The Original Purple House Even & Odd Dice Game

Scoring

  • The face value of the dice in each row, column, or corner-to-corner diagonal is added together no matter the color of the dice.

  • Odd sums equal one point for the player using the black dice. While even sums equal one point for the player using the white dice.

  • Tally the final score for each player

  • The person with the highest number of points wins!

Take Note

  • Each die does not need to be the same color in the row, column, or diagonal to score points; instead, it is the dots on the face, not the color of the dice, that matter when adding them together and scoring.

  • Players do not reroll dice during a round.

  • All dice must land face-up on the determined playing surface.

  • Each game/round has eight possible points that can be earned.

  • The second player will always have one die unplayed.

For Longer Play

  • When the first round is completed, players dump the dice, roll again, and keep repeating rounds until one person reaches 50 points.

  • Once the 50th point is scored, finish the round by completing the grid.

  • Tally the final score.

  • The person with the highest number of points wins!

Tournament Game Play

  • After each round, the winner moves on to play with a new partner.

  • The person to win the most points after the group's determined amount of rounds wins.

A Harder Game

  • Play as before, but the goal is to force your opponent to gain as many points as possible.

  • And when the 50-point threshold is reached, the player with the lowest number of points is the winner.

An Even Harder Game

  • Play as before, but count points for only rows, columns, or diagonals in which all the dice colors match.

  • In this variant, the goal is to reach 25 points.

Single-Player Game

  • Determine beforehand which type of dice will have the higher score.

  • Roll all the dice.

  • Place them on the grid alternating colors.

  • Tally the score.

  • Did you complete the grid to give your chosen type of dice the higher score?

  • You can also play and only collect points from rows, columns, or diagonals where the dice color matches.

1-2 Person or Tournament Style
Ages 6+ (If you can add, you can play)
One Round 2-3 mins.
Playing to 50 pts 10-15 mins.

Looking for a way to quickly engage and pass the winter evening with his children, The Original Purple House Even & Odd Dice Game was created by Epsom, New Hampshire’s 1892 Purple House owner. This easy-to-learn, quick-to-play game requiring both luck and skill has become a friend and family favorite!

Game Parts

  • One box with attached playing grid

  • Instruction sheet 

  • 5 Black dice, 5 White dice

Set-Up 

  • Remove the dice from the box.

  • Close the box as the top of the box acts as the game board.

  • If keeping score, determine how you will record the score.

Determine Who Starts Game Play

  • Each player rolls a single die. 

  • The person with the highest number starts the game. The person with the lower number gets to choose which of the two colors of dice they will play with. (Black dice will play for odd sums, and white dice will play for even sums.)

  • If you play more than one round, alternate who starts each round.

First Move 

  • Each player picks up all five dice of their color and rolls them.

  • These dice will be the dice/numbers that the player can use during this round.

  • Once dice are rolled, players can not change the face-up value of any die.

Continued Game Play

  • The player starting the game/round chooses one die from their rolled color set and places it anywhere on the grid.

  • Next, the second player places a die chosen from their rolled color set onto the grid.

  • Play continues to alternate in this manner until all nine spaces in the grid are filled.

Purpose of Play

  • Each player places dice on the grid, taking advantage of their opponent's die to create rows, columns, or corner-to-corner diagonals that, when added together, equal the type of number they are playing for.

  • Black dice play for odd sums, and white dice play for even sums.

  • This means each completed row, column, or diagonal with a combined odd sum gives the black dice player one point. Each completed row, column, or diagonal with a combined even sum gives the white dice player one point.