3 min read

How to Play Yahtzee Rules for rulebook haters

I hate reading rulebooks and compiled this How to Play Yahtzee Rules guide to get games started fast without the hassle of lengthy rulebooks.

What is the goal?

  • Goal: Obtain the highest score.
  • Players: Take turns throwing 5 dice.
  • Scoring: Based on different dice combinations thrown.

Yahtzee Setup

  • Each player takes a Yahtzee Score Sheet.
  • Players roll 5 dice.
  • Player with the highest total starts the game.

Step by Step Gameplay and Rules

On your turn, roll the 5 dice

  • Roll dice.
  • You can roll up to 3 times to form a scoring combination.
  • On each roll, decide which dice to set aside for scoring and which to re-roll.

First Roll of Dice

  • Set aside any dice you wish to keep.
  • Continue rolling the remaining dice.
  • You may also stop and score your current combination of dice at any time.

2nd Roll of Dice

  • Re-roll any or all of the dice if you decided not to keep any in the first roll or changed your mind.
  • After rolling, you may:
    • Stop and score.
    • Set aside any dice you wish to keep and roll again.

3rd Roll of Dice

  • Re-roll any or all of the dice.
  • This is the final roll.
  • You must now score by filling the boxes on your Yahtzee Score Sheet.

Scoring your Yahtzee Scoresheet

  • Score your combination of 5 dice by filling the Yahtzee Score Sheet.
  • The Yahtzee Score Sheet has two sections: Upper section and Lower section.
  • Once a box has been scored, it cannot be scored again for the remainder of the game (except the Yahtzee category).
  • Choose wisely when scoring.
Yahtzee Scorecard

Scoring Upper section of Yahtzee Score Table

  • Upper Section scoring: Total of the specified die face.
  • Example:
    • Roll: 5 – 2 – 5 – 6 – 5.
    • Score in Fives category: Total is 15 (only 3 fives are added).
    • Score in One, Three, or Four categories: Score is 0.
    • Score in Two or Six category: Score is 2 and 6 respectively.
  • If the total of Upper Section scores is 63 or more, add a bonus of 35.

Scoring Lower Section of Yahtzee Score Table

  • Lower Section scoring:
    • Score a set amount or zero if category requirements are not met.
  • Categories in the Lower Section:
    • 3 of a Kind
    • 4 of a Kind
    • Full House
    • Small Straight
    • Large Straight
    • Yahtzee
    • Chance
3 of a kind yahtzee

Scoring 3 of a Kind or 4 of a Kind

  • 3 of a Kind:
    • Requirement: At least 3 of the same die faces.
    • Scoring: Total of all the dice.
  • 4 of a Kind:
    • Requirement: At least 4 of the same die faces.
    • Scoring: Total of all the dice.
Scoring a full house in Yahtzee

Scoring Full House

You have 3 of a kind and 2 of a kind. Full house’s score 25 points.

Scoring a Yahtzee

Scoring a Yahtzee

  • Requirement: 5 of a kind.
  • Scoring: 50 points.
  • Additional Yahtzees:
    • If 50 (not zero) is already scored in the Yahtzee box, each additional Yahtzee gives a bonus of 100 points.
    • Check the bonus box to tally your bonuses.
  • Additional roll:
    • Must score in any unscored Upper Section category.
    • If all Upper Section categories are scored, use the Yahtzee rolled as a JOKER to score any unscored Lower Section category.

Scoring a Chance

  • Chance Category:
    • You can roll any combination of dice.
    • Scoring: Total of the die faces.

YAHTZEE BONUS

  • If you roll a YAHTZEE and have already scored 50 in the YAHTZEE box:
    • Get a 100-point bonus.
    • Take one bonus chip.
    • Place a check mark (/) in the YAHTZEE BONUS box on your score card.
    • Fill in one of the 13 boxes on your score card according to the JOKER RULES.
    • Continue to get a YAHTZEE bonus for each additional YAHTZEE rolled (squeeze in the check marks if necessary).
  • If you roll a YAHTZEE and have already entered zero in the YAHTZEE box:
    • You do not earn a YAHTZEE bonus.
    • You must fill in one of the 13 boxes on your score card according to the JOKER RULES.

JOKER RULES

  • Upper Section:
    • Score the total of all 5 dice in the appropriate Upper Section box.
    • If this box is already filled, score in any open Lower Section box as follows:
      • 3 of a Kind: Total of all 5 dice.
      • 4 of a Kind: Total of all 5 dice.
      • Full House: 25 points.
      • Small Straight: 30 points.
      • Large Straight: 40 points.
      • Chance: Total of all 5 dice.
  • If all appropriate Upper and Lower Section boxes are filled:
    • Enter a zero in any open Upper Section box.

How do you win?

  • Game End:
    • The game ends after all 13 columns are filled for each player.
  • Scoring:
    • Upper Section:
      • Add up the Upper Section scores and enter the total in the TOTAL SCORE box.
      • Enter the 35-point bonus in the BONUS box if you scored 63 points or more.
      • Enter the combined total in the TOTAL box.
    • Lower Section:
      • Add up the Lower Section scores and enter the total in the TOTAL of Lower Section box.
      • Add 100 points for each check mark in the YAHTZEE BONUS boxes (one check mark for each bonus chip).
    • Grand Total:
      • Add the Upper Section and Lower Section scores.
      • Enter the combined total in the GRAND TOTAL box.
      • This is your score for the game.

Winning

After the scores are tallied, the player with the highest Grand Total wins the game!

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