How to Roll Yahtzee Dice

The fast-paced dice game Yahtzee combines skill and pure luck as the players roll a set of five dice and calculate the odds of rolling particular numbers if they re-roll a select number of dice to complete the score card. The numbers you roll are determined by luck, but making decisions on how to enter the combinations on a score card requires skill and careful consideration.

Things You'll Need

• Yahtzee score card
• Set of 5 Dice

Instructions

1. Roll one die to determine who will play first. The person with the highest numbers goes first. Each player gets three rolls to try to fill the requirements of the score card. A player may keep one or more dice in the first roll and re-roll the others in the hopes of getting specific numbers. He repeats the same procedure for the third roll.

2. Aim for at least three of each of the numbers 1 through 6 to complete the upper portion of the score card in order to receive the bonus of 35 points. It is wise to attempt to get the highest amount of a particular number to fill the upper section. To calculate scores in the upper section, simply multiply the number on the dice by how many of them you have rolled. If you have rolled three 6s, your score will be 18 under the 6's column. Rolling three 3s will earn a score of 9 under the 3's column.

3. Consider the odds of meeting the requirements in the lower section. The lower section has 3 of a kind (total of all dice), 4 of kind (total of all dice), full house (25 points), small straight (35 points) , large straight (40 points), Yahtzee (50 points) and CHANCE (total of all dice).

4. Consider switching to a full house if you roll two sets of numbers as the full house requires three of one number and two of another. If you roll two 3s and two 4s, roll the remaining di and try to get either a 3 or a 4.

5. Reserve CHANCE for any turn where you do not roll the proper numbers to complete any of the requirements. Chance is simply the total of all the dice and does not have to meet any specific requirements.

6. Always check to see if you have rolled either a small or large straight. For a small straight you need four numbers in sequence, either 2, 3, 4, 5; 1, 2,3,4; or 3,4,5,6. A large straight requires five numbers in sequence, either 1,2,3,4,5; or 2,3,4,5,6. These are often rolled when you are attempting to get something else. Always take credit for any straight you roll, as these can be difficult to roll.

7. Reserve three and four of a kind for after you have filled the upper section, unless you roll three 5s or 6s and you already have them filled in on the upper section. Rolling for more just may earn you a Yahtzee. To get a Yahtzee, you need to roll all five matching numbers.

8. Avoid attempting to get a Yahtzee if you still have other combinations you must meet. Yahtzees most often are rolled by pure luck or when working towards filling the upper section. It is rare to get a Yahtzee unless you roll at least three of the same number on the first roll.

9. Add the total of the upper section. Don't forget to add in the 35-point bonus if your subtotal is over 63. Write the total in the line of the lower section on the score card. Calculate the total of the lower section. Add the upper and lower totals to get your final score.