# Penny Drop — rules

Canonical reference for `engine.js`. Sources:

- Creative Crafthouse (board maker), official rules: https://www.creativecrafthouse.com/blogs/puzzles-games-blog/how-to-play-penny-drop-official-rules-winning-strategies
- Creative Escape Rooms: https://www.creativeescaperooms.com/blogs/how-to-articles/how-to-play-the-game-penny-drop

## Components

- A board with six holes numbered 1–6. Holes 1–5 each hold one penny. Hole 6 drops straight into the box underneath.
- One six-sided die.
- 12 pennies per player (10 for a faster game).
- 2–10 players at the table; this app supports 2–6.

## Play

1. Each turn starts with **at least one roll**. You cannot pass without rolling.
2. Roll the die:
   - **6** — drop a penny through hole 6 into the box. It is gone for good. Sixes never fill up.
   - **1–5, hole empty** — put a penny in that hole.
   - **1–5, hole already has a penny** — bust. You take back **every penny sitting in holes 1–5** (pennies in the box stay there), and your turn ends. The board is empty for the next player.
3. After any safe roll you choose: roll again, or pass the die to the next player (play goes clockwise). Pennies you placed stay on the board, which makes the next player's rolls riskier.
4. **The game ends the moment a player has no pennies left.** That player wins.

## Choices made for this app

- **Who starts:** the rules say highest roll goes first. Here the first player in the list starts; roll off at the table if you care.
- **Starting pennies:** 12 by default, 10 as the "quick game" option.
- **Wagering variant** (everyone antes into the box, winner takes it) is left to the table — not modeled.
- **Computer players:** optional. A bot rolls while fewer than 3 of holes 1–5 are filled and passes otherwise — the strategy tip from the Creative Crafthouse page.