Dreidel Game Rules: A Simple Guide for Beginners
Learn what each dreidel letter means, how to set up tokens, and how to finish a family game quickly.
The dreidel game is a spinning-top game where players win or lose tokens based on which Hebrew letter lands face-up. Any number of people can play, with each player starting with 10-15 matching tokens and taking turns spinning for the center pot. A dreidel has four sides marked with Hebrew letters.
Akhlah explains in its guide to playing dreidel that the letters stand for "a great miracle happened there," or "here" in Israel, referring to the Hanukkah miracle.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.
What You Need to Start
You need one dreidel and a set of small, matching tokens. Common choices include chocolate gelt, pennies, nuts, candy, or raisins. Give each player the same number of tokens, usually about 10 to 15.
Any number of people can join, so add tokens as needed to keep stacks equal.
How Do You Set Up the Pot?
To start, each player places one token into the center to form the pot. Play then moves around the circle with one spin per turn. My Jewish Learning notes in its dreidel explainer that players each add another token when the pot becomes empty or falls to one piece.
That refill keeps the game moving.
What Does Each Spin Mean?
Each letter calls for a different action. Pass play to the left after your turn ends. Sephardic.org details the half-pot and penalty rules in its dreidel guide.
Outside Israel the fourth side is shin, while dreidels in Israel use peh.
- Nun: nothing happens, and play passes to the next player.
- Gimmel: take the whole pot, then everyone antes again.
- Hey: take about half the pot, rounding up when the pot holds an odd number.
- Shin or peh: add one token to the pot.
How Do You End the Game Simply?
Rules vary among families and communities, including ante size, odd-half rounding, order of play, and winning conditions. Agree on those choices before the first spin to avoid disputes. For a beginner game, use household tokens and one dreidel, then stop after a set time.
The player holding the most tokens at that point wins, rather than playing until one person holds everything.