Yatzy scoring determines winners and shapes strategy. Understanding exactly how points are awarded helps you make better decisions throughout the game.

Scoring Overview

The Yatzy scorecard has 15 categories divided into an upper section and a lower section. Each turn, after rolling the dice, you choose one category to fill. Your goal is to maximize the total across all categories, including the upper section bonus.

Upper Section Scoring

The upper section consists of six categories, one for each die face. You score the sum of all dice showing that particular number.

Category What Counts Minimum Target (for Bonus) Maximum
Ones All dice showing 1 0 3 (three 1s) 5 (five 1s)
Twos All dice showing 2 0 6 (three 2s) 10 (five 2s)
Threes All dice showing 3 0 9 (three 3s) 15 (five 3s)
Fours All dice showing 4 0 12 (three 4s) 20 (five 4s)
Fives All dice showing 5 0 15 (three 5s) 25 (five 5s)
Sixes All dice showing 6 0 18 (three 6s) 30 (five 6s)

Upper Section Examples

Roll: 3-3-3-5-6

  • Threes = 9 (3+3+3) ✓ Hits the target
  • Fives = 5 (one 5) — Below target
  • Sixes = 6 (one 6) — Below target

Roll: 6-6-6-6-2

  • Sixes = 24 (6+6+6+6) — 6 points above target!
  • Twos = 2 (one 2) — Below target

Upper Section Bonus

Condition Bonus
Upper section total ≥ 63 +50 points
Upper section total < 63 +0 points

The target of 63 equals exactly three of each number:

$$3(1) + 3(2) + 3(3) + 3(4) + 3(5) + 3(6) = 3 + 6 + 9 + 12 + 15 + 18 = 63$$

Every point above the target in one category offsets a shortfall in another. This is the most important strategic element in Yatzy.

Lower Section Scoring

The lower section has nine categories based on dice combinations.

One Pair

Requirement: Two dice showing the same number. Scoring: Sum of the pair (the two matching dice).

Example Roll Score Notes
6-6-3-2-1 12 Pair of sixes
5-5-3-3-1 10 Score highest pair (fives)
4-4-4-2-1 8 Pair of fours (even with three)
1-2-3-4-5 0 No pair — scratch it

Maximum: 12 (pair of sixes)

Two Pairs

Requirement: Two different pairs (four dice forming two sets of two). Scoring: Sum of all four dice in the pairs.

Example Roll Score Notes
6-6-5-5-2 22 Sixes and fives
4-4-3-3-1 14 Fours and threes
3-3-3-2-2 10 Pair of threes + pair of twos
6-6-6-6-1 0 Only one kind of pair — doesn’t qualify

Maximum: 22 (sixes and fives)

Three of a Kind

Requirement: Three dice showing the same number. Scoring: Sum of the three matching dice.

Example Roll Score Notes
6-6-6-3-1 18 Three sixes
4-4-4-4-2 12 Three fours (fourth doesn’t count here)
2-2-2-5-5 6 Three twos

Maximum: 18 (three sixes)

Four of a Kind

Requirement: Four dice showing the same number. Scoring: Sum of the four matching dice.

Example Roll Score Notes
5-5-5-5-3 20 Four fives
6-6-6-6-1 24 Four sixes
3-3-3-3-3 12 Four threes (Yatzy also qualifies!)

Maximum: 24 (four sixes)

Small Straight

Requirement: The sequence 1-2-3-4-5 (all five dice). Scoring: Fixed 15 points.

Example Roll Score Notes
1-2-3-4-5 15 Exact sequence required
1-2-3-4-6 0 Missing the 5 — doesn’t qualify
2-3-4-5-6 0 This is a Large Straight, not Small

Maximum: 15 (fixed)

Large Straight

Requirement: The sequence 2-3-4-5-6 (all five dice). Scoring: Fixed 20 points.

Example Roll Score Notes
2-3-4-5-6 20 Exact sequence required
1-2-3-4-5 0 This is a Small Straight, not Large
1-3-4-5-6 0 Missing the 2 — doesn’t qualify

Maximum: 20 (fixed)

Full House

Requirement: Three of a kind plus a pair (e.g., 3-3-3-5-5). Scoring: Sum of all five dice.

Example Roll Score Notes
6-6-6-5-5 28 Best possible Full House
3-3-3-2-2 13 Three threes + pair of twos
1-1-1-1-2 0 Four of a kind, not Full House
4-4-4-4-4 0 Five of a kind, not Full House

Maximum: 28 (three sixes + two fives)

Chance

Requirement: None — any combination of dice. Scoring: Sum of all five dice.

Example Roll Score Notes
6-6-6-6-6 30 Maximum possible
5-6-6-6-5 28 Very strong Chance score
1-1-2-3-4 11 Weak — try to avoid using Chance here

Maximum: 30 (five sixes)

Yatzy

Requirement: All five dice showing the same number. Scoring: Fixed 50 points.

Example Roll Score Notes
6-6-6-6-6 50 Yatzy!
1-1-1-1-1 50 Also Yatzy — same points regardless of number
4-4-4-4-3 0 So close — but four of a kind, not Yatzy

Maximum: 50 (fixed)

Complete Scoring Summary

Category Section Scoring Method Min Max
Ones Upper Sum of 1s 0 5
Twos Upper Sum of 2s 0 10
Threes Upper Sum of 3s 0 15
Fours Upper Sum of 4s 0 20
Fives Upper Sum of 5s 0 25
Sixes Upper Sum of 6s 0 30
Bonus Upper 63+ → +50 0 50
One Pair Lower Sum of pair 0 12
Two Pairs Lower Sum of both pairs 0 22
Three of a Kind Lower Sum of three 0 18
Four of a Kind Lower Sum of four 0 24
Small Straight Lower Fixed 0 15
Large Straight Lower Fixed 0 20
Full House Lower Sum of all five 0 28
Chance Lower Sum of all five 0 30
Yatzy Lower Fixed 0 50
Grand Total — — 0 374

Score Benchmarks

Score Range Rating
0–100 Very rough game
100–150 Below average
150–200 Average
200–250 Good
250–300 Very good
300–350 Excellent
350–374 Near-perfect / Theoretical max

Keep this guide handy during your games as a quick reference. With practice, you’ll internalize the scoring rules and focus your energy on the strategic decisions that separate good players from great ones.

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