Complete rules reference · Updated August 2026
Yahtzee Rules: How to Play the Classic Dice Game
These familiar category-dice rules are explained in original wording for Family Dice, an independent five-dice scorecard. Each player gets 13 turns: roll up to three times, then score exactly one unused category. The highest grand total wins.
Rule 1
Roll, keep and score
First roll
Roll all five dice. You may stop and score now, or keep any dice and continue.
Second roll
Reroll any number of dice. You may keep different dice or reroll previously kept dice.
Final roll
Roll any chosen dice for the last time. A turn can never exceed three rolls.
Choose a box
Score one open category. Once used, that category cannot be chosen again.
You do not have to use all three rolls. If the first or second roll gives you the result you want, score it immediately.
Rule 2
Official scoring categories
Every player uses each of these 13 boxes once.| Category | Required dice | Points | Scoring example |
|---|---|---|---|
| UpperOnes | Any dice showing 1 | Add all ones | 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 |
| UpperTwos | Any dice showing 2 | Add all twos | 2 + 2 + 2 = 6 |
| UpperThrees | Any dice showing 3 | Add all threes | 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 |
| UpperFours | Any dice showing 4 | Add all fours | 4 + 4 + 4 = 12 |
| UpperFives | Any dice showing 5 | Add all fives | 5 + 5 + 5 = 15 |
| UpperSixes | Any dice showing 6 | Add all sixes | 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 |
| LowerThree of a kind | At least three matching dice | Total all five dice | 4, 4, 4, 2, 6 = 20 |
| LowerFour of a kind | At least four matching dice | Total all five dice | 5, 5, 5, 5, 2 = 22 |
| LowerFull house | Three of one number and two of another | 25 points | 2, 2, 6, 6, 6 |
| LowerSmall straight | Four consecutive numbers | 30 points | 1, 2, 3, 4 plus any die |
| LowerLarge straight | Five consecutive numbers | 40 points | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| LowerFive of a Kind | Five matching dice | 50 points | 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 |
| LowerChance | Any five dice | Total all five dice | 6, 5, 4, 3, 3 = 21 |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Keep these categories together with the free six-player five-dice scorecard.
Three and four of a kind
The matching dice qualify the roll, but you total all five dice for the score.
Full house
A group of three plus a different pair scores 25. Five matching dice can count here only when Joker rules apply.
Straights
A small straight needs four consecutive values. A large straight needs all five values in sequence.
Chance
Any dice are valid. Add all five, making Chance a useful home for a strong roll that misses another combination.
Rule 3
Upper-section bonus
Add the scores in Ones, Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives and Sixes. A subtotal of 63 or more earns 35 bonus points. Scores below 63 do not earn a partial bonus.
Rule 4
Five-of-a-kind bonus and Joker rule
This is the rule players most often need to check.Check the Five of a Kind box
If it already contains 50, mark a 100-point bonus for the extra five matching dice. If it contains zero, you do not receive the 100-point bonus.
Check the matching upper box
If you rolled five Fours, score 20 in Fours if that box is still open. The same rule applies to the matching number for any extra five-of-a-kind roll.
Use an open lower box if needed
If the matching upper box is already filled, choose an eligible open lower category. Under Joker scoring, Full House scores 25, Small Straight 30 and Large Straight 40.
Printed five-dice games can use different wording, especially when the Five of a Kind box contains zero. Use the rule leaflet supplied with your physical game when it differs from this summary.
Rule 5
When you must score zero
You must fill one empty category on every turn. If your final dice do not qualify for a category you want, choose any unused category and enter zero. That box stays closed for the rest of the game.
Rule 6
Ending the game and winning
The game ends after every player has filled all 13 categories. Add the upper-section scores, the 35-point upper bonus, the lower-section scores and every 100-point five-of-a-kind bonus. The highest grand total wins.
The highest score wins. If totals are tied, record a shared win or agree on a one-roll playoff as a house rule before starting.
This independent reference uses original wording for the Family Dice scorecard. Physical game editions can vary, so use the leaflet supplied with your game when it differs.