How to keep score in Yahtzee | Tallynight Games

A game of Yahtzee is 13 turns. Each turn you roll up to three times, then fill one box on your score sheet. Every box is used once, and the highest grand total wins.

At a glance

Players: 1 or more
Who wins: Highest grand total
Turns: 13 each, one box per turn
Dice: Five, up to three rolls a turn

What each box scores

The sheet has an upper section for each number and a lower section for poker-style hands. If your dice don't fit the box you choose, it scores 0.

Box	What you need	Score
Ones to Sixes	Any dice	Add only the dice of that number
Three of a kind	Three dice the same	Add all five dice
Four of a kind	Four dice the same	Add all five dice
Full house	Three of one number and two of another	25
Small straight	Four in a row, like 2 3 4 5	30
Large straight	Five in a row, like 2 3 4 5 6	40
Yahtzee	Five dice the same	50
Chance	Any dice	Add all five dice

The upper bonus

Add up your Ones to Sixes. If they come to 63 or more, add a bonus of 35. That's what three of each number makes (3 + 6 + 9 + 12 + 15 + 18 = 63), so four 6s can make up for only two 1s.

Many players write a running total beside the upper section to see how far they are from 63.

Yahtzee bonuses and the joker rule

If you roll another Yahtzee after scoring 50 in the Yahtzee box, you get a 100-point bonus for each one. Then you also fill a box with that roll.

Put it in the matching upper box if it's still open (five 4s go in Fours). If that box is used, it's a joker: you can put it in any open lower box at full value, so a full house still scores 25 and a large straight 40. If those are full too, you must enter a 0 in an open upper box.

If you crossed out the Yahtzee box with a 0, extra Yahtzees don't earn the bonus.

Adding up at the end

Upper total: Ones to Sixes, plus the 35 bonus if you made 63
Lower total: every lower box, plus 100 for each Yahtzee bonus
Grand total: upper total plus lower total

A scoring example

Maya's finished sheet. She made the upper bonus with 64 and rolled one extra Yahtzee.

Box	Score
Ones to Sixes	2 + 8 + 9 + 12 + 15 + 18 = 64
Upper bonus	35
Three of a kind, four of a kind	24 + 21
Full house, small and large straight	25 + 30 + 0
Yahtzee, chance	50 + 22
Yahtzee bonus	100
Grand total	371

Upper total 99 (64 + 35), lower total 272 (24 + 21 + 25 + 30 + 0 + 50 + 22 + 100). The large straight never came, so it scored 0.

Keep score in Tallynight

Yahtzee is set up for you: 13 turns, highest total wins. Add each turn's score to the player, and Tallynight keeps the totals for everyone at the table.

With Tallynight Pro you get the full Yahtzee sheet: tap in the dice and it suggests the best box, fills it in and works out the upper bonus.

Every player's sheet, side by side
The best box for your roll, suggested (Pro)
The 35 bonus and Yahtzee bonuses added for you (Pro)
Offers to end the game when every box is full

Get Tallynight on the App Store: free, no ads.
Print a Yahtzee score sheet if you'd rather keep score on paper.

Questions

How many points is a Yahtzee?

50 in the Yahtzee box. Every extra Yahtzee after that earns a 100-point bonus, as long as the Yahtzee box has 50 in it.

How do you get the Yahtzee bonus of 35?

Score 63 or more in the upper section, Ones to Sixes. That's the same as three of each number.

Is 1 2 3 4 a small straight?

Yes. Any four dice in a row is a small straight for 30: 1 2 3 4, 2 3 4 5 or 3 4 5 6. The fifth die can be anything.

Does a full house have to be different numbers?

Yes, three of one number and two of another. Five of a kind can count as a full house only under the joker rule, after the Yahtzee box is filled.

What is the highest possible Yahtzee score?

1,575, with a Yahtzee every turn and the best possible boxes. A good game for most players is between 200 and 300.

Can I fill a box with zero?

Yes. If no box fits your roll, or you'd rather save a box, you can score 0 in any open box. You can't skip a turn.

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