How to Play Bunco

Bunco is a fun dice game and a great opportunity for friends to get together and hang out! There are many different ways to play but I learned this version in Austin,Texas. Bunco is for 12 people, although you can play with as few as 8.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 9 die
• 12 pens
• 12 notecards
• 1 bell
• Bunco sock to hold money in
• 3 tables, labeled "Head table", "Middle table," and "Loser table", respectively
• 2 prizes purchased by the host valued around $10 each
• $5 given by each player

1. Setup: At each table put 3 die, 4 pens, and 4 notecards. Put the bell at the "Head table". On one side of the notecard players write their name, and "wins," "losses," and "buncos." On the other side of the notecard they write the numbers 1 through 12. This side will be used for tallying points each round. Players sit at the tables and are partnered with the person across from them.

2. Play: There are 12 rounds that will be played which correspond to the numbers 1 through 12 on each players card. A player at the Head table rolls 1 of the 3 die to determine the number that will be Bunco during that round, calls out that number to the group, then rings the bell to start the game. A person at each table picks up the 3 die and rolls and their partner keeps score for their team.
   The roller continues to roll as long as they get:
   -The number assigned to that round
   -Doubles of any number
   -Bunco-which is a three of a kind of the number for that role
   
   Once they roll none of these things the die passes to the player on their left.

3. Scoring:
   The scores of both partners are added together and it generally works best to a running score for you and your partner as you play.
   -1 point for every time player gets the number for that round
   -9 points for bunco if they get all three-see "bunco" below
   -Lose all points for that round if 3 1's are rolled
   
   Example: The number for a certain round is 4. The roller rolls a 4,2, and 5. They get 1 point and roll again. They get 2,2,1. That is doubles they roll again. They roll 4,4, and 4-that's Bunco!
   
   Rolling continues until one team at the Head table gets to 21. Players keep track of their scores on their notecards. At the end of each round 1 set of partners at each table is declared the winner and the other team is the loser based on how many points they got. Players note whether they were a win or a loss for that round under the "wins" or 'losses" section on their notecard.

4. Bunco!
   Once a bunco is rolled-the roller yells "bunco" and everyone at the table tries to grab the die. Each die grabbed is worth 3 points to the person who grabs it, so if the roller and their partner don't grab the die they will get zero points but the opposing team can get 9 points! The person who rolled the bunco notes this under "buncos" on their notecard.

5. Moving tables after a round:
   Head table: Winners stay, losers move to the "losers" table
   Middle table: Winners move to the Head table, Losers stay at the Middle table
   Losers table: Winners move to the Middle table, Losers stay at the losers table
   Partners change at every round so everyone gets the chance to play with different people

6. Prizes:
   At the end of the 12th round, prizes are given to the players who had the most wins and the most losses during the game. The money given by the players is given to the player who had the most buncos.

Tips & Warnings

• I hope you enjoy playing bunco! It is a very fun and easy activity to do with friends, and a great excuse for a night out!

[ttbirdie]

on 4/13/2009 Excellent article on how to play bunco, 5*

[FrazzledNanny]

on 4/9/2009 Thanks for the directions on playing Bunco. 5*

[kashopp]

on 4/6/2009 Wow really? :) It is quite popular here in Texas. Hope you have fun if you decide to play. There are some other good articles on how about to play with different kinds of rules so it's just a matter of choosing what you like best! :)

[starlet67]

on 4/6/2009 I had never heard of this game! Cool!5*