Yahtzee

1 Objective

Each player fills in a scorecard with 13 categories over 13 rounds. On each turn you roll five dice up to three times and choose which category to score. After 13 rounds, the player with the highest total score wins.

2 Taking Your Turn

1. Roll all five dice.
2. Set aside any dice you want to keep. You may keep none, some, or all.
3. Roll the remaining dice (second roll). Set aside keepers again.
4. Roll the remaining dice (third roll, optional).
5. Score your result in any open category on your scorecard. You must score something every turn, if no category fits well, you scratch (write 0 in) any open box.

You can pick up and re-roll any die on each subsequent roll, including ones you previously set aside.

3 Upper Section (Aces through Sixes)

Score the total value of only the matching dice.

4 Lower Section

Important: For 3 of a Kind and 4 of a Kind, you score the total of all five dice, not just the matching ones. A 4-of-a-kind with four 6s and a 3 scores 27, not 24.

5 Bonuses

Upper Section Bonus (+35)

If your upper section subtotal reaches 63 or more, add 35 bonus points. The target of 63 is based on scoring exactly three of each number (three 1s + three 2s + ... + three 6s = 63). Fill upper section categories strategically to hit this threshold.

Yahtzee Bonus (+100 each)

If you roll a Yahtzee when your Yahtzee box already has 50 points, score a 100-point bonus chip for each additional Yahtzee. Multiple Yahtzees in one game can add 300–400+ bonus points.

6 The Yahtzee Joker Rule

When you roll a bonus Yahtzee (Yahtzee box already filled with 50 points), the Joker Rule determines where you must score it:

1. First, score it in the upper section box that matches the face (e.g., five 3s → score 15 in Threes), if that box is open.
2. If that upper box is taken, score in any open lower section box. Full House, Small Straight, and Large Straight all count for their fixed values (25, 30, 40) even though your roll doesn't technically qualify.
3. If all lower section boxes are full, scratch any open upper section box.

If your Yahtzee box was scratched (scored 0), you get no bonus and no joker, just follow normal scoring rules.

7 Strategy Guide

Protect the Upper Bonus

The 35-point bonus for reaching 63 in the upper section is worth chasing. You need an average of 3 of each number, but a bad early roll shouldn't panic you. Two strong upper categories can compensate for weak ones.

Prioritize Yahtzee Early

If you're building toward a Yahtzee, commit to it, re-roll all non-matching dice. A Yahtzee + bonus is worth more than most other categories combined.

Don't Waste Chance

Chance scores the total of all five dice with no minimums. Save it for when you're forced to take a bad result elsewhere, or when you roll five 6s (30 points, excellent).

Scratch Aces Early, Not Late

Aces (1s) have the lowest possible value, max 5 points. If you're going to scratch a category, scratching Aces early in the game is less painful than scratching Large Straight (40 points) or Yahtzee (50) later.

Full House vs. 3 of a Kind

Full House is worth exactly 25. Three of a Kind with high dice can be worth more (e.g., three 6s + two 5s = 28). If you have three high numbers, consider 3 of a Kind over Full House.

8 Common Rules Disputes

"Does 5 of a kind count as a Full House?"

Yes, via the Joker Rule, a bonus Yahtzee can be scored as Full House (25 points). But a Yahtzee on your first Yahtzee attempt always goes in the Yahtzee box, not Full House.

"Can I re-roll dice I already set aside?"

Yes. You can pick up and re-roll any die at any time during your three rolls, including dice you previously kept.

"What if all 13 categories are filled but scores are tied?"

Add up all Yahtzee bonus chips. If still tied, the official rules declare a tie, there is no tiebreaker in standard Yahtzee.

"Does a die that falls off the table count?"

House rule varies. Officially, a die must rest flat on the table to count. Most people re-roll any die that falls off the playing surface.