Dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah game played with a spinning top called a dreidel. It's a simple and fun game often played with family and friends during the Hanukkah celebration. Here's how to play:
**Setup:**
1. Gather players and sit around a table or other flat surface.
2. Each player starts with an equal number of game pieces, such as pennies, chocolate coins (gelt), raisins, or nuts.
**Playing the Game:**
1. Decide who starts the game. This can be determined by any method you choose, such as the youngest player going first or by spinning the dreidel and seeing who gets the highest result.
2. Each player takes turns spinning the dreidel. The player with the highest result goes first, with the order of play proceeding clockwise around the table.
3. When it's your turn, spin the dreidel. The dreidel has four Hebrew letters on its sides, each representing a different action:
- Nun (נ): Nothing happens. The player does nothing and the turn passes to the next player.
- Gimel (ג): Take all the game pieces from the center pot. If there are no pieces in the pot, add one of your pieces to the pot.
- Hey (ה): Take half of the pieces from the center pot. If there is an odd number of pieces, take the extra piece as well.
- Shin (ש): Put one of your pieces into the center pot.
4. After taking the appropriate action based on the result of your spin, pass the dreidel to the next player.
5. Continue taking turns spinning the dreidel and following the instructions until one player has all the game pieces or the predetermined end of the game.
**Winning the Game:**
- If a player loses all their game pieces, they are out of the game.
- The game continues until one player has collected all the game pieces. That player is declared the winner.
**Optional Rule - Playing for the Center Pot:**
- Some variations of dreidel involve playing for a center pot. In this version, each player contributes one game piece to the center pot at the beginning of the game. Whenever the Gimel or Hey sides of the dreidel are spun, players take or give game pieces from or to the center pot.
Dreidel is a game of chance that is enjoyed by players of all ages during Hanukkah celebrations. It's a fun way to spend time with family and friends while celebrating the holiday.