The History
History of Farkle
Farkle is an ancient dice game. One of the reasons it has stood the test of time is the simplicity of both the equipment and the rules. All that is required is 6 dice, and some way to track score, such as a notepad. It requires no cards, the counting is easy, and it can be taught in just a few minutes. As an added bonus, there is quite a bit of strategy to it, unlike some other dice games.
The original game is said by some to have been first played in Iceland by Sir Albert Farkle in the 14th century.
Revolutionary War historians and American history reinactors argue that the game actually came over on French sailing ships in the 1600’s. This historic game - spelled “FARKLE” - was played with five dice and had varying rules and scoring combinations which were passed down in families.
The first printed reference to Farkle is found in a festival directory printed during the time of Shakespeare.
There have been numerous dice games trademarked under the name Farkle. The US Patent and Trademark office list half a dozen since 1982. They are all dead now.
How about the name Farkel?
Farkle - The Instant Party in a Box! The Standard Game, Rules, Dice cup, and lots of score sheets.
Design by
I’m curious about the history of Farkle and would like to learn more. Can you give me a fuller citation for the festival directory that first mentions it, or give me the name of any of the Revolutionary War historians who might know of early printed references?
I have been playing farkle all night and all of a sudden I dont see my score, my tokens or anything!!! What happened?!? Help!!
I learned to play Farkle years ago only it is played with 5 dice and scoring combinations are a bit different. I can’t seem to find my version anywhere. Is there a more detailed history of how the game has changed?
I’ve been playing Farkle since the miid ’60s. A “Farkle” Is ONLY when you don’t score with ALL SIX dice. Any other non-scoring roll simply ends your turn. We never played with 3 pr. or 4-5 of a kind either, that is a kid’s game. Three losses in a row shouldn’t be a negative point score either. YOU GUYS REALLY MESSED UP A GREAT GAME
I play farkle on facebook. I have 36,000 points playing the game and also can play with others now that i have over 10,000 points .
But what do i do with all the other chips that i collect..
Farkle on FB has a serious bug…unlimited rounds!
google farkle to learn more timmy
Sorry tobring the truth to light but farkle was invented buy three stoners in the 1960’s and both versions were used 5 Dice and then eventually 6 Dice in and around 1972 they traveled a good part of the country (USA) teaching many people how to play this game I know I was one of them.
All day I can’t get anyone to play pro. What’s up. No one comes on to play. I have waited and waited and no one shows up. I can’t believe no one played today. I can play Farkle by myself but not on the pro side.
i play farkle all the time i have over 39,000 sometime i can see my self what my score is or point are and now i no where to be found i check all no picture of me at all my friends are there ! i ask friend of they see me and they say yes they can why can’t i see my self ?
who “owns” the patent for the patent for the marketed version which is in the stores? A friend and I went to invention Submission Corporation back in the early 80’s and had a marketing proposal done to which at teh time there was no such game on the market. I still have ll the original doumentation on this and am curious as to who took the idea.
i have played farkle for yrs also but we have called it bones or bupkist…….. i would also like to report that i am not recieving my green dice like it states i would
Not liking the countdown when you farkle, a waste of time!!!
hey i like thes game
yea! to J.Pelosi,but honestly I myself don”t remrmber the 60’s!teehee
Hi everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi you FARKLE lovers………..I just started playing farkle on face book and i love it.I am still learning how to play but loving it
Barbara on Sep 1st, 2009 at 1:31 pm wrote: “I learned to play Farkle years ago only it is played with 5 dice and scoring combinations are a bit different. I can’t seem to find my version anywhere. Is there a more detailed history of how the game has changed?”
My reply: “Barbara, Farkle is played with 6 dice, not 5. The game that is played with 5 dice is called “Yacht”, but sold under the name “Yahtzee” in the United States. It’s OK, everybody gets mixed up between those 2 games. My mom even got mixed up and said that Farkle is like Yahtzee. Her boyfriend got mixed up the same way.”
i have been playing farkle a long time , and lose most of the time, if this is a game of luck , then how come so,,, well hell , you people don’t care if i lose every game i play, its nothing to you , what i’m doing now is about as stupid as the game it self, ,,,, i don’t expect to win every game just enough to keep me interested,,,but that is not happened, i have lost 1103, and won 952, some of this , people just left the game or got cut off, and i had no choice except to win,,lol, lol,
hello i just want to know if i could play farkie on comp with out facebook i am coming of face book and i would love to still play farkle can you help me. or give me a website thank you.:) me
I really enjoy playing the game alot, the problem I have is everytime i have a great roll and are ready to win the game everything freezes up and time expires and i end up loosing so Im to a point of just getting rid of the game and play the other games that dont freeze up and let others win thank you.
My “minus Farkle” will not work on my site. I can use the other two but that one is red and will not load. I have plenty of points.
Farkle on FB is fixed ….1 player can roll 6farkles and the other rolls none…..1player can roll and after reaching 300 rolls a farkle…the other player keeps rolling and never get farkle…Farkle on FB SUCKS
i think that the game is pretty cool except on the bonus round i think we should be able to use our power dice ro at least on farkle… does that make sense?
something appears to be wrong farkel,,, can not get high scores, it just constantly farkels???????
400 chips….im sorry