How to Play Dreidel: Simple Rules for Kids and Families
Dreidel is the classic Hanukkah spinning-top game, and it only takes a minute to learn. Each side of the dreidel has a Hebrew letter, and the letter it lands on tells the spinner what to do with the shared pot of tokens. Kids as young as four can play with a little help, and a round can last five minutes or an hour depending on how many tokens you hand out. Here are the basic rules and a few ways to keep it fun for mixed ages.
Practical tips
- Give every player the same number of tokens to start, usually 10 to 15. Chocolate gelt, pennies, raisins or dried beans all work.
- Each player puts one token into the middle to make the pot. Everyone adds one more whenever the pot is empty or has only one token left.
- Nun: nothing happens, pass the dreidel to the next player.
- Gimel: the spinner takes the whole pot, then everyone antes one token again.
- Hey: the spinner takes half the pot. If the pot has an odd number, the common house rule is to round up.
- Shin: the spinner puts one token into the pot. (Dreidels made in Israel show Pey instead of Shin; families usually play Pey the same way.)
- A player who runs out of tokens is out, or can ask for a small loan from the bank if you want everyone to keep playing.
- For little kids, skip elimination: set a timer for 10 minutes and whoever has the most tokens when it rings wins.
- The letters stand for the phrase Nes Gadol Haya Sham, a great miracle happened there, which is a nice moment to retell the Hanukkah story between rounds.
- Spin on a hard, flat surface like a tray or a bare table so the dreidel doesn't wobble off a tablecloth.
Frequently asked questions
How many players do you need for dreidel?
Two or more. It works best with three to six players so turns come around quickly.
What do you use for dreidel tokens?
Chocolate gelt is traditional, but any small item works: coins, buttons, candy or beans.
How does dreidel end?
Traditionally when one player has all the tokens. Most families just play to a time limit or until the gelt gets eaten.