How to Keep Score in Bunco

If you like shouting "Bingo," you'll dig this game, too. In addition to sounding alike, both games rely on chance and are fast-paced. Here's how to keep score.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 12 Chairs
• 3 Card Tables
• Bells
• 12 Pencils
• 3 Spiral Notebooks
• 9 Dice

1. Assign one player at each table to be scorekeeper for the round. The scorekeeper tallies the two teams' points for the round and rolls first.

2. Wait to begin until the scorekeeper at the head table rings the bell.

3. Roll the three dice when it's your turn. If any of the dice match the number of the round you're on, you earn a point for each one. (In the fifth round, a roll of 3, 5 and 5 earns two points.)

4. Roll three of any kind and earn five points.

5. Holler "Game!" when you're at the head table and your team reaches 21 total points.

6. Shout "Bunco!" if all three dice match the round number - three 2s in the second round, for example. This earns 21 points instantly.

7. Finish the turn that's been started when the head scorekeeper rings the bell to end the round.

8. Let the scorekeeper declare a winning team at the table. If there's a tie, give everyone at the table another turn to roll until you get a winner.

9. Mark your own scorecard for the round with a "W" for win, "L" for loss and a hash mark if you rolled Bunco.

10. Move to another table if your team lost the round. Stay where you are if your team won.

11. Switch partners.

12. Continue playing the set - going from round 1 to round 6. Play as many sets (two to four) as your group determines.

13. Add up your total wins, losses and Buncos to determine winners of the prizes.

Tips & Warnings

• Both team members get a win or loss, but only the person who rolled the Bunco may claim it on his or her score sheet.
• Score sheets should have a place to mark the round, number of wins, losses and Buncos.
• Keep extra copies of the scorecards on hand.
• There are several variations to playing Bunco. Most notably is the way the round ends - some play until a team at any table scores 21, some until a team at the head table does. Another variation involves who moves at the end of each round - some groups have the winners move (except those at the head table), others have the losers move.

on 6/30/2006 Our Bunco group has decided to donate our funds each month to a charity. The women hosting decide the charity. So far we have helped some amazing charities and it has been very rewarding.

on 3/23/2006 We also do not roll for 3's, and if you get 3-3's, we call it a Loser Roll and your score goes to zero. Instead of recording W's and L's, we record points for each round, and also mark # of Buncos and # of Loser rolls (3-3's) through the whole game. Top 3 Winners (total points at the end of all rounds) get a cash payout, and we give 4 prizes to: Most Buncos, Most Loser Rolls, Lowest Points and who has Fuzzy Die at the end (the last person to roll a Bunco before the game ends). Everyone contributes $10-$15 for prize money and hostess provides the other prizes.

on 2/8/2006 When I have played, we do not have a "3" round. If you roll three 3's at anytime during the game, you lose all the points accumulated so far in that current round. If you do lose your points, you hope it is early in the round and that you have some great rolls or a bunco to catch up before the bell rings. An evening of play usually consists of 3 complete games (1, 2, 4, 5, & 6). Winners are usually most wins, least wins and most buncos. Ties are decided with a roll-off.

on 11/22/2005 We play the 6's version. 12 people, 3 tables of 4. You travel with the same partner throughout the evening. Scores are kept individually. We play 4 rounds starting with original partners then switch with others at the table. There is no head table. We role for 6's only. One 6 is one point, Two 6's=5 points and Three 6's is Big Bonco and stops the round. If someone rolls a Big Bonco they get to choose whether they want 3 wins or 1 Big Bonco point. They also get to hold the bear. If someone else rolls a Big Bonco, they get tossed the bear and keep it until someone else rolls it. Whomever ends up with the bear at the end of the night, gets a prize. If no one rolls three 6's, then the points between a couple are added until 21 is reached. All tables go for 21 points. When we have played with our teamate and the two other people at the table we then go back to originals and after that round is done the loosers of that table move. We give prizes with different amounts, for most Big Boncos ($15 gift), Most wins($15), Least Wins ($10), Bear($10) and a door prize($5) for those who did not win anything. We pay $5 a month and host at a different person's house each month. In December we draw for the following year. I love to play and have a great time every 3rd Thursday of the month.