Generala rules: how to play

How do you play Generala?

Generala is a five-dice game for two or more players. On your turn, you roll the dice up to three times and keep the ones you like. Then you write the result on one of ten lines: numbers 1 to 6, straight (20 points), full house (30), four of a kind (40) and generala (50). The highest total wins.

Goal of the game

The goal is to score more points than the other players as you fill in the score sheet.

The rules of Generala change a little from country to country. This page uses a widely used table: straight 20, full house 30, four of a kind 40 and generala 50. Check the table together before you start.

Setup

• Get five dice, paper and a pencil.
• Draw the score sheet: one column for each player and ten lines. The lines are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, straight, full house, four of a kind and generala.
• Each player rolls one die. The highest number goes first. If there is a tie, the tied players roll again.
• Turns pass to the left. Each player takes ten turns, one for each line of the sheet.

How to play

1. On your turn, roll all five dice.
2. Look at the result. Set aside the dice you want to keep and roll the others again. You may roll all of them again, or none.
3. If you like, do this one more time. You get three rolls per turn at most.
4. You may stop after the first or the second roll if you already like the result.
5. Pick a free line in your column and write down the points. Each line is used only once per player.
6. On the number lines, add up only the dice that show that number. Three dice showing 4 are worth 12 points on the 4 line.
7. On the combination lines, write the fixed value from the table.
8. A straight, full house or four of a kind made on the very first roll is called a served roll. It is worth 5 extra points.
9. If the result does not fit any free line, cross out a line of your choice. It is worth zero.
10. Pass the dice to the next player.

Combination values and scoring

• Numbers 1 to 6: the sum of the dice that show the number of the line. Four dice showing 6 are worth 24 points on the 6 line.
• Straight: five dice in a row, 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6. It is worth 20 points, or 25 when served.
• Full house: three dice of one number and two dice of another, such as 4-4-4-2-2. It is worth 30 points, or 35 when served.
• Four of a kind, also called poker: four dice showing the same number. It is worth 40 points, or 45 when served.
• Generala: five dice showing the same number. It is worth 50 points.
• Served generala: five of a kind on the first roll. By tradition, the player who rolls it wins the game on the spot.
• Crossed-out line: zero points.

End of the game

The game ends when all players have filled in or crossed out the ten lines of the sheet.

Each player adds up their column. The highest total wins. If there is a tie, the tied players share the win or roll the five dice once to break it. Agree on this beforehand.

Common variations

• Served generala for points: instead of winning on the spot, a served generala is worth a high number of points, agreed on beforehand.
• Double generala: some score sheets have one extra line for a second generala, worth 100 or 120 points.
• Straight ending in 1: some tables also accept 3-4-5-6-1 as a straight.
• Three of a kind: some score sheets have a line for three dice showing the same number.
• Other values: on some tables, a generala is worth 60 points and a served roll adds 10 points. In Brazil, people also play with 13-line sheets and different values. What counts is the table agreed on before the game.
• No served rolls: to keep it simple with children, play without the 5 extra points for the first roll.
• Dice set aside: in some rule sets, a die you set aside cannot go back in the cup on that turn. In others, you may roll it again. Agree on this first.

Tips to play better

• Do not use up the 6 line with just a few dice. It can bring up to 30 points.
• Need to cross out a line? Cross out the 1 line before the others. It brings the fewest points.
• With four dice in a row, a straight is worth a try. With two pairs, a full house is worth a try.
• Do not chase the generala on every turn. It is hard to roll, and you may end up with no good line to fill in.
• Near the end, look at the other players' sheets. See how many points you need and choose what to go for.

Frequently asked questions