Ones
Twos
Threes
Fours
Fives
SixesPlay Yahtzee for free
Yahtzee is the classic dice game where you roll five dice to make the best combinations and fill a scorecard with 13 boxes. Here on Kitchen Table Cards you can play it free in your browser against Rosa, a friendly computer player, or on your own to beat your best score. Big dice, a clear scorecard that shows what each box is worth, a Hint button and no time pressure.
How to play · The scorecard · Bonuses · Tips · Questions
How to play Yahtzee
Yahtzee is played with five dice. The game lasts 13 turns, and on each turn you fill one box on your scorecard, so by the end every box is used.
- Roll: on your turn, roll all five dice.
- Keep and roll again: choose the dice you want to keep, and roll the others. You can roll up to three times in all.
- Score: after your last roll (or sooner, if you like your dice), choose an empty box on the scorecard. The dice are scored for that box, and your turn is over.
- Zero: if your dice don't fit the box you choose, it scores 0. Every turn must fill a box.
- Winning: when all the boxes are filled, the player with the highest total wins.
The Yahtzee scorecard
| Box | What you need | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Ones to Sixes | Any dice | The total of the dice with that number (three Fives = 15) |
| Three of a Kind | At least three dice the same | The total of all five dice |
| Four of a Kind | At least four dice the same | The total of all five dice |
| Full House | Three of one number and two of another | 25 |
| Small Straight | Four in a row, such as 2-3-4-5 | 30 |
| Large Straight | Five in a row, 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6 | 40 |
| Yahtzee | All five dice the same | 50 |
| Chance | Any dice | The total of all five dice |
Bonuses
Upper bonus: if your Ones to Sixes add up to 63 or more, you get 35 extra points. 63 is what you get with three of every number, so aim for at least three of each.
Yahtzee bonus: once you have scored 50 in the Yahtzee box, every further Yahtzee is worth a 100 point bonus. You also score it in a box: in the matching upper box if that is still empty, otherwise in any lower box, where it counts as a Full House or a straight at full value (the "Joker" rule). If you scored 0 in the Yahtzee box, there is no bonus.
How to play on this site
| Roll | Press "Roll the dice". Up to three rolls a turn; the button shows how many are left. |
|---|---|
| Keep dice | Click a die to move it down to "Dice you keep", or drag it there. Click it again (or drag it back up) to roll it again. |
| Score | After rolling, your empty boxes on the scorecard show how many points the dice would score there. Click one to score it. |
| Hint | Suggests which dice to keep, or which box to score, and explains why. |
| Pause | Stops the game until you are ready to carry on. |
| Settings | Play against Rosa or on your own, how fast Rosa plays, and the table colour. |
Tips for a high Yahtzee score
- Go for the bonus. Three of each number in the upper section earns 35 extra points. Fours, Fives and Sixes matter most.
- Keep pairs and triples. With two or three of a kind, keep them and roll the rest: it can become a Full House, Four of a Kind or even a Yahtzee.
- Straights early. If you roll four in a row, the straights are worth taking while the boxes are still open.
- Save Chance. Chance takes any dice, so keep it for a turn that goes wrong.
- Choose your zeros carefully. If you must score 0, use Ones or Yahtzee rather than a box that is easy to fill.
Yahtzee questions and answers
Is this Yahtzee game free?
Yes. Yahtzee on Kitchen Table Cards is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, no sign-up and nothing to buy.
Can I play Yahtzee against the computer?
Yes. By default you play against Rosa, a friendly computer player, and the higher score after 13 turns each wins. In the Settings you can choose to play on your own instead and try to beat your best score.
How many times can you roll in Yahtzee?
You can roll up to three times on each turn. After each roll you choose which dice to keep, and roll the others again. You can also stop after the first or second roll.
What is a Full House in Yahtzee?
A Full House is three dice the same and two other dice the same, for example three Fours and two Sixes. It is always worth 25 points.
What is the difference between a small and a large straight?
A small straight is four dice in a row, such as 1-2-3-4 or 3-4-5-6, and is worth 30 points. A large straight is all five dice in a row, 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6, and is worth 40 points.
How do you get the 35 point bonus?
If your Ones to Sixes add up to 63 or more, you get a bonus of 35 points. That is the same as getting three of each number. The scorecard shows how many points you still need.
What happens if you roll a second Yahtzee?
If you have already scored 50 in the Yahtzee box, every extra Yahtzee earns a 100 point bonus. You then score it in the matching upper box (for example Fives) if that is empty, or otherwise in any lower box at full value. A Yahtzee used like this is called a Joker.
What if my dice don't fit anywhere?
You must still fill one box at the end of every turn, so sometimes you have to score a zero. Choose the box you are least likely to fill later, such as Yahtzee or Ones.
What is the highest possible Yahtzee score?
The highest possible score is 1575, with a Yahtzee on every turn. A good score is anything over 250; most games end somewhere between 150 and 300.
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