The classic five-dice game of luck and smart scoring — fill your card, chase the bonus, and roll for that 50-point Yahtzee.
👥 1–8 players⏱️ 10–20 min
Yahtzee is the timeless dice game where every turn is a small gamble: roll five dice, decide what to keep, and squeeze the best possible score out of thirteen categories. It's quick to learn, endlessly replayable, and just as fun solo as it is around a table.
Play it locally by passing one phone around, or online with a phone each. Scoring is handled automatically, so there's no maths to argue over — just the satisfying tension of when to gamble for the Yahtzee and when to settle for a safe score.
How to play
On your turn, roll all five dice. You get up to three rolls per turn.
After each roll, keep the dice you want and re-roll the rest — chase a pattern or play it safe.
When you're happy (or out of rolls), assign your dice to one of the thirteen scoring categories on your card.
Upper section (Ones–Sixes) scores the total of the matching dice; score 63+ up there to earn a 35-point bonus.
Lower section rewards combinations: Three/Four of a Kind, Full House, Small and Large Straight, Chance, and the 50-point Yahtzee (five of a kind).
Each category can be used only once. After thirteen rounds the card is full and the highest total wins.
Tips & strategy
Protect your upper section early — landing the 35-point bonus often decides close games. Aim for three of each number on average.
Don't waste the Yahtzee box too early, but never end a turn with nothing scored: dump a bad roll into Ones or Chance rather than zeroing a big category.
A Large Straight needs 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6 — keep any four-in-a-row and gamble the fifth die.
Chance is your safety net. Save it for a high-pip roll that doesn't fit anywhere else.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play Yahtzee by myself?
Yes. Yahtzee has a great solo mode — try to beat your own high score, then challenge friends to top it.
What's the highest score in a single category?
A Yahtzee — five matching dice — scores 50 points, the biggest single-box score on the card.
Do I have to do the maths myself?
No. The scorecard tallies everything for you, including the upper-section bonus, so you can focus on the dice.