Dreidel Rules

Guide Note: This page contains a short list of rules for playing Dreidel. Need a more complete guide? Check out our page on How to Play Dreidel.

Fast Facts:

  1. Usually played with Hanukkah Gelt
  2. The four Hebrew letters on the Dreidel each have a specific meaning when playing the game
  3. If a player loses all his or her pieces, he or she usually must leave the game

Dreidel Rules

What You Need

  1. 2 or More People: The more the better!
  2. Dreidel: Dreidels come in different sizes and colors (and can be made from many different materials). There is no standard Dreidel. If it spins and has each of the four characters, it should work.
  3. Tokens: While Hanukkah Gelt is commonly used as a point marker, you can use almost any small countable objects (such as nuts, raisins, real coins, or candy). Make sure to have at least ten for each person playing.

Hebrew Letters on the Dreidel

  • Besides their symbolic meaning, the 4 Hebrew letters that are found on each Dreidel have a specific meaning when it comes to playing the game. Here are brief descriptions of each letter and what to do when your Dreidel lands on them.

Gimmel

  • Action: You take All of the pieces that are in the pot
    • English: Everything
    • Yiddish: Gantz

Hay

  • Action: You get Half of the pieces that are in the pot
    • English: Half
    • Yiddish: Halb

Shin

  • Action: You Put One of your pieces back into the pot
    • English: Put In
    • Yiddish: Shtel

Nun

  • Action: You Don't Do Anything
    • English: Nothing
    • Yiddish: Nisht

Now Let's Play Dreidel

  • Playing the game is simplicity itself. Just follow the steps below:
    • Step 1: Decide how many people are going to play.
    • Step 2: Divide your pieces evenly between each of the players.
    • Step 3: Everyone puts one of their pieces in the pot to start the game.
    • Step 4: The first player (either the youngest or the oldest) takes their turn and spins the Dreidel.
    • Step 5: According to which letter is facing up, the player completes the appropriate action (see above).
    • Step 6: The Dreidel is then passed on to the next player.
    • Step 7: The game continues until one player holds all of the pieces.

Other Rules

    1. After someone takes the entire pot, each of the players is required to put one piece in the pot.
    2. If a player loses all of their pieces, they are usually required to leave the game.
  • For more details and background on playing Dreidel, please visit our page on How to Play Dreidel