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About Pickomino
Pickomino, also sold as Heckmeck, is a Reiner Knizia dice game about chickens fighting over a barbecue. You roll eight dice, keep every die of one face, and roll again, trying to reach a total high enough to claim a worm tile. You must collect at least one worm face along the way, and if you roll nothing you can keep, you bust and lose your top tile. It is fast and funny, with plenty of stealing, and it suits families and casual groups well.
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Is Pickomino Right for You?
Best for
Pickomino is for families and small groups who like quick dice games with plenty of luck and stealing. It is at its best with three to five players, when stealing tiles from each other is common but turns come round quickly. It also works as a filler between longer games.
Maybe skip it if…
Players who dislike luck should skip it; dice decide most of the game. At six or seven, the wait between turns is long and you have less control over the tiles you want.
How to Play Pickomino
Setup
Lay the sixteen grill tiles, numbered 21 to 36, face up in order. Give the first player the eight dice.
On Your Turn
- Roll all the dice you have not set aside. Choose one face, and set aside every die showing it. You may not pick a face you have already set aside.
- Stop or roll again. Worm faces count as 5, and you need at least one worm to take a tile.
- If you stop, take the grill tile matching your total, or the next lower one, or steal the exact total from the top of another player's stack.
- If you bust, return your top tile to the grill and turn the highest grill tile face down.
How to Win
When the grill is empty, the player with the most worms on their tiles wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Grab a worm early. A huge total is worth nothing without one.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to take a worm. Without at least one, your total does not count.
- Rolling again with only a few dice left. The fewer you have, the more likely you are to bust.
- Not stealing. Taking a tile from another player's stack hurts them and helps you at the same time.
- Ignoring the top tile on your stack. That is the one you lose on a bust, and the one others can steal.
Advanced Strategy
- Higher tiles have more worms but are harder to reach. Mid-range tiles are often the safest target.
- Fives and worms are both worth five points, so do not take all the fives early if you still need a worm.
- Look at what is on top of other players' stacks before you decide to stop. A steal might only need one more roll.
- When the grill is running low, take any tile you can rather than gambling for the perfect one.
Variants & House Rules
Heckmeck Extrawurm
An expansion with extra tiles numbered 11 and 13 and character dice that grant special abilities, such as re-rolls or protecting tiles.
House rule: no stealing
For young children, some families play without stealing tiles from other players. It makes the game gentler and easier to follow.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Pickomino is a charming, quick dice game with a lot of push-your-luck tension and a lovely chicken theme. It is light, and the dice decide a lot, but stealing worms from each other makes it lively. We recommend it as a family favourite and a quick filler for small groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pickomino the same as Heckmeck?
Yes. Heckmeck am Bratwurmeck is the original German name, and Pickomino is the name used in many other countries.
What is the best player count?
Three to five. With more players it still works, but you wait longer between turns.
Who designed it?
Reiner Knizia, one of the best-known designers in the hobby. It is published by Zoch.