A beginner's guide to Five Finger Fillet. Featuring information on the different versions of the game and how to practice.

Five Finger Fillet is a test of courage and coordination. To play this game you place one hand, outstretched, palm down, on a table and then stab a knife back and forth between the fingers, aiming to move quickly and avoid stabbing your hand.

A sequence of buttons (one 'lap') will be displayed on screen. Press the buttons as fast as you can to perform knife stabs between the fingers. You will stab your hand if you press the wrong button or hesitate for too long.


At the beginning of each game, you must place a bet. If you win the game, you take the betting pot. New opponents will raise the betting stakes and the difficulty. Press [x] to take them on or hold [x] to leave the table.

There are 3 game variations: Classic, Guts and Burnout. Each has a different objective. Perform the objective better than your opponent to win a round and win 2 rounds to win the game. 

 

CLASSIC

In a Classic game the objective is to complete a set number of laps in a faster time than your opponent. You get five attempts. If you fail an attempt, the timer is reset and you 

restart from the beginning.

 

GUTS

In a Guts game the objective is to complete the most laps in a 20 second time limit. You have unlimited attempts, but any mistakes will cost you valuable time.

 

BURNOUT 

In a Burnout game the objective is to complete the most laps in 30 seconds with no mistakes. You only get one attempt.

PRACTICE

Prior to beginning a game, you can play up to 3 practice attempts to sharpen your skills before taking on the opponent. Press [x] when prompted to practice. Your best attempts are saved, so try to beat your previous record scores.

 

You can learn the sequence of buttons by watching as your opponent plays. Hold [x] during their turn to get a good look.

 

You can show off your skills by performing knife tricks. Each time you complete one full lap the [x] button will appear. Press it whenever you are ready to perform a trick. You will sometimes perform a trick whilst spiking the knife into the table at the end of your turn if you performed especially well.