How to Play
How to Play Yahtzee Online
All 13 scoring categories, Upper and Lower section bonuses, Yahtzee bonus rules — and how to actually win.
🎯 Play Yahtzee Free →What is Yahtzee?
Yahtzee is the world's most popular dice game, first published by Milton Bradley in 1956. Players roll 5 dice up to 3 times per turn, strategically choosing which dice to keep and which to re-roll. The goal is to fill 13 scoring categories on the scorecard over 13 rounds — one category per round.
The game's name comes from its ultimate combination: a Yahtzee — all 5 dice showing the same value. Rolling a Yahtzee scores 50 points, and bonus Yahtzees can score even more. The player with the highest total score wins.
Unlike Farkle, Yahtzee has no risk of losing your score — but every turn is a permanent decision. Once you fill a category, it's locked in. The skill lies in optimising all 13 categories over the course of the game, balancing the Upper Section bonus (35 extra points) against chasing big Lower Section scores.
How a Turn Works
- Roll all 5 dice. This is your first of up to 3 rolls per turn.
- Keep any dice you like (or none) and re-roll the rest. You can keep different dice between rolls.
- Re-roll a second time if desired. You still choose which dice to hold. After this is your third and final roll.
- Choose a scoring category and enter your score. Even if your dice don't match the chosen category, you must fill it — scoring 0. This is called a scratch.
The game ends after 13 rounds (all categories filled). Scores are tallied, bonuses applied, and the highest total wins.
Upper Section Scoring
Score the sum of the specified die face. If your Upper Section total reaches 63 or more, you earn a +35 point bonus. That bonus is the biggest strategic lever in the whole game — aim for 3 of each number (three 1s = 3, three 6s = 18, etc.).
| Category | Score | Max |
|---|---|---|
| Aces (1s) | Sum of all 1s | 5 |
| Twos (2s) | Sum of all 2s | 10 |
| Threes (3s) | Sum of all 3s | 15 |
| Fours (4s) | Sum of all 4s | 20 |
| Fives (5s) | Sum of all 5s | 25 |
| Sixes (6s) | Sum of all 6s | 30 |
| Upper Section Bonus (if ≥ 63 pts) | +35 | |
Lower Section Scoring
| Category | Score | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 3 of a Kind | Sum of ALL 5 dice | e.g. 3+3+3+5+6 = 20 pts |
| 4 of a Kind | Sum of ALL 5 dice | e.g. 6+6+6+6+2 = 26 pts |
| Full House | 25 points | Three of one + pair of another |
| Small Straight | 30 points | 4 sequential: 1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, or 3-4-5-6 |
| Large Straight | 40 points | 5 sequential: 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6 |
| Chance | Sum of ALL 5 dice | No conditions — useful as a dump category |
| YAHTZEE | 50 points | All 5 dice the same value |
Special Rules
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Yahtzee Bonus
Roll a second (or third) Yahtzee in the same game? Each extra Yahtzee scores +100 bonus points. You must also score it in a category — either the matching Upper Section face (if not already filled), or a Lower Section category using Yahtzee's Joker rules.
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Joker Rules
When you roll a bonus Yahtzee and the matching Upper Section box is already filled, you may use the Yahtzee as a Joker. Score it as Full House (25), Small Straight (30), or Large Straight (40), even though the dice don't match those patterns.
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Upper Section Bonus
Score 63 or more in the Upper Section (Aces through Sixes) and earn a flat 35-point bonus. The target pace is three of each number (3 Aces + 3 Twos + … + 3 Sixes = 63). This bonus is huge — treat it as a mandatory goal.
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Scratching a Category
If you can't — or choose not to — score any category with your current dice, you must still fill one in as a "scratch" (0 points). Choose wisely: scratch low-value categories first to preserve high-value ones.
Yahtzee Strategy Tips
🎯 Chase the Upper Section bonus first
The 35-point Upper Section bonus is the single most impactful scoring opportunity in Yahtzee. Aim to score at least 3 of each number in the upper section — that gets you exactly 63 and triggers the bonus. Don't sacrifice Sixes (your best upper category) early for a 3-of-a-kind in the lower section.
🌟 Always go for a Yahtzee when possible
If you roll 4 of a kind early in the game, use all 3 rolls chasing the Yahtzee — don't take 4-of-a-kind for a modest lower-section score. A Yahtzee scores 50 points plus potentially 100 bonus points for each subsequent Yahtzee. The expected value of chasing it is usually positive.
📋 Know which categories to scratch early
If you must scratch (score 0), sacrifice Aces or Twos first — they have the lowest maximum values. Never scratch Large Straight, Full House, or Yahtzee early in the game; you'll regret it when you roll those exact combinations later.
🎲 Use Chance strategically
Chance (sum of all 5 dice) is your emergency escape valve. Don't use it on a bad roll of 15 — save it for a roll like 5+5+6+6+6 = 28 when no other category fits. A good Chance score can save a tough turn without burning an important category.
🔢 Track your pace for the bonus
After 3 upper section entries, you should have at least 30 points (average 10 per category). After 6 categories, aim for 63+. If you're significantly behind pace — say 15 points after 3 turns — shift your strategy and don't chase the bonus at all costs. Sometimes it's better to take a clean 0 in Aces and focus on lower-section values.
Maximum Possible Score
The maximum achievable score in Yahtzee is 1,575 points. This requires rolling a Yahtzee on every single turn (all 13 categories filled with Yahtzees or maximum values, plus the Upper Section bonus and 12 Yahtzee bonuses of +100 each).
A realistic excellent game is around 300–400 points — enough to consistently beat a CPU opponent. A typical beginner scores 200–250. The key to a high score is almost always securing the 35-point Upper Section bonus.
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