1. You need 5 dice and a pen and paper for each player.

2. First you need to decide who starts. The turn order then proceeds clockwise.

3. It is recommended that you combine 4 Glass Bead Game boards together, so that you have a good surface to roll the dice on.

1. Examples of scoring :

2. Your initial roll is 2-6-4-4-3. Since it contains a 2, it does not score. Set the die showing the 2 aside because it has dropped dead.

3. In your next roll you get 4-1-1-6 and score 12 points, since the throw did not contain a 2 or a 5.

4. Your next roll shows 5-5-6-3. It does not score, leaving you still on 14 points. Set the two 5's aside.

5. Your next roll shows 2-6. This too does not score, leaving you still on only 14 points. Set the 2 aside.

6. Your next roll shows a 1. Now you have 15 points.

7. Your next roll is a 4. Now you have 19 points.

8. Your next roll is a 5. Now all your dice have dropped dead, you have a total of 19 points on the score sheet, and it is the next player's turn.

9. In your turn you roll all five dice. Any roll containing 2's and/or 5's does not score. Any 2's and 5's are set aside, and you roll again with the remaining dice.

10. A roll without any 2's or 5's scores the result in that roll.

11. You keep on rolling until all five dice have dropped dead (show 2's and/or 5's), and your total score is noted down on the score sheet.

The player with the most points at the end is also the winner.

Drop dead , despite its dramatic name, is a great family and friends game.