To begin, choose a set of colored dice. each set contains 14 dice. You must use the dice set you have chosen for the entire round. To determine who will go first, each player rolls one die. The higher number goes first (1's equal 10 points and are the highest value of the die, see scoring). The play rotates clockwise. The Object is to win the game with the highest score.

Setting Up
Choose a flat surface roughly 2 feet in diameter. Everyone shakes and drops all of their dice onto the center of the playing surface. Drop your dice gently to avoid the "dice everywhere effect". The dice should land flat and the dice colors should be mixed up. If the dice land congested, spread them apart so they do not touch each other. Bring in the dice which have traveled too far on the drop.

The First Play
Starting with the player who won the toss, the player may use any one die from their set of dice. (Hint: use your higher values first). Stack the chosen die on top of the matching number of any opponent's dice (for example, 6 is place on top of a 6 facing up with the 6 still showing, etc.) Once a die is picked up it must be played. After the player has removed his or her hand from the die the players turn is over and the play stands. Once stacked it cannot be moved or relocated. You cannot stack directly on top of your own color, although you can have two of your color dice in a stack.

The Stacks
A stack can be two, three or four dice high. A stack cannot be five dice high. Stacks with your color on top are your potential points. When a player places the fourth die on a stack, the stack becomes the property of that player and she or he may remove it from the playing surface. The stack remains their points for the rest of the round. Points are not totaled until the round ends (see two ways to end the round).

Rolling is an Option
During any turn, rather than stacking immediately, the player may roll the die they have chosen to play. they must then stack that die no matter what value comes up. If there is no place to stack the die rolled, their turn is over. You may use the rolling option on as many turns as you wish. Do not roll your die into a stack and knock it over, for if you do so there is a penalty (see penalties).

Penalties
1) If a player rolls a die into a stack and knocks it over, he or she loses a turn and must roll a die and subtract the amount shown from their score. Afterwards return the die to its original number and rebuild the fallen stack(s). If the stack(s) cannot be rebuilt the player loses an additional 10 points.

2) If a player picks up an opponent's die by mistake she or he loses a turn. If the player also mistakenly rolls the opponent's die, the opponent has the option to keep the new number or return it to it's original number.

3) If a player goes out of turn, he or she loses a turn.

A turn is lost on the turn of the penalty.

Ending the Round
1) A round tentatively ends when a player stacks his or her last unstacked die. This player should inform the opponents that she or he is about to go out. When a player has gone out, the opponents have one remaining turn each regardless of how many dice are still unstacked. When the opponents have taken their last turn, the round has completely ended and it is time to count your score.

2) When a player stacks on an opponent's last unstacked die, therefore indicating the end of the game, the opponent and the player who stacked are out of the round. the remaining players get to use their last turn.

There are advantages and disadvantages to stacking on someone's last die. The advantage is you eliminate the other players chance to score more points. If you lead in points this strategy works well. The disadvantage is that you are out of the game as well and eliminate your last chance to score points. If you are behind in points, look for another option if possible.

Winning the Game
Stacks with your color on top are your points, combine them for your total score. Use a scrap of paper to keep a tally of everyone's points. Play complete rounds of Stack until a player is determined to have the highest score over 200 points. The player with the highest score becomes champion.

Point Structure - All dies are face value except for the 1 which has a value of 10.

Scoring
Only the top number on a stack counts as points

5 + 6 + 10 = 21 points

"Left over, unstacked dice have no value".

Variations

Try Playing Stack with teammates. Each teammate plays a set of dice and together they attempt to win the game with the highest combined score. Teammates are to have one opposing player sitting to the right and left of them. They are not allowed to sit next to each other.

Optional House Rules:

1) Subtract one point for the following penalties.

A) Players dice falls off table
B) Swearing
C) When player rolls a 2.
D) When a player captures a four dice high stack, all other players subtract 1 point.

2) Four high stack bonus.

Double the top value of a four high stack only.

**Formulate your own rules and penalties.

Stack Official tournament Rules Loresch Publishing Inc. (c) Copyright Jeffery L. Strunk 1999, 1993 All rights reserved.

This is for those who lost their rules and wanted to play the game now and not wait ten business days to get them in the mail from the publisher.