2d6 Probability Breakdown
Rolling two six-sided dice produces a total between 2 and 12, but not all totals are equally likely. The results follow a bell curve, with 7 being the most common outcome and the extremes (2 and 12) being the rarest.
| Total | Combinations | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 (1+1) | 2.78% |
| 3 | 2 (1+2, 2+1) | 5.56% |
| 4 | 3 (1+3, 2+2, 3+1) | 8.33% |
| 5 | 4 (1+4, 2+3, 3+2, 4+1) | 11.11% |
| 6 | 5 (1+5, 2+4, 3+3, 4+2, 5+1) | 13.89% |
| 7 | 6 (1+6, 2+5, 3+4, 4+3, 5+2, 6+1) | 16.67% |
| 8 | 5 (2+6, 3+5, 4+4, 5+3, 6+2) | 13.89% |
| 9 | 4 (3+6, 4+5, 5+4, 6+3) | 11.11% |
| 10 | 3 (4+6, 5+5, 6+4) | 8.33% |
| 11 | 2 (5+6, 6+5) | 5.56% |
| 12 | 1 (6+6) | 2.78% |
Games That Use 2d6
Two six-sided dice are the most widely used dice combination in tabletop gaming. Here are some of the most popular games that rely on a 2d6 roll.
- Monopoly - Players roll 2d6 each turn to move around the board. Rolling doubles lets you take another turn, but three doubles in a row sends you straight to jail.
- Catan - A 2d6 roll each turn determines which hexes produce resources. Since 7 is the most common result, it triggers the robber, making tiles numbered 6 and 8 the most valuable spots on the board.
- Craps - The classic casino dice game is built entirely around 2d6 probability. Players bet on outcomes like 7 or 11 on the come-out roll, or try to avoid "crapping out" with a 2, 3, or 12.
- Backgammon - Players roll 2d6 to determine how far their checkers move. Rolling doubles counts twice, giving you four moves instead of two.
2d6 vs 1d12: What's the Difference?
A single twelve-sided die (1d12) and two six-sided dice (2d6) both cover a similar range, but they behave very differently. With 1d12, every number from 1 to 12 has an equal 8.3% chance of appearing. With 2d6, the results range from 2 to 12 and follow a bell curve where middle values like 6, 7, and 8 come up far more often than the extremes.
This is why game designers choose 2d6 when they want outcomes to cluster around an average, and 1d12 when they want a flat, unpredictable spread.