Yahtzee Rules & Scoring Guide
Yahtzee is a classic dice game where you roll five dice up to three times per turn, trying to make specific combinations across 13 scoring categories. The game takes 13 rounds — one for each category — and the highest total score wins. Here's everything you need to know to play and score.
Basic Rules
Each turn, roll all 5 dice. After each roll, you may hold any dice you want to keep and re-roll the rest. You get up to 3 rolls per turn. After your rolls (or whenever you choose to stop), you must score in one of the 13 categories. Each category can only be used once per game. The game ends after all 13 categories have been scored.
Upper Section (Ones through Sixes)
The upper section has six categories: Ones, Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives, and Sixes. For each, you score the sum of dice matching that number. For example, if you roll 3-3-3-5-6 and score in Threes, you get 9 points (3×3). The key target is 63 points total in the upper section — scoring an average of 3 of each number — to earn the 35-point bonus.
Lower Section
Three of a Kind: three matching dice, score is the sum of all five dice. Four of a Kind: four matching, sum of all dice. Full House: three of one number plus two of another, worth 25 points. Small Straight: four sequential dice (e.g., 1-2-3-4), worth 30 points. Large Straight: five sequential dice (e.g., 2-3-4-5-6), worth 40 points. Yahtzee: all five dice the same, worth 50 points. Chance: sum of all dice, no restrictions.
Yahtzee Bonus Rules
If you roll a second (or third, etc.) Yahtzee and you have already scored 50 in the Yahtzee category, you earn a 100-point bonus per additional Yahtzee. However, you must still score the roll in another category. If the corresponding upper section category is open, you must use it. If not, you may use any open lower section category — and a Yahtzee can count as a Full House, Small Straight, or Large Straight for scoring purposes (the "joker" rule).
Strategy Tips
Prioritize the upper section bonus early — it's worth 35 free points. In the upper section, aim for at least 3 of each number. Use Chance as a safety valve when you have a high total but no good category fit. Don't chase Yahtzee unless you already have 3 or 4 matching dice. Full House and straights are valuable — don't sacrifice them for risky Yahtzee attempts. Late game, score zeros in weak categories strategically.
Probability of Key Combinations
On a single roll of 5 dice: Yahtzee has a 0.08% chance (1 in 1,296). Large Straight is about 3.1%. Small Straight is about 12.3%. Full House is about 3.9%. Three of a Kind is about 15.4%. Over three rolls with optimal holding strategy, the probability of getting a Yahtzee increases to about 4.6%. The expected score for a well-played game is around 250-260 points.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rounds are in a game of Yahtzee?
13 rounds — one for each scoring category. After all 13 are filled, the game is over and the player with the highest total wins.
What happens if I can't score in any category?
You must always score somewhere, even if it means taking a zero. If no good options are available, it's usually best to zero out your weakest remaining category (often Yahtzee if you haven't rolled one yet).
How do you get the 35-point bonus?
Score at least 63 points total in the upper section (Ones through Sixes). The quickest way: score at least 3 of each number. For example, three 1s (3) + three 2s (6) + three 3s (9) + three 4s (12) + three 5s (15) + three 6s (18) = 63.
Can I play Yahtzee solo?
Yes. Solo Yahtzee is a great way to practice strategy. Try to beat your personal best score. A good solo score is around 250+, and 300+ is excellent.