Since there are only two parts of Yahtzee – the rolling of the dice and the scorecard – it is important that you fully understand how the scorecard works so that you can complete the game fairly.

There are two sections of the scorecard; the upper and the lower sections. The top of the scorecard, or the upper section, consists of six categories. They are the Aces, Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives, and Sixes. The scores in each of these categories are calculated by adding all of the dice that display the chose number in a finished hand. For example, if you finish a hand with a 2-2-2-4-6 and you choose to score the twos, you would then input a 6 into the scorecard in the Twos box of the upper section of the scorecard. Alternatively, if the player already has a score in the Twos box or only needs a score for the Fours and Sixes box they would score it as 4 in the Fours box and 6 in the Sixes box. If absolutely necessary, the hand could also be used to record a total of 0 in the Aces, Threes, or Fives box. A score must be recorded after each and every hand regardless if you made anything that you need. That is when the 0 may be used in boxes that you do not have a score for.

At the bottom of the upper section there is another section called the “bonus.” This bonus is very important to the game since a bonus of 35 points is awarded when the total in the upper section is at least 63. The value 63 represents an average of a three-die tally for each entry. That means that you have 3 Aces + 3 Twos + 3 Threes + 3 Fours + 3 Fives + 3 Sixes for a total of 63 points. It then stands to reason that if you are below average on one of the entries, you must achieve better than average results on another box in order to receive the 35 point bonus.

The bottom of the scorecard consists of seven categories. They include the 3-of-a-kind, 4-of-a-kind, Full House, Small Straight, Large Straight, Yahtzee, and Chance. The scoring for each of these categories varies so here is an example for each:

• 3-of-a-kind – A hand in which at least three dice show the same number. The score for this hand is the total of all five dice. For example if your final roll is 5-5-5-6-2 the total would be 23.
• 4-of-a-kind – A hand in which at least four or more dice show the same number. The score would again be the total of all five dice. For example, if you have a 4-4-4-4-3 the total would be a score of 19.
• Full House – A hand containing three dice showing one number and two dice showing another number. For example, a 2-2-2-5-5 is a Full House. The score for this hand is fixed at 25 points.
• Small Straight – A hand containing four dice in sequence such as 3-4-5-6. The score for this hand is fixed at 30 points.
• Large Straight – A hand containing five dice in sequence such as 2-3-4-5-6. The score for this hand is fixed at 40 points.
• Yahtzee – A hand containing 5-of-a-kind such as 6-6-6-6-6. The fixed score for a Yahtzee is 50. If you make more than one Yahtzee in the same game it must be used to fix another score box but it gives you an added bonus of 100 points.
• Chance – This is an “any hand goes” entry. The score for this hand is the total of all five dice. Any hand can be used as a chance and is usually used when you can’t find another box to make an entry in. For example, if your final hand shows a 2-2-4-5-6 it would be scored as a 19 in Chance if unable to be used anywhere else.

At the end of each hand, one score box must be filled. Once a box is filled, it can no longer be used. In order to get the highest final score, it is preferable to fill in each box with as high as a value as possible. But on some occasions, you will have one or possibly more score boxes filled with a value of zero.

For example, consider a position near the end of the game in which only two score boxes are open – Aces and Full House. Then you roll this hand – 4-4-4-5-6. That is a dilemma in the Yahtzee game because a score must be entered into either the Aces or Full House category, since the rules state that one score box must be filled after every hand. However, the combination does not equal a Full House, nor are there any Aces in the hand. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to fill in a zero to either of the open score boxes. Granted you are going to lose some points, but you will have to do it as per the rules.

This may sound rather confusing but once you look at the scorecard you will clearly be able to figure out which score goes where. It is well mapped out and in no time at all you will be scoring like a professional.