How to play Yahtzee: Complete rules, setup, scoring, and strategy tips for beginners.

Yahtzee is the world’s most popular dice game — a perfect blend of luck and strategy where you roll five dice and try to fill the best scoring categories on your scorecard. The game was invented in 1956 and has sold over 50 million copies, but the exact same game exists under the free name Yatzy.

What You Need

  • Players: 1 or more (competitive scoring)
  • Dice: 5 standard six-sided dice
  • Scorecard: 13 categories to fill
  • Goal: Score the most total points across all 13 categories

How a Turn Works

Each player gets 13 turns (one per scoring category). On each turn:

  1. Roll all 5 dice
  2. Choose dice to keep — set aside any dice you want to save
  3. Re-roll remaining dice (optional — 2nd roll)
  4. Choose dice to keep again
  5. Re-roll remaining dice (optional — 3rd roll)
  6. Score in one category — you must fill exactly one unused category

You can stop rolling after any roll if you’re satisfied. You can also re-roll dice you previously kept.

Scoring Categories

Upper Section

Score the total of a specific number:

Category What You Score Example
Ones Total of all 1s 1-1-1-3-5 = 3
Twos Total of all 2s 2-2-4-5-6 = 4
Threes Total of all 3s 3-3-3-1-6 = 9
Fours Total of all 4s 4-4-4-4-2 = 16
Fives Total of all 5s 5-5-5-1-2 = 15
Sixes Total of all 6s 6-6-6-6-3 = 24

Upper Section Bonus: Score 63 or more in the upper section and earn a 35-point bonus. Getting exactly 3 of each number (3+6+9+12+15+18) = 63.

Lower Section

Category Requirement Score
Three of a Kind 3 dice showing same number Sum of ALL 5 dice
Four of a Kind 4 dice showing same number Sum of ALL 5 dice
Full House 3 of one + 2 of another 25 points
Small Straight 4 consecutive numbers (1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, or 3-4-5-6) 30 points
Large Straight 5 consecutive numbers (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6) 40 points
Yahtzee All 5 dice the same 50 points
Chance Any combination Sum of ALL 5 dice

Yahtzee Bonus

If you roll a second Yahtzee and the Yahtzee category already has 50 points, you earn a 100-point bonus for each additional Yahtzee. You still must fill a category that turn.

Example Turn

You roll: 3-3-4-5-6

  • You decide to go for a Large Straight (need 2-3-4-5-6)
  • Keep 3-4-5-6, re-roll the extra 3
  • Second roll: 2 — you now have 2-3-4-5-6
  • Score 40 points in Large Straight

Strategy Tips

Protect the Upper Bonus

The 35-point bonus for reaching 63 in the upper section is crucial. As a rule of thumb, you need an average of 3 of each number. If you’re behind, prioritize upper categories over speculative lower section plays.

Don’t Chase Yahtzee Early

Yahtzee (50 points) is tempting but rare. Don’t sacrifice reliable categories trying to roll five of a kind. Take the Three of a Kind or Full House if they’re available.

Use Chance Wisely

Chance (sum of all dice, no requirements) is your safety net. Use it for a high roll that doesn’t fit anywhere else. Don’t waste it early on a low total.

Know When to Sacrifice

Sometimes you’ll have a bad roll with no good options. Sacrifice your weakest unfilled category with a zero. Strategic zeroing — like taking 0 in Ones or Twos when you’re already behind on the upper bonus — minimizes damage.

Straights are Opportunistic

Don’t spend multiple turns chasing straights. If you roll 3-4-5-? after your first roll, go for it. If you start with 1-1-2-6-6, look elsewhere.

Full Scoring Summary

Section Categories Max Possible
Upper (Ones-Sixes) 6 30+30 = ~105
Upper Bonus If ≥ 63 35
Three of a Kind Sum of dice 30
Four of a Kind Sum of dice 30
Full House Fixed 25
Small Straight Fixed 30
Large Straight Fixed 40
Yahtzee Fixed 50+
Chance Sum of dice 30

A typical game score ranges from 200 to 300 points. Anything above 300 is excellent. The theoretical maximum (with multiple Yahtzee bonuses) is much higher.

Yahtzee vs Yatzy

Yahtzee is the Hasbro-trademarked name. Yatzy is the generic, free name for the same game. The core rules are identical. Some Yatzy variants add extra categories (like “One Pair” and “Two Pairs”), giving more strategic options. Play Yatzy free on Rare Pike →