Yahtzee Rules & Scoring
Game Rules and Basics
How does a turn work?
You can roll the 5 dice up to 3 times on your turn. After any roll, you can set aside 'keepers' and re-roll the rest. After your third roll (or earlier if you choose), you must enter a score or a zero in one of the 13 boxes.
Can I skip entering a score if I have a bad roll?
No. You must enter a score or a zero (scratch) in one of the 13 category boxes on every single turn until the scorecard is completely filled.
Scoring and Standard Bonuses
How do you earn the Upper Section Bonus?
If your total score in the upper section (Aces through Sixes) reaches 63 points or higher, you automatically earn a 35-point bonus.
What are the fixed scores for the Lower Section?
A Full House is 25 points. A Small Straight (4 in a row) is 30 points. A Large Straight (5 in a row) is 40 points. A Yahtzee (5 of a kind) is 50 points.
The Yahtzee Joker Rule
What happens if I roll a second Yahtzee?
If you roll a second Yahtzee and have already scored 50 in your Yahtzee box, you earn a 100-point bonus! You must then score the roll in the corresponding Upper Section box (e.g., five 4s scores 20 in the Fours box).
What if the Upper Section box is already full?
If the corresponding Upper Section box is taken, you can use the roll as a 'Joker' to score a Full House (25), Small Straight (30), or Large Straight (40) in the Lower Section.