
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,285
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Tajuto
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2019

Rules assistance for Dreidel
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dreidel is a board game released in 1500 for 2–6 players, 10 minutes per game, and ages 4 and up. Its main mechanics are Betting and Bluffing.
The game of Dreidel is a descendant of Teetotum and a sister game to Put & Take Game. It is especially played by Jewish families, most commonly during the Hanukkah Festival. A 'Dreidel' is a top that is spun to land on one of its four sides. Each side has a letter - initials for the words "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham" (a great miracle happened there) outside of the Land of Israel (Eretz Yisrael) and in the Land of Israel (where the modern State now is) "Nes Gadol Hayah Po". Players put items (typically candy or cookies) into a pot. Each player spins the Dreidel to see what happens... N(eis) - The player gets nothing from the pot. G(adol) - The player gets everything in the pot. H(ayah) - The player gets half the pot. P(o) / S(ham) - The player must add one of something to the pot.
Dreidel supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Dreidel is 10 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Dreidel for ages 4 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Dreidel has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Dreidel belongs to these categories: Religious. Its main mechanics are Betting and Bluffing. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Dreidel as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.