🎯 Game Objective
Score the highest total by rolling five dice to make specific combinations. Each player gets 13 turns to fill their scorecard with the best possible scores.
Equipment needed
- 5 standard dice
- Scorecard for each player
- Pencil for scoring
Game setup
- Each player gets a scorecard
- Decide who goes first (highest single die roll)
- Players take turns in clockwise order
- Game consists of exactly 13 rounds
How to play
Taking your turn
- Roll all 5 dice
- Decide which dice to keep (if any)
- Roll remaining dice (second roll - optional)
- Decide which dice to keep again
- Roll remaining dice (third roll - optional)
- Choose a scoring category and record your score
🎲 Rolling Rules
You get up to 3 rolls per turn, but you can stop after 1 or 2 rolls if you're satisfied with your dice. You must use all 5 dice for scoring, regardless of how many times you rolled.
Scoring categories
The scorecard has 13 categories divided into two sections:
Upper section (Ones through Sixes)
| Category | How to Score | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ones | Sum of all 1s | 1,1,3,4,6 = 2 points |
| Twos | Sum of all 2s | 2,2,2,5,6 = 6 points |
| Threes | Sum of all 3s | 3,3,1,4,5 = 6 points |
| Fours | Sum of all 4s | 4,4,4,2,6 = 12 points |
| Fives | Sum of all 5s | 5,5,1,3,6 = 10 points |
| Sixes | Sum of all 6s | 6,6,6,6,2 = 24 points |
🏆 Upper Section Bonus: If your upper section total is 63 or more, add 35 bonus points!
Lower section (Combinations)
| Category | Requirement | Points | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three of a Kind | 3+ same dice | Sum of all dice | 3,3,3,4,5 = 18 points |
| Four of a Kind | 4+ same dice | Sum of all dice | 2,2,2,2,6 = 14 points |
| Full House | 3 of one + 2 of another | 25 points | 4,4,4,1,1 = 25 points |
| Small Straight | 4 consecutive numbers | 30 points | 1,2,3,4,6 = 30 points |
| Large Straight | 5 consecutive numbers | 40 points | 2,3,4,5,6 = 40 points |
| Yahtzee | 5 of the same dice | 50 points | 5,5,5,5,5 = 50 points |
| Chance | Any combination | Sum of all dice | 1,3,4,5,6 = 19 points |
Special rules
Yahtzee bonus
If you roll additional Yahtzees after scoring your first one:
- Score 100 bonus points for each additional Yahtzee
- You can use the Yahtzee as a "wild card" for other categories
- If the corresponding upper section is empty, fill it and get the bonus
- If the upper section is full, you can use it for any lower section category
Forced scoring
You must fill exactly one category each turn, even if you score zero points. Choose wisely!
⚠️ Important Rule
Once you've filled a category, you cannot use it again. If you don't meet the requirements for a category but choose it anyway, you score 0 points for that category.
Winning the game
After all players complete their 13 turns:
- Add up your upper section total
- Add 35 points if your upper section total is 63+
- Add your lower section total
- Add any Yahtzee bonuses
- Highest total score wins!
Strategy tips
- Go for the upper section bonus: You need an average of 3 dice per number (63 ÷ 6 = 10.5 average)
- Use Chance wisely: Save it for high-value rolls that don't fit other categories
- Don't chase Yahtzee too early: The odds are low (1 in 1,296 on first roll)
- Fill upper section strategically: Prioritize 4s, 5s, and 6s when possible
- Know when to take zeros: Sometimes it's better to take a zero in a low-value category
- Plan your endgame: Save flexible categories like Chance for difficult situations
🎯 Pro Strategy
Early in the game, be more aggressive going for high-scoring combinations. Later in the game, be more conservative and focus on filling remaining categories with decent scores.
Common scoring mistakes
- Miscounting dice: Always double-check your dice before scoring
- Forgetting the upper bonus: Keep track of your upper section progress
- Wasting Chance: Don't use Chance for low totals early in the game
- Not recognizing straights: 1-2-3-4-5 and 2-3-4-5-6 are the only large straights
- Yahtzee bonus confusion: Remember the special rules for additional Yahtzees
Variations
Triple Yahtzee
Play three games simultaneously on one scorecard, with columns for each game.
Yahtzee Joker Rules
Alternative rules for what to do with additional Yahtzees when your Yahtzee box is already filled.
Power Yahtzee
Includes additional categories and special dice for more complex gameplay.