In Yahtzee, each player rolls five dice up to three times a turn, then writes a score in one of 13 boxes on the score card. The game lasts 13 rounds, so every box gets filled once, even if you have to write a zero. The highest grand total wins. A Yahtzee (five of a kind) scores 50 points, and every extra Yahtzee after that earns a 100-point bonus.
This guide follows Hasbro’s official rulebook for the classic game (product C2406). It covers every scoring box, the 35-point upper bonus and the Yahtzee bonus. It also explains the part most players get wrong: where to score an extra Yahtzee, which people call the “Joker rule”.
- Players: 2 or more, ages 8 and up
- Equipment: 5 dice, a shaker and a score card
- Turn: up to 3 rolls, then fill exactly 1 box
- Game length: 13 rounds (one for each box)
- Upper bonus: 35 points for 63 or more in the upper section
- Yahtzee bonus: 100 points for each extra Yahtzee
How to play Yahtzee
Each player rolls one die to decide who starts. The highest roller goes first, and play moves clockwise. Write each player’s name at the top of a score card column.
- First roll: roll all five dice. If you already have the combination you want, you can score it straight away.
- Second roll: set aside any dice you want to keep, and re-roll the rest. You can also re-roll all five.
- Third roll: re-roll any dice again, even ones you kept before.
- Score: after your last roll, you must fill one empty box. If your dice don’t fit any box you want, you have to write a zero in one of them.
You can fill the boxes in any order, but each box can be used only once.
Yahtzee scoring: the upper section
The upper section has six boxes: Aces (ones), Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives and Sixes. In each one, you add up only the dice that show that number. For example, three 3s score 9 in the Threes box, and two 1s score 2 in the Aces box.
Upper bonus: if your six upper boxes add up to 63 or more, you get 35 bonus points. The easy way to think about it: 63 is what you get with three of each number (3 + 6 + 9 + 12 + 15 + 18).
Yahtzee scoring: the lower section
| Box | What you need | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Three of a Kind | At least 3 dice the same | Total of all 5 dice |
| Four of a Kind | At least 4 dice the same | Total of all 5 dice |
| Full House | Three of a kind plus a pair | 25 |
| Small Straight | 4 numbers in a row (e.g. 1-2-3-4) | 30 |
| Large Straight | 5 numbers in a row (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6) | 40 |
| Yahtzee | All 5 dice the same | 50 |
| Chance | Any dice | Total of all 5 dice |
Two useful details from the rulebook: a Large Straight roll can be scored as a Small Straight if you’ve already used your Large Straight box, and Chance works as a safety net for a roll that fits nowhere else.
The Yahtzee bonus and the Joker rule
If you roll another Yahtzee after you have already scored 50 in your Yahtzee box, you get a 100-point bonus. Mark an X in the Yahtzee bonus box. You must also fill one empty box with that roll, in this order:
- The matching upper box first. For five 4s, score 20 in the Fours box, if it’s empty.
- If that box is full, score the total of the five dice in Three of a Kind or Four of a Kind.
- If those are full too, use Chance, or score any other lower box (Full House, Small Straight or Large Straight) at its normal value: 25, 30 or 40.
This “use your Yahtzee as a wild roll” step is what most people call the Joker rule. The official rulebook doesn’t use the word “Joker”, but it describes exactly this order. Online guides often disagree about where an extra Yahtzee can go; the official order puts the matching upper box first.
Already scored zero in your Yahtzee box? Then you can’t get the 100-point bonus. You still place the roll using the same order above. That is why the rulebook’s tip says to avoid putting a zero in the Yahtzee box.
How to win and the highest possible score
After 13 rounds, add up the upper section, add the 35-point bonus if you earned it, then add the lower section and any Yahtzee bonuses. The highest grand total wins.
| Score | How |
|---|---|
| 375 | Highest score with no Yahtzee bonuses: 105 upper + 35 bonus + 235 lower |
| 1,575 | Highest possible score: a Yahtzee every turn, which adds 12 bonuses of 100 |
Simple Yahtzee strategy tips
- Aim for the upper bonus. Three of each number gets you to 63. Four 5s or 6s give you room to spare.
- Save Chance for later. The rulebook suggests keeping it for a bad roll near the end of the game.
- Expect a zero. Some combinations are hard to roll, so plan which box you’d sacrifice. Aces is the cheapest box to lose, since it can score at most 5.
- Don’t zero the Yahtzee box early. Once it has a zero, you lose any chance of a 100-point bonus.
More game rules: the official Monopoly rules, the complete UNO rules, and board games that help with maths.
Frequently asked questions
How many rolls do you get in Yahtzee?
Up to three rolls per turn. After each roll you can keep any dice and re-roll the rest, including dice you kept earlier.
How many points is a Yahtzee worth?
50 points in the Yahtzee box. Each extra Yahtzee after that is worth a 100-point bonus, as long as your Yahtzee box doesn’t have a zero.
What is the Joker rule in Yahtzee?
It is the rule for scoring an extra Yahtzee. Fill the matching upper box first; if that is full, use Three or Four of a Kind; if those are full, use Chance or score Full House, Small Straight or Large Straight at their normal value.
How do you get the upper section bonus?
Score 63 or more across Aces to Sixes and you get 35 bonus points. Three of each number adds up to exactly 63.
Is 1-2-3-4-6 a small straight?
Yes. A Small Straight is any four numbers in a row, so 1-2-3-4 counts and the 6 doesn’t matter. It scores 30.
Do you have to fill a box every turn?
Yes. You must fill one box at the end of every turn. If nothing fits, write a zero in a box of your choice.
What is the highest score in Yahtzee?
1,575, if you rolled a Yahtzee every turn and placed them perfectly. Without any Yahtzee bonuses, the maximum is 375.
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