Yahtzee Rules

Objective:

Score the highest number of points by rolling five dice to make certain combinations.

Gameplay:

• Each turn consists of up to three rolls of the dice.
• After the first roll, you can choose to hold any number of dice and reroll the others.
• After the second roll, you can again hold any dice and roll the remaining dice a third time.
• After your third roll (or earlier if you choose), you must select a scoring category and enter your score.
• Once a category is used, it cannot be used again.

Scoring Categories:

Upper Section:

• Ones through Sixes: Score the sum of all dice showing the chosen number. Example: Four dice showing "3" would score 12 points in the Threes category.
• Bonus: If the total score for the upper section is 63 or more, add 35 bonus points.

Lower Section:

• Three of a Kind: At least three dice showing the same number. Score the sum of all five dice.
• Four of a Kind: At least four dice showing the same number. Score the sum of all five dice.
• Full House: Three of one number and two of another. Score 25 points.
• Small Straight: Four sequential dice (1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, or 3-4-5-6). Score 30 points.
• Large Straight: Five sequential dice (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6). Score 40 points.
• Yahtzee: All five dice showing the same number. Score 50 points.
• Chance: Any combination. Score the sum of all dice.

Winning:

After all 13 categories are scored, the game ends. The player with the highest total score wins!

Frequently Asked Questions - Yahtzee

How do you play Yahtzee?

Yahtzee is played with 5 dice over 13 rounds. Each turn, you roll the dice up to 3 times, choosing which dice to keep or re-roll. After your rolls, you must choose a scoring category on your scorecard to fill. Categories include specific combinations like Three of a Kind, Full House, and Yahtzee (5 of a kind), plus number categories where you score the sum of specific numbers.

What is a Yahtzee in the game?

A Yahtzee is when all five dice show the same number (five of a kind). It's the highest-scoring single category worth 50 points. If you roll additional Yahtzees after your first one, you get a 100-point bonus for each extra Yahtzee, plus you can use it as a "wild" for other categories if your Yahtzee category is already filled.

How do you get the 35-point bonus in Yahtzee?

The 35-point bonus is earned by scoring at least 63 points in the upper section (Ones through Sixes). Since each number category can score a maximum of 30 points (5 dice × 6 pips), you need to average about 3 of each number. A good strategy is to aim for at least three of each number in the upper section to secure this valuable bonus.

What is the highest possible score in Yahtzee?

The theoretical maximum Yahtzee score is 1575 points. This requires rolling multiple Yahtzees (13 total - one for each category), which would give you 13 × 50 points for Yahtzees, 12 × 100 bonus points for extra Yahtzees, plus maximum points in all other categories. However, this is virtually impossible to achieve in a real game.

What's the difference between a small straight and large straight?

A Small Straight is 4 consecutive numbers in any order (like 1-2-3-4 or 3-4-5-6) and scores 30 points. A Large Straight is 5 consecutive numbers (either 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6) and scores 40 points. The Large Straight is harder to achieve but worth more points. Both straights don't require the dice to be in order - just contain the consecutive numbers.

When should you use the Chance category?

Use the Chance category when you have a high-scoring roll that doesn't fit any other available category, or when you have a terrible roll and need to "throw away" points in a category. Chance simply adds up all five dice, so it's best used with high totals (ideally 25+ points) or as a last resort to avoid scoring zero in a more valuable category.

What happens if you get multiple Yahtzees?

If you roll additional Yahtzees after filling your Yahtzee category, you get a 100-point bonus for each extra one. You can then use that Yahtzee roll as a "wild" to fill other categories. The bonus Yahtzee can be used for a Full House (25 points), Small Straight (30 points), Large Straight (40 points), or in the upper section for the sum of all five dice.

Is Yahtzee more skill or luck?

Yahtzee is primarily a game of luck, but good strategy can significantly improve your scores. While you can't control the dice rolls, you can make smart decisions about which dice to keep, which categories to fill when, and how to manage your scorecard. Experienced players typically score 50-100 points higher than beginners through better strategic choices.

How many rolls do you get per turn in Yahtzee?

You get up to 3 rolls per turn. After your first roll, you can choose to keep any dice and re-roll the others. After your second roll, you can again choose which dice to keep and re-roll the rest for your final third roll. You can stop rolling at any time if you're satisfied with your dice, but you must place a score after your turn ends.

Can I play against the computer/AI in this Yahtzee game?

Yes! Our Yahtzee game features an intelligent AI opponent that makes strategic decisions and provides a challenging single-player experience. The AI follows optimal Yahtzee strategies, making it a great way to practice and improve your own game. You can also play solo if you prefer to focus on beating your personal best scores.