How to Play Yahtzee
Master the classic dice game that has entertained families for generations
Game Objective
Score the highest total by rolling five dice to make specific combinations. Unlike push-your-luck games like Farkle or Zombie Dice, Yahtzee uses a structured scorecard with 13 categories. Each category can only be used once, so strategic decisions matter more than in simpler games like Pig or Bunco.
Basic Gameplay
Scoring Categories
Upper Section
Lower Section
Winning Strategies
Upper Section Focus
Aim for the 63-point bonus by averaging 3 of each number (3×6=18 per category). This guaranteed scoring approach differs from the risk-taking in Farkle or Zombie Dice where you might lose everything.
Go for Full House
Full Houses (25 points) are easier to achieve than Large Straights (40 points) and more reliable than hoping for Yahtzee. This calculated approach contrasts with the pure luck elements in Left Center Right or Bunco.
Yahtzee Hunting
When you have 3 or 4 of a kind, consider going for Yahtzee (50 points). The risk-reward calculation is similar to deciding when to stop in Pig or when to bank points in Farkle, but with fixed scoring.
Use Chance Wisely
Save Chance as a backup for poor rolls. Unlike games like Craps where you can't control outcomes, Yahtzee lets you salvage bad turns by using Chance or taking a zero in a difficult category.
Category Timing
Fill easier categories early and save harder ones for when you have good rolls. This planning element makes Yahtzee more strategic than pure chance games like Left Center Right but less complex than bluffing games like Liar's Dice.
Risk Management
Sometimes take a zero in a category rather than waste a good roll. This strategic sacrifice is unique to Yahtzee - other games like King of Tokyo or Elder Sign don't force you to "waste" good results.
Example Scenarios
Three 3s Rolled
Options: Score in "Threes" (9 points), "3 of a Kind" (15 points), or "Chance" (15 points). Best choice: 3 of a Kind for maximum points.
Large Straight
Perfect! This is a Large Straight worth 40 points. Unlike the flexible scoring in Farkle, this has a fixed high value.
Full House
Excellent! Three 4s and two 2s make a Full House worth 25 points. This combination is more reliable than hoping for Yahtzee.