About Yahtzee - the dice game of luck and choices
Yahtzee is one of the best known dice games in the world. It is quick to learn, but every turn asks a question: which dice do you keep, and which box do you use? Good choices add up over 13 rounds, which is why skilled players score far more than lucky ones on average.
A short history
Yahtzee grew out of older dice games such as Yacht and poker dice. It was sold from the 1950s and became a family favourite around the world. In many countries a close relative called Yatzy is played with slightly different boxes.
The rules
Each turn you roll five dice up to three times and may hold any dice between rolls. You then score in one of 13 boxes, even if that means a 0. The game lasts 13 rounds, one box per round, and the highest total wins.
Bonuses and Jokers
Reaching 63 in the upper section, an average of three of each face, earns 35 points. Extra Yahtzees are worth 100 points each once the Yahtzee box holds 50. The Joker rules decide where an extra Yahtzee goes: in the matching upper box if it is open, otherwise in any open lower box at full value, and only then as a 0 in an upper box.
Strategy tips
Aim for the upper bonus early: three or more of a face in the upper boxes keeps you on track. Keep Chance for a bad turn. Go for straights when you already have four in a row, and chase Yahtzees when you hold three or four of a kind. Scoring 0 in Ones or Yahtzee late in the game can be better than spoiling a valuable box.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest possible score?
With bonus Yahtzees on every turn, the theoretical maximum is 1575. In normal games a score above 250 is excellent, and even perfect play averages only about 254.
What is the difference between Yahtzee and Yatzy?
Yatzy has a one pair and two pairs box, fixed straights and a 50-point bonus for 63 in the upper section, and no Yahtzee bonus or Joker rules.
What happens if I roll a Yahtzee with the Yahtzee box at 0?
You get no 100-point bonus, but the Joker rules still apply, so you can use the dice as a Joker.
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