Dice games
Yahtzee
- players
- 1–8
- minutes
- 30
- years
- 6+
In the box
5 dice · 1 cup · 1 score pad
Box details
- Origin
- Traditional game, with no specific designer or publisher
- Mechanics
- Dice RollingPaper and PencilPush Your LuckRe-rolling and LockingSet Collection
Where to buy it
Near you and online
In a shop
Within 50 km.
Online
Affiliate link: Marquoir may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
The basics
With five dice, each player fills in a grid of thirteen categories, one per turn. On your turn, roll the dice up to three times, keeping the ones you like, then you must write the result in a free box, even if that means scoring a zero in one. After thirteen turns, the highest total, bonuses included, wins.
Checked against the official rules · September 2026
The rules, step by step
Setup
5 dice, 13-category grid
- Five dice and one scorecard per player, with the grid of thirteen categories.
- Any number of players. Each player rolls one die: the highest starts, then play goes clockwise.
How to play
3 rolls at most, Fill 1 free box, Else score a 0
- On your turn, roll the five dice.
- You may reroll some or all of the dice, twice at most: three rolls per turn in all. You may stop after the first roll if the combination suits you.
- At the end of your turn, you must enter a result in an empty box of your scorecard.
- If no box fits, you must cross one out with a zero. A filled box can no longer be used.
- Boxes are filled in any order you like.
- The game lasts thirteen turns, the time it takes to fill every box.
Scoring
Bonus 35 from 63, Full 25, straights 30/40, Yahtzee 50
- Upper section, Aces to Sixes: score the sum of the dice showing that value. Three Fours are worth 12 points in the Fours box.
- Bonus: if the upper section totals 63 points or more, that is three dice of each value on average, add 35 points.
- Three of a kind: score the sum of all five dice.
- Four of a kind: score the sum of all five dice.
- Full house, three of a kind plus a pair: a fixed 25 points.
- Small straight, four consecutive dice: a fixed 30 points. Large straight, five consecutive dice: a fixed 40 points.
- Yahtzee, five identical dice: a fixed 50 points.
- Extra Yahtzees: in the Hasbro rules, each new Yahtzee earns a 100-point bonus, provided the Yahtzee box already holds 50. If it was crossed out with a zero, no bonus.
- That extra Yahtzee must also be entered somewhere: first in the upper box of its value; if that is taken, in Three or Four of a kind (sum of the dice); otherwise in Chance or another free box of the lower section, which it fills as a joker: a Full house is then worth 25, a small straight 30, a large straight 40.
- Chance: the sum of the five dice, whatever they are. It is the fallback box.
End of the game
13 turns, Highest total
- The game ends when every scorecard is complete, after thirteen turns.
- The highest total, bonus included, wins.
House rules and pitfalls
The 100-point bonus per extra Yahtzee is part of the official Yahtzee rules.
- The 100-point bonus per extra Yahtzee is part of the official Yahtzee rules. In the traditional family game of Yams, many tables play without it: decide before you start.
- Classic pitfall: using up your Chance box too early — it is your safety net at the end of the game.
- The 63-point bonus often comes down to a single die. Sacrificing Aces early is rarely a good idea.
Going further
Variants · Frequently asked questions · In the same family · Play with the game assistant
Variants
Extra Yahtzees
No bonus
A second Yahtzee is entered in another box, like any roll.
Second Yahtzee bonus
Official rule: 100 points per Yahtzee after the first, if the Yahtzee box holds 50. A box is added to the sheet to record them.
choose them when you start a game: the scorer adapts
Frequently asked questions
How do you get the bonus?
You need at least 63 points in the upper section, Aces to Sixes. That equals three dice of each value. The bonus is worth 35 points.
How many rolls do you get per turn?
Three at most. After the first roll, set aside the dice you keep and reroll the others, twice.
What if no category comes up?
You must cross out a box with a zero. Usually you sacrifice a low-value box, such as the large straight or Aces, rather than Chance. Crossing out Yahtzee is tempting, but it rules out any bonus for later Yahtzees.
Can you enter zero in any box?
Yes. When no result fits, cross out the box of your choice with a zero. Better to sacrifice a costly box early than big potential at the end.
What do you score for three or four of a kind?
The sum of all five dice, not just the matching ones. Four sixes with a two is therefore worth 26 points.
Why does the bonus kick in at 63 points?
It is the total you get with three dice of each value, Aces to Sixes. Above it, you are ahead of that pace.
What about a second Yahtzee?
The official Yahtzee rules give a 100-point bonus per extra Yahtzee, if the Yahtzee box already holds 50, and the roll is also entered in a free box, as a joker. In Marquoir, choose the "Second Yahtzee bonus" variant when starting: a dedicated box appears in the scorecard.
Can you reroll a die you kept?
Yes. Nothing forces you to keep a die from one roll to the next: you freely choose which dice to reroll, within the limit of three rolls.