The object of Yahtzee is to score points by rolling five dice to make certain combinations. The dice can be rolled up to three times in a turn to try to make one of the 13 possible scoring combinations. A game consists of 13 rounds. After each round, the player chooses which scoring category is to be used for that round. Once a category has been used in the game, it cannot be used again.
Rolling Dice & Taking Turns
On your turn, you may roll the five dice up to three times:
- First Roll: Roll all five dice.
- Second Roll (Optional): You may choose to hold any number of dice (from zero to five) and re-roll the remaining dice.
- Third Roll (Optional): You may again choose to hold any number of dice from the previous roll and re-roll the remaining dice.
After your third roll (or fewer if you choose to stop earlier), you must select a scoring category. If your roll does not fit any available category, you must choose a category to score a zero in.
Scoring
There are 13 scoring categories, divided into two sections: the Upper Section and the Lower Section.
For categories Ones through Sixes, you score the sum of the dice of that number. For example, if you roll three 4s and score in the "Fours" category, you get 3 * 4 = 12 points.
Upper Section Bonus
If the total score of your Upper Section categories is 63 or more, you get a bonus of 35 points.
- Three of a Kind: At least three dice showing the same face. Score: Sum of all five dice.
- Four of a Kind: At least four dice showing the same face. Score: Sum of all five dice.
- Full House: Three of one number and two of another (e.g., three 2s and two 5s). Score: 25 points.
- Small Straight: Four dice in sequence (e.g., 1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, or 3-4-5-6). Score: 30 points.
- Large Straight: Five dice in sequence (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6). Score: 40 points.
- Yahtzee: All five dice showing the same face. Score: 50 points.
- Chance: Any combination. Score: Sum of all five dice.
First Yahtzee
If you roll a Yahtzee (five dice showing the same face) and the Yahtzee category is open, you score 50 points in the Yahtzee box.
Subsequent Yahtzees (Joker Rules)
If you roll another Yahtzee after already scoring 50 in the Yahtzee category (or 0 if you previously zeroed it out):
- You receive a 100-point Yahtzee Bonus. This is added to your score automatically (the app tracks this via "Yahtzee Bonus Count" on the scorecard).
- You must then score the dice roll itself in another category, following these "Joker Rules":
- Priority 1: Corresponding Upper Section. If the Upper Section box corresponding to the number you Yahtzee'd (e.g., "Fives" if you rolled five 5s) is still open, you MUST score the sum of the dice (e.g., 25 for five 5s) in that box.
- Priority 2: Any Open Lower Section. If the corresponding Upper Section box is already filled, you may use the Yahtzee roll to score in any open Lower Section category. The roll scores its normal value for that category (e.g., 25 for Full House, 30 for Small Straight, 40 for Large Straight, or the sum of dice for Three/Four of a Kind or Chance).
- Priority 3: Zero in an Open Upper Section. If the corresponding Upper Section box AND all Lower Section boxes are filled, you must score a zero in any remaining open Upper Section box.
Virtual Dice Mode: The app will attempt to automatically apply Priority 1 (scoring in the open corresponding Upper Section category). If this is not possible, it will add the 100-point bonus and then prompt you to manually select an available Lower Section category (or an Upper Section category for a zero) for the dice roll.
Real Dice Mode: The app adds the 100-point bonus. You are responsible for correctly applying the Joker Rules when manually entering your score for the dice roll into an appropriate category.
The game ends after each player has completed 13 turns (i.e., filled all 13 categories on their scorecard). The player with the highest total score wins.