How to Play Yahtzee

Objective of the Game

Get as high a score as possible!

How to Play

Playing the Game
The basic idea of the game is that you have five six-sided dice to roll three times to achieve the best value possible on each turn. There are 13 different scoring boxes and the game does not end until all 13 are filled. Different boxes require different combinations of dice (see the section on Scoring the Game below) to get good scores.

Each turn consists of 3 rolls of the dice. At the start of each turn, the user rolls all the dice. Prior to each subsequent roll the player may choose to hold or release any combination of dice. After the third roll, the player must score the set of dice in one of the scoring boxes.

Scoring the Game
Note: Top and bottom refer to the sections of the "real" Yahtzee score cards.

Row Score Description
Top Section
1's One of 1,2,3,4,5 Sum of dice showing the number 1
2's One of 2,4,6,8,10 Sum of dice showing the number 2
3's One of 3,6,9,12,15 Sum of dice showing the number 3
4's One of 4,8,12,16,20 Sum of dice showing the number 4
5's One of 5,10,15,20,25 Sum of dice showing the number 5
6's One of 6,12,18,24,30 Sum of dice showing the number 6
Subtotal (top) Variable Sum of 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, and 6's entries in column.
If the subtotal >= 53, the user will receive a bonus of 35 points.
Bonus (35) 0 or 35 If the Subtotal (top) for this column is greater than or equal to 63 you receive a 35 point Bonus for this column.
Total (top) Variable Sum of Subtotal (top) and Bonus (35) items in column multiplied by Column Number (1,2 or 3)

Bottom Section
3 of a Kind Variable Scores the sum of all of the dice but only if three (or more) of the dice show the same number (like three 6's and any other two numbers showing); otherwise ZERO.
4 of a Kind Variable Scores the sum of all of the dice but only if four (or more) of the dice show the same number (like four 5's and any other number showing); otherwise ZERO.
Full House 25 Scores 25 points if and only if 3 dice match (like a 3 of a Kind) and also the other two dice match (example: three 3's and two 4's); otherwise ZERO.
Small Straight 30 Scores 30 points if you have a sequence of four numbers in a row (the remaining die can be anything) (one of 1-2-3-4 or 2-3-4-5 or 3-4-5-6); otherwise ZERO.
Large Straight 40 Scores 40 points if you have a sequence of five numbers in a row (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6); otherwise ZERO.
Yahtzee 50 Scores 50 points if and only if all of the dice show the same number (like five 2's); otherwise ZERO.
Chance Variable Scores the sum of all of the dice.
Yahtzee Bonus 100 * N Score 100 points per EXTRA Yahtzee legitimately used in this column. Maximum of three.
Subtotal (bottom) Variable Sum of Bottom Section (including Yahtzee Bonus box) entries in this column.
TOTAL Variable Sum of Subtotal (top) and Subtotal (bottom) for this column.
TOTAL Variable Sum of top and bottom entries.

Scoring Notes:
1) Yahtzees may be used to score in the top (for that face value) or in any space in the bottom area except for the straights.

Row	Score	Description
Top Section
1's	One of 1,2,3,4,5	Sum of dice showing the number 1
2's	One of 2,4,6,8,10	Sum of dice showing the number 2
3's	One of 3,6,9,12,15	Sum of dice showing the number 3
4's	One of 4,8,12,16,20	Sum of dice showing the number 4
5's	One of 5,10,15,20,25	Sum of dice showing the number 5
6's	One of 6,12,18,24,30	Sum of dice showing the number 6
Subtotal (top)	Variable	Sum of 1's, 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, and 6's entries in column. If the subtotal >= 53, the user will receive a bonus of 35 points.
Bonus (35)	0 or 35	If the Subtotal (top) for this column is greater than or equal to 63 you receive a 35 point Bonus for this column.
Total (top)	Variable	Sum of Subtotal (top) and Bonus (35) items in column multiplied by Column Number (1,2 or 3)
Bottom Section
3 of a Kind	Variable	Scores the sum of all of the dice but only if three (or more) of the dice show the same number (like three 6's and any other two numbers showing); otherwise ZERO.
4 of a Kind	Variable	Scores the sum of all of the dice but only if four (or more) of the dice show the same number (like four 5's and any other number showing); otherwise ZERO.
Full House	25	Scores 25 points if and only if 3 dice match (like a 3 of a Kind) and also the other two dice match (example: three 3's and two 4's); otherwise ZERO.
Small Straight	30	Scores 30 points if you have a sequence of four numbers in a row (the remaining die can be anything) (one of 1-2-3-4 or 2-3-4-5 or 3-4-5-6); otherwise ZERO.
Large Straight	40	Scores 40 points if you have a sequence of five numbers in a row (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6); otherwise ZERO.
Yahtzee	50	Scores 50 points if and only if all of the dice show the same number (like five 2's); otherwise ZERO.
Chance	Variable	Scores the sum of all of the dice.
Yahtzee Bonus	100 * N	Score 100 points per EXTRA Yahtzee legitimately used in this column. Maximum of three.
Subtotal (bottom)	Variable	Sum of Bottom Section (including Yahtzee Bonus box) entries in this column.
TOTAL	Variable	Sum of Subtotal (top) and Subtotal (bottom) for this column.
TOTAL	Variable	Sum of top and bottom entries.
Scoring Notes: 1) Yahtzees may be used to score in the top (for that face value) or in any space in the bottom area except for the straights.