Bunco Dice Game Instructions

Bunco is an easy game using three dice.

According to the World Bunco® Association, this popular dice game has been around since the 18th century, when it was known as 8-Dice Cloth. It arrived in the US during the Gold Rush as a gambling game called Banco.

Things You'll Need

• Four players
• Three dice
• Four pencils
• Four Bunco® score sheets
• One Bunco® table tally

Instructions

1. Divide players into partners. Partners sit across from each other.

2. Roll the dice. Score one point for each "one" that you roll (i.e. for each dice with one pip). If you roll three "ones," call out, "Bunco!®" and score 21 points. If you roll three of any other number, you score five points. Roll all three dice again and score additional points for all the "ones" you roll. Your turn continues until you roll no points. Write down the total score in the "Us" column of the table tally.

3. Pass the dice clockwise. Each player in turn rolls the dice in the same manner, trying to score points for "ones."Continue passing the dice clockwise until one team earns 21 points. Both players mark a "W" on their individual score sheet. This completes the first round. Players change partners for the next round.

4. Play six rounds in the same way, except on the second round, players try to roll "twos," on the third "threes," and so on.

5. Tally the number of wins each player has to determine the winner of the game.

6. Substitute a ghost player if you are short a player. The ghost's partner rolls the dice for the ghost player.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also play with more than four players. Divide players into groups of three or four (use ghost players if necessary), and supply each group with the dice and score sheets.

References

• World Bunco® Association: Official Bunco® Rules

Resources

• Bunco®
• Dice Game Depot: Bunco® Rules