As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full details on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Pass the Pigs vs LCR is the classic dice-night fork: do you want push-your-luck scoring with two plastic pigs, or a zero-decision chip race that ends when one player holds the last chips? Both fit a pocket and teach in under a minute.
Best for a scoring race with choices: Pass the Pigs
Throw two pigs, bank points before a Pig Out, race to 100. It costs about $17.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $17) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Pass the Pigs vs LCR at a glance
| Pass the Pigs | LCR | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 2+ | 3 to 12 (chips permitting) |
| Core action | Throw pigs, choose to bank or risk | Roll dice, pass chips L/C/R |
| Decisions | Stop or keep throwing | None — dice decide everything |
| Play time | About 15–30 minutes | About 5–15 minutes |
| Skills | Risk tolerance, probability feel | Pure luck + table chatter |
| Price | about $17 | about $9 |
How Pass the Pigs plays
You throw both pigs and score based on how they land—sider, razorback, trotter, snouter and the rare leaning jowler. Keep throwing to build a turn total, or stop and bank. A Pig Out (opposite siders) zeros the turn. Oinker (pigs touching) can wipe your whole score depending on the printed score sheet’s sheet.
The skill is knowing when greed turns into a reset. Our dice games guide puts Pass the Pigs next to other short fillers.
How LCR plays
Everyone starts with three chips. On your turn you roll one die per chip you hold (max three). L passes a chip left, R passes right, C goes to the center pot, dots do nothing. Players with zero chips stay in—someone can pass them a chip later. When only one player still holds chips, they win the pot.
There is no strategy beyond hoping the dice cooperate. That is the feature for mixed-age holiday tables.
The real difference: choice vs chaos
- Pass the Pigs rewards judgment. LCR rewards laughter and luck.
- LCR needs three players minimum. Pass the Pigs works as a duel.
- Pass the Pigs needs a scorepad. LCR needs a clear pot in the middle.
- LCR scales to a big circle. Pass the Pigs slows if eight people each chase 100.
Which dice game for a gift?
Gift Pass the Pigs to someone who likes Yahtzee-style decisions. Gift LCR to hosts who want a no-teach icebreaker for guests who just walked in. Many families eventually own both.
Final pick: Pass the Pigs or LCR
Choose Pass the Pigs (about $17) when you want a scoring race with stop-or-go tension. Choose LCR (about $9) when you want a five-minute chip pass with zero arguments about rules.
Table tips
- Agree on Oinker and Double Trotter scores before night one. Edition sheets differ slightly.
- For LCR, use coins if you run out of chips. The boxed set covers about eight players.
- Keep Pass the Pigs on a carpeted or cloth-covered surface. Hard tables bounce pigs off the board.
- Play LCR standing for holiday parties. It feels more like a toast than a sit-down game.
Who usually prefers pigs or LCR
Kids who like animal toys usually beg for another Pass the Pigs round. Adults who just want background noise during dessert lean LCR. If your group already plays TENZI, Pass the Pigs is the closer relative; if they already play Left-Right-Center variants with a dollar pot, stick with LCR.
Keeping dice nights fair
Put a tray under the pigs so they cannot bounce into the snack bowl. Count chips aloud after every LCR roll when kids are learning left and right. A shared scorepad with names already written saves the whose-turn argument.
If someone hates push-your-luck, let them bank earlier without teasing. Dice games die when the table mocks cautious play. Celebrate funny pig landings more than perfect math.
Travel tip: keep the LCR tin and the pig pouch in the same tote. Hosts forget which pocket game they packed until guests are already seated.
End the night with one no-score demonstration round for anyone who arrived late. Inclusivity beats a locked leaderboard.
Wipe the pigs and dice before packing. Sticky residue from cider and frosting transfers to the next holiday table.
Pass the Pigs shines when the table likes little decisions. LCR shines when the table wants zero decisions and loud reactions. Keep both in a drawer if you host different moods on different nights.
Write the house Pig Out rule on a sticky note the first time you teach. Guests remember funny landings longer than point charts.
If a child cannot read the score icons yet, pair them with an adult banker for two rounds. Confidence grows fast once the pigs feel familiar.
Pass the Pigs vs LCR FAQ
Is LCR the same as Left Center Right?
Yes. LCR is the branded dice-and-chip version of Left Center Right.
Can two people play LCR?
Not well. You need at least three for the left/right pass to matter.
Which dice game is better for kids?
Both work. Pass the Pigs needs counting; LCR needs sharing chips.
Do I need both Pass the Pigs and LCR?
Only if you host both quiet scoring nights and big chaos circles.
