Yahtzee
Yahtzee is the trademarked name of a popular
dice game made by Milton-Bradley (now owned by
Hasbro). The object of the game is simply to use a
plastic cup for rolling five dice. Each player takes a turn rolling the dice in an attempt to match the combination of the number values ("dots") on the dice with a predetermined combination in order to score points.
Scoring occurs in essentially two main ways: either by matching a poker-like "hand" or by adding up the sum of the value of the dice and scoring by number categories (i.e., aces (ones), twos, threes; etc.). Number-combination scoring is categorized as
Upper Scoring and "poker hand" scoring is called
Lower Scoring. If a player scores 63 points or more in his/her Upper Scoring section, then that player is awarded 35 bonus points.
Note that a scoring category (i.e., Aces or large straight) can only be used once during a game. There is a special scoring category called Chance in which a player whose final dice roll in a turn does not fit into any available scoring category. That player is allowed to add the sum of the dice values and score that turn under Chance; this can only be used (like any other scoring category) once during a game.
A player can keep any combination of dice separate from those being rolled on that player's second and third rolls (if subsequent rolls are necessary). A player can also score points and end their turn early, if they wish.
At the end of a game of Yahtzee, each player adds their Upper and Lower scoring sections, including any Upper Scoring bonuses and bonus Yahtzees. The player with the highest score (often covering the grand total of three separate games) wins.
A three of a kind is when three of the five dice are of the same number value.
A four of a kind is when four of the five dice are of the same number value.
A large straight is like a regular straight in poker; a large straight results when the dice show a sequence of five numbers, such as 1-2-3-4-5.
A small straight results when the dice show a sequence of four numbers, such as 2-3-4-5.
Like in poker, a full house results when a sequence of three numbers and a sequence of two numbers occurs on all five dice. Example: 2-2-2-3-3
The following lists Lower Scoring combinations and their corresponding point values:
Combination | Number of Points |
Three of a Kind | n |
Four of a Kind | n |
Large Straight | 40 |
Small Straight | 30 |
Full House | 25 |
Yahtzee | 50 |
Chance | n |
Note: n equals the sum of the total value of the die faces.
A Yahtzee occurs when all five dice have the same value during a player's turn. Yahtzees are one of the most difficult combinations to have in a game. If a player scores one or more additional yahtzees during the same game, that player is awarded bonus points and given bonus chips that correspond to each bonus yahtzee that a player rolls. Bonus yahtzees are worth 100 points each.
If a player rolls their third and final roll during a turn and cannot match the combination of die faces into an unused scoring category, then that player must scratch out one of their unused scoring categories. All scratches result in that scoring category equalling zero points when the final score is added at the end of a game.