Yahtzee (Dice Poker)
Roll dice, choose scoring categories, and chase the perfect combination in this classic probability game!
The objective of Yahtzee is to get as many points as possible by rolling five dice and getting certain combinations of dice.
1How to Play
In each turn a player may throw the dice up to three times. You don't have to roll all five dice on the second and third throw — you can put as many dice as you want to the side (click to hold) and only throw the ones that don't have the numbers you're trying to get.
Click on the dice you want to keep — they will be highlighted and won't be thrown next time. If you change your mind after the second throw, click them again to release them before the third throw.
2Upper Section Combinations
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Ones | Get as many ones as possible. Score = number of 1s × 1 |
| Twos | Get as many twos as possible. Score = number of 2s × 2 |
| Threes | Get as many threes as possible. Score = number of 3s × 3 |
| Fours | Get as many fours as possible. Score = number of 4s × 4 |
| Fives | Get as many fives as possible. Score = number of 5s × 5 |
| Sixes | Get as many sixes possible. Score = number of 6s × 6 |
3Lower Section Combinations
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| 3 of a Kind | Get three dice with the same number. Points are the sum of ALL five dice (not just the three of a kind). |
| 4 of a Kind | Get four dice with the same number. Points are the sum of ALL five dice (not just the four of a kind). |
| Full House | Get three of a kind AND a pair, e.g. 1,1,3,3,3 or 3,3,3,6,6. Scores exactly 25 points. |
| Sm Straight | Get four sequential dice: 1-2-3-4, or 2-3-4-5, or 3-4-5-6. Scores exactly 30 points. |
| Lg Straight | Get five sequential dice: 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6. Scores exactly 40 points. |
| Chance | You can put anything into chance — it's like a garbage can when you don't have anything else you can use the dice for. The score is simply the sum of all five dice. |
| Yahtzee! | Five of a kind (all five dice show the same number). Scores 50 points. |
:Multiple Yahtzees
If you roll another Yahtzee after already scoring one in the Yahtzee box:
- +10–40 Bonus: You get a 100-point bonus added to your total score.
- Joker Rule: You also get a Joker — this means you can choose another scoring category for the current roll. If the matching upper section category is still empty, you MUST place it there first.
- If Yahtzee = 0: If you put 0 in the Yahtzee box earlier, you don't get the 100-point bonus but you DO get the joker rule for choosing where to score.
💡Strategy Tips
Prioritize the Upper Bonus: Focus on getting good rolls with fives and sixes early. This makes it easier to reach the 63-point threshold for the 35-point bonus.
Use Zeroes Strategically: You can always put 0 in a category if you don't have a good combination. For example, if you only need Ones left but rolled all high numbers, put 0 in Ones rather than wasting a valuable high-scoring roll.
Yahtzee First: If you're lucky enough to get a Yahtzee early, always take it. The 50 points plus potential future bonuses make it the most valuable single roll in the game.
Chance is Safety Net: Save Chance for late-game emergencies when nothing else fits. It guarantees at least some points from any roll.
Full House Flexibility: A Full House also counts as Three of a Kind, so if you have both options open, consider which gives you more strategic value based on what's left on your scorecard.
About Yahtzee
Yahtzee is a classic dice game created by Milton Bradley in 1956. It's based on earlier dice games like Yacht and Generala. The game combines luck and strategy in an elegant way — each turn you decide which risks to take and which scores to chase. Whether you're playing solo to beat your high score or competing against friends, every game of Yahtzee tells a unique story of risk and reward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have another question? Let us know.
How many players?
1-2 players. Play solo to chase a high score, or vs AI with a single computer opponent.
What's the goal?
Score as many points as possible across 13 rounds by filling in 13 categories: 6 upper-section (Ones–Sixes) and 7 lower-section (3-of-a-Kind, 4-of-a-Kind, Full House, Sm Straight, Lg Straight, Yahtzee, Chance).
How does the Upper Section bonus work?
If your Ones through Sixes total 63 or more, you get a 35-point bonus. To hit 63, you need roughly three-of-a-kind in each upper category (e.g., 3×Ones + 3×Twos + ... + 3×Sixes = 63).
What is a Yahtzee?
Five dice showing the same value. It scores 50 points in the Yahtzee category. If you roll a second Yahtzee after already scoring 50, you get a bonus (100 points, or 150/200/250 for subsequent ones) plus a Joker rule trigger.
What is the Joker rule?
When you roll a Yahtzee but the Yahtzee category is already filled (with 50), and the matching upper-section box is also filled, you may use the Yahtzee as a Joker in any lower-section category — including forcing a Full House (25), Sm Straight (30), or Lg Straight (40) without the normal dice requirements.
How many rolls do I get per turn?
Up to 3 rolls. After the first roll you may keep any dice and re-roll the rest, then again after the second roll. After the third roll (or if you stop early) you must score the result in one open category.
What happens if I roll something that doesn't fit any open category?
You must still score it somewhere — you'll record a 0 in the chosen category. Strategically, sacrifice your weakest category (often a straight you're unlikely to complete, or 4-of-a-Kind if you're far from it).
How does the AI decide?
The AI evaluates expected score for each open category after each roll, choosing which dice to keep to maximize total expected value. Hard AI also factors in bonus eligibility (upper-section bonus, Yahtzee bonus); Easy AI adds randomness.
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