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Official Yahtzee Rules
Objective
The objective of Yahtzee is to score the most points by rolling five dice to make certain combinations.
Components
5 six-sided dice
1 score pad
1 cup (optional, for rolling dice)
10 rounds of play
Setup
Score Pad:
Each player takes a score pad or a section of the score pad.
Players can use a pencil to mark their scores.
Gameplay
Rolling the Dice:
Each player takes a turn rolling the five dice.
Players can roll the dice up to three times per turn to get the highest-scoring combination.
First Roll:
The player rolls all five dice.
Second and Third Rolls:
After the first roll, the player can choose to keep any dice they want and re-roll the rest.
They may re-roll some or all of the dice two more times.
Players can also choose to stop after the first or second roll if they have a combination they like.
Scoring:
After rolling, the player chooses a category to score their dice. Each category can only be used once per game.
Categories are divided into two sections: Upper Section and Lower Section.
Scoring Categories
Upper Section
Ones: Sum of all dice showing the number 1.
Twos: Sum of all dice showing the number 2.
Threes: Sum of all dice showing the number 3.
Fours: Sum of all dice showing the number 4.
Fives: Sum of all dice showing the number 5.
Sixes: Sum of all dice showing the number 6.
Bonus: If the total score in the Upper Section is 63 or more, the player receives a bonus of 35 points.
Lower Section
Three of a Kind: Sum of all dice if at least three dice show the same number.
Four of a Kind: Sum of all dice if at least four dice show the same number.
Full House: 25 points if three of one number and two of another number.
Small Straight: 30 points for four consecutive numbers (e.g., 1-2-3-4 or 2-3-4-5).
Large Straight: 40 points for five consecutive numbers (e.g., 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6).
Yahtzee: 50 points for five of a kind.
Chance: Sum of all dice (can be used for any combination).
Yahtzee Bonus: If a player rolls a Yahtzee (five of a kind) after already scoring a Yahtzee, they get a 100-point bonus. They must still place the roll in another category.
End of the Game
Game End:
The game ends after all players have filled in all 13 categories on their score sheet.
Players tally their scores from both sections and add any bonuses.
Winner:
The player with the highest total score wins.
Strategy Tips
Upper Section Bonus:
Aim for the Upper Section bonus by trying to score at least 63 points (an average of three of each number).
Prioritize scoring in the Upper Section early to increase your chances of getting the bonus.
Full House, Small, and Large Straights:
Use the second and third rolls strategically to aim for straights and full houses if you have a good starting roll.
Consider the probability of rolling needed numbers and adjust your dice-keeping strategy accordingly.
Yahtzee and Yahtzee Bonus:
Don't rely too heavily on rolling a Yahtzee; it’s rare but can significantly boost your score if it happens.
Use the Yahtzee bonus for extra points if you get multiple Yahtzees.
Chance:
Use the Chance category when you have a low-scoring roll that doesn’t fit any other category.
Balancing Risk and Reward:
Decide when to take risks with re-rolling and when to settle for a decent score in a category.
Yahtzee is a fun and engaging game that combines luck with strategy. Enjoy playing with friends and family!