Yatzy is a dice game for 1-4 players where players roll five dice up to three times per turn to score in categories like three-of-a-kind, full house, and straights. Here is a complete guide to the rules, from setup to scoring, so you can start playing right away.

What Is Yatzy?

Yatzy is a classic dice game played with five standard six-sided dice and a scorecard. Players take turns rolling the dice and trying to fill in scoring categories to earn the most points. The game combines luck with strategic decision-making, as you must choose which dice to keep and which categories to fill each turn.

Originally from Scandinavia, Yatzy is closely related to Yahtzee and belongs to a family of dice games that date back decades. It’s easy to learn, quick to play, and endlessly replayable — which is why it remains one of the most popular dice games in the world.

What You Need to Play

Before you start, gather the following:

  • Five six-sided dice — standard dice numbered 1 through 6
  • A Yatzy scorecard — one per player (or use pen and paper)
  • A pen or pencil — for recording scores
  • A flat surface — a table or tray to roll on
  • 2 or more players — though solo Yatzy is also enjoyable

If you’re playing online, all of this is handled for you automatically.

Turn Structure — How a Turn Works

Each turn in Yatzy follows the same three-step process:

Step 1: First Roll

Roll all five dice. Look at the result and decide which dice you want to keep (if any) and which you want to re-roll.

Step 2: Second Roll (Optional)

Set aside the dice you want to keep and re-roll the rest. You can keep any number of dice — all five, none, or anything in between. You can also pick up dice you previously set aside.

Step 3: Third Roll (Optional)

You may re-roll once more using the same rules as Step 2. After this roll, your turn ends.

Scoring

After your rolls are complete (whether you used one, two, or all three rolls), you must assign your result to one unused category on your scorecard. You score points based on that category’s rules, or zero if your dice don’t meet the category requirements.

The Scorecard — All 15 Categories

The Yatzy scorecard is divided into two sections: the Upper Section and the Lower Section.

Upper Section

Category How to Score Example Points
Ones Sum of all dice showing 1 1-1-1-3-5 3
Twos Sum of all dice showing 2 2-2-4-5-6 4
Threes Sum of all dice showing 3 3-3-3-3-1 12
Fours Sum of all dice showing 4 4-4-2-6-1 8
Fives Sum of all dice showing 5 5-5-5-2-3 15
Sixes Sum of all dice showing 6 6-6-6-6-2 24

Upper Section Bonus: If the sum of your upper section scores is 63 or higher, you earn a bonus of 50 points. This is a crucial part of the game and a major strategic consideration.

To reach 63, you need to average three of each number across the upper section (3×1 + 3×2 + 3×3 + 3×4 + 3×5 + 3×6 = 63).

Lower Section

Category Requirement Points
One Pair Two dice showing the same number Sum of the pair
Two Pairs Two different pairs Sum of both pairs
Three of a Kind Three dice showing the same number Sum of those three dice
Four of a Kind Four dice showing the same number Sum of those four dice
Small Straight 1-2-3-4-5 15 points (fixed)
Large Straight 2-3-4-5-6 20 points (fixed)
Full House One pair + three of a kind Sum of all five dice
Chance Any combination Sum of all five dice
Yatzy All five dice the same 50 points (fixed)

Scoring Examples

Let’s walk through a few scoring examples to make the rules concrete:

Example 1: You roll 3-3-3-5-5.

  • You could score 9 in Threes (3+3+3)
  • You could score 10 in Fives (5+5)
  • You could score 19 as a Full House (3+3+3+5+5)
  • You could score 19 in Chance (sum of all dice)

Example 2: You roll 1-2-3-4-5.

  • This is a Small Straight worth 15 points
  • You could also score individual numbers in the upper section

Example 3: You roll 4-4-4-4-2.

  • Four of a Kind scores 16 (4+4+4+4)
  • Three of a Kind scores 12 (4+4+4)
  • One Pair scores 8 (4+4)
  • Fours in the upper section scores 16 (4+4+4+4)

How to Win

The player with the highest total score at the end of the game wins. Your total score is the sum of:

  1. All upper section category scores
  2. The upper section bonus (if earned)
  3. All lower section category scores

A typical winning score varies depending on luck and skill, but here’s a rough guide:

Score Range Skill Level
Under 150 Beginner / Unlucky
150–200 Average
200–250 Good
250–300 Very Good
300+ Excellent

Key Rules to Remember

  1. You must fill a category every turn — even if it means scoring zero
  2. Each category can only be used once — choose wisely
  3. You can stop rolling early — if you like your first or second roll, you don’t have to use all three rolls
  4. You can re-roll any dice — including ones you previously kept
  5. The upper section bonus matters — always keep the 63-point threshold in mind
  6. Order doesn’t matter — you can fill categories in any order throughout the game

Tips for Your First Game

  • Don’t chase Yatzy too hard — five of a kind is rare, and wasting turns trying for it can cost you
  • Prioritize the upper section bonus — that extra 50 points often decides games
  • Use Chance strategically — it’s a safety net for turns when nothing else fits well
  • Watch what’s left on your scorecard — as the game progresses, your options narrow
  • Have fun — Yatzy is meant to be social and enjoyable; the strategy will come with experience

Quick Reference — Turn Checklist

  1. Roll all five dice
  2. Choose which dice to keep
  3. Re-roll remaining dice (optional, up to 2 more times)
  4. Pick an unused scoring category
  5. Record your score (or zero)
  6. Pass the dice to the next player

That’s it — you now know everything you need to play your first game of Yatzy. The best way to learn is to play, so grab some dice and start rolling!

Ready to play? Try Yatzy for free on Rare Pike — no download needed.