classic in our Farkle rules guide.
Pass the Pigs rules questions
What is the highest score in Pass the Pigs?
A Double Leaning Jowler, worth 60 points in a single throw.
What happens if the pigs touch?
That is an Oinker. You lose all the points you have scored in the game so far.
How many people can play Pass the Pigs?
The rules do not set a maximum. It plays well from two players up to a full table, since only one person throws at a time.
