About

Yahtzee is a dice game of probability, strategy, and scorecard management. Each turn, roll five dice up to three times, keeping any dice you want between rolls, then record your result in one of 13 scoring categories. Categories range from simple sums (ones through sixes) to combinations like Full House, Large Straight, and Yahtzee (five of a kind, worth 50 points).

The strategy lies in deciding which category to fill based on your current roll and what remains on your scorecard. Early Yahtzees are huge windfalls; late-game zeros in key categories are costly. Knowing when to aim for a bonus and when to cut your losses separates consistent high scorers from lucky ones.

Yahtzee plays in 10–20 minutes and is naturally turn-paced — each roll is a brief, contained decision. Perfect for a solo break or a quick competitive session.

How to Play

• Roll all five dice, then choose which to keep and which to reroll (up to two more times).
• After your third roll, select a scoring category for that turn's result.
• Each of the 13 categories can only be used once per game.
• If you score in the upper section (ones through sixes) totaling 63+, you earn a 35-point bonus.
• Yahtzee (five of a kind) scores 50 points; subsequent Yahtzees add 100 as bonus.

Tips

• Prioritize the upper section bonus — 63 points requires averaging three of each number.
• Use your first Yahtzee in its category even if you already have full house or straights filled.
• Fill zero-score categories (ones or chance) with your worst rolls, not your best.

History

Yahtzee was invented by a Canadian couple, Edwin Lowe and Milton Bradley both claiming credit, in the 1940s and 1950s. Lowe's version was called "Yacht" and sold through his toy company; Milton Bradley acquired and rebranded it as Yahtzee in 1956. It became one of the best-selling dice games in history with over 50 million sets sold annually at its peak. The name derives from a yacht trip where the game was played.