How to Play Yahtzee
Yahtzee is played with five dice and a scorecard. On your turn you get up to three rolls, keeping the dice you like between rolls, then choose one of thirteen categories to score.
The catch: each category can be used only once, so a great roll for a category you’ve already filled forces a tough decision — including whether to take a zero.
Last reviewed 2026-07-27
What's in the box
- 5 six-sided dice
- A dice cup
- A pad of Yahtzee scorecards
Setup
- Give each player a scorecard and a pencil.
- Decide play order — highest single roll usually goes first.
- Each round, every player takes one turn.
- Play lasts 13 rounds, one for each scoring category.
How to play — the rules
Three rolls a turn
Roll all five dice. You may then set any dice aside and reroll the rest, and do so once more — up to three rolls total. You can stop after the first or second roll if you’re happy.
After your final roll you must choose exactly one unused category to record, even if it means scoring zero there.
Upper section
- Ones through Sixes — score the sum of the dice showing that number.
- Upper bonus — if your upper section totals 63 or more, add a 35-point bonus (that’s roughly three of each number).
Lower section
- Three of a Kind — at least three matching dice; score the total of all five dice.
- Four of a Kind — at least four matching dice; score the total of all five dice.
- Full House — three of one number and two of another; score 25.
- Small Straight — four dice in sequence; score 30.
- Large Straight — five dice in sequence; score 40.
- Yahtzee — all five dice the same; score 50.
- Chance — any five dice; score their total.
Yahtzee bonuses and jokers
If you’ve already scored a 50 in the Yahtzee box, each additional Yahtzee earns a 100-point bonus. You then place it using the joker rules — ideally in the matching upper box, or a lower category if that’s taken.
If your first Yahtzee is scored as a zero, you don’t collect the 100-point bonuses for later ones.
A turn, step by step
- Roll all five dice.
- Keep the dice you want and reroll the rest — up to two more times.
- Choose one unused category and record its score (or a zero).
- Pass the dice to the next player.
How to win
After 13 rounds every category on each card is filled. Add the upper section (plus the 35-point bonus if earned), the lower section, and any Yahtzee bonuses.
The player with the highest grand total wins.
Strategy tips
- Chase the upper bonus early: banking three of each number gets you the 35-point cushion that decides close games.
- Use Chance as a safety net for a mediocre roll rather than wasting a valuable category.
- When forced to zero something, sacrifice a hard category like Yahtzee or Large Straight rather than an easy-to-fill one.
- Hold pairs and straights-in-progress between rolls — don’t break a promising four-in-a-row for one big number.
- Track what you still need; late in the game, the “best” roll is the one that fills your riskiest remaining box.
Frequently asked questions
How many times can you roll the dice in Yahtzee?
Up to three times per turn. After the first roll you may set aside any dice and reroll the rest twice more, stopping early whenever you like.
How do you get the Yahtzee bonus?
If you’ve already scored 50 in the Yahtzee box, every extra Yahtzee you roll is worth a 100-point bonus, then placed using the joker rules. A zero in the Yahtzee box cancels those bonuses.
What is the upper section bonus?
If your Ones-through-Sixes total reaches 63 or more, you add a flat 35-point bonus — a major swing worth planning your early turns around.
Do you have to fill a category every turn?
Yes. After your final roll you must record a score in one unused category, even if the only option left is to write a zero.
House-rule ideas
- Triple Yahtzee: play three columns at once for a longer, higher-scoring game.
- Force the upper section first for a more strategic, tighter match.
- Solitaire Yahtzee: play solo and try to beat a target score each game.
Buy Yahtzee Classic
Yahtzee Dice Game
Five dice, a cup, and scorecards — the timeless press-your-luck classic.
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