Yahtzee is the classic dice game where you roll five dice up to three times per turn and score them across 13 categories. On this page you'll learn how to play Yahtzee in five minutes, see the full scoring chart, and jump straight into a free online game. Whether you're a first-timer or chasing a 300+ score, we cover the rules, the 35-point upper bonus, the Yahtzee joker rule, and proven strategy. Prefer to play now? Hit "Play Free" and roll — no download, no account needed.
| Category | How to Score | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Ones–Sixes (Upper) | Sum of all dice showing that number | Variable |
| Three of a Kind | 3+ same + any | Sum of all 5 dice |
| Four of a Kind | 4+ same + any | Sum of all 5 dice |
| Full House | 3 of one + pair | 25 |
| Small Straight | 4 in a row | 30 |
| Large Straight | 5 in a row | 40 |
| Yahtzee | 5 of a kind | 50 |
| Chance | Any combination | Sum of all 5 dice |
| Upper Bonus | Upper subtotal ≥ 63 | +35 |
Step-by-step Yahtzee rules, all 13 categories, upper bonus and joker rule explained. Learn in 5 minutes.
Read Rules →Roll five dice and play Yahtzee free in your browser. No download, no app, no account needed.
Play Now →Pro Yahtzee strategy: lock the +35 upper bonus, know when to chase a Yahtzee, score 250+ consistently.
Learn Strategy →Quick Yahtzee scoring reference: full house, straights, bonus and upper section bonus explained.
View Scoring →Triple Yahtzee, Yahtzee Jr, Yatzy, Yacht and Generala — how variants compare.
Explore Variations →Roll five dice, keep what you like, and reroll the rest up to two more times. Then lock the result into one of 13 scoring categories. After 13 rounds, the highest total wins. Full steps are on our rules page.
A solid game lands above 200 points; 250+ is excellent and 300+ is rare. The theoretical maximum is 1,575. The upper-section bonus (+35 at 63 points) is the biggest lever for a high total.
Friend rooms (private multiplayer) are on our roadmap — not available yet. For now you can play free solo right in your browser on the play page; we'll add shared rooms as soon as they ship.
Both. Dice are random, but category choice, when to chase a Yahtzee, and protecting the upper bonus are pure strategy. Good players outscore luck over a full game.
Yahtzee grew out of "The Yacht Game" in the 1940s and was popularized by Edwin S. Lowe before Hasbro took it over in 1973. More on the history page.
You might also like: Dice War — another dice game in our collection. Play it here.