Yahtzee Guide: Rules, Scoring, Bonuses & Strategy
Yahtzee
Roll five dice up to three times, lock in one score category each turn and chase the highest total across 13 rounds.
Yahtzee combines push-your-luck dice rolling with a fixed scorecard. Every turn ends with exactly one empty scoring box filled, even when that means taking a zero.
Why it matters
The scorecard creates a large evergreen rules surface: straights, full houses, upper bonuses, extra Yahtzees and what happens when a roll fits more than one category.
Game at a Glance
Thirteen Turns
Each player fills one score box on every turn.
Up to Three Rolls
Keep any dice you like and reroll the rest.
Upper Bonus Target
Reach 63 upper-section points for a 35-point bonus.
Yahtzee
Five of a kind scores 50 points in the Yahtzee box.
Rules overview
Roll all five dice, then optionally reroll some or all dice twice more. At the end of the turn, choose one empty score box and enter the result. After all 13 boxes are filled, total the scorecard; highest grand total wins.
Key decisions
Yahtzee is largely about opportunity cost. A strong roll can fit several boxes, so the important question is often which category is hardest to replace later.
Learn Yahtzee in depth
Focused Yahtzee rules
Related games
- King of Tokyo — dice rerolls with tactical objectives
- Can’t Stop — push-your-luck dice decisions
Publisher sources & scope
Facts checked September 27, 2026. Rules coverage follows Hasbro product C2406.