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Yahtzee

Roll five dice, chase full houses and straights, and fill all 13 boxes for the top score.

Yahtzee rules, tactics & how to play

Learn how to play Yahtzee and how to score the most points across all thirteen categories, then roll the dice above.

Rules & how to play

The goal

Score the most points by filling all thirteen categories on the scorecard. Each turn you roll five dice up to three times, keeping the dice you want between rolls.

The categories

  • Upper section: Ones through Sixes. You score the total of the matching dice.
  • Three and Four of a Kind: the sum of all five dice if you have enough matches.
  • Full House: three of one number and two of another, worth 25.
  • Small and Large Straight: four or five in a row, worth 30 and 40.
  • Yahtzee: five of a kind, worth 50.
  • Chance: the sum of all dice, no requirement.

You must enter a score in one category every turn, even if it means scoring zero.

Scoring strategy

Chase the upper-section bonus

Score 63 or more in the upper section (roughly three of each number) and you earn a 35-point bonus. Aiming for it early is one of the biggest sources of points.

Use Chance and Ones as a safety valve

When a roll goes badly, dump it in Chance or in a low upper box rather than wasting a valuable category like Yahtzee or Large Straight.

Keep Yahtzee open when you can

The 50-point Yahtzee and the straights are the hardest boxes to fill. Try not to zero them out early unless you have no better option.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Yahtzee?

On each turn you roll five dice up to three times, keeping the dice you like between rolls, then record the result in one of thirteen scoring categories. Once all thirteen categories are filled the game ends and the highest total wins.

What is the upper-section bonus in Yahtzee?

If your combined score in the upper section (Ones through Sixes) reaches 63 or more, you earn a 35-point bonus. Sixty-three is roughly three of each number, so aiming for it is a key part of a high score.

How much is a Yahtzee worth?

A Yahtzee, which is five dice showing the same number, is worth 50 points. Some rules award extra bonuses for additional Yahtzees rolled in the same game.

What is the best Yahtzee strategy?

Prioritise the upper-section bonus, keep hard categories like Yahtzee and the straights open as long as possible, and use Chance or a low upper box to absorb bad rolls rather than zeroing a valuable category.