How to Play Yahtzee Online

Anna | July 26, 2025

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Yahtzee is a turn-based dice game where the goal is to score as many points as possible by rolling certain combinations with five dice. Each game has 13 turns. On your turn, you can roll the dice up to three times to try for the best result.

After your final roll, whether it is the first, second or third, you must choose one scoring box on your scorecard to fill in. Each box can only be used once during the game. Once you choose a score for it, that box is locked in. This is where strategy comes in. You have to plan ahead, decide when to take risks and sometimes settle for a low score to avoid losing better options later.

The online version works just like the classic game but everything is handled for you: rolling, scoring and tracking.

How a Turn Works

On each turn, you roll the dice and try to make the best out of what you get. You can roll up to three times before you have to pick a scoring box.

Step-by-step:

• First roll: Click or tap the green “Roll Dice” button to roll all five dice.
• Second roll (optional): Select the dice you want to keep. They will turn red (see Figure 1 where I selected the sixes). Then roll the rest.
• Third roll (optional): Do the same again if you want to roll a third time.

You don’t have to use all three rolls. If you like your result after one or two rolls, you can stop early. When you're done rolling, the game will highlight the open score boxes and show how many points each option would give. Choose one, and the points are filled in automatically.

If none of the categories match what you rolled, you’ll need to place a zero somewhere. Choosing where to do that is part of the strategy. It is usually better to sacrifice a low-value box like Ones or Twos and save the high-value boxes like Yahtzee or Large Straight for when you roll something strong. Making the right call in these moments can be just as important as getting a lucky roll.

The Scorecard

The scorecard is split into two sections: Upper and Lower. Each category can only be used once per game.

Upper Section

This part scores by die number.

• Aces (1s) to Sixes (6s): Add up only the dice that match the number.
• Bonus: If the total from all six boxes in the upper section is 63 or more, you get 35 extra points added at the end of the game.

Examples (see Figure 2):

• A roll of 1, 1, 1, 6, 3 scores 3 points in Aces (1 + 1 + 1).
• A roll of 2, 2, 2, 2, 6 scores 8 points in Twos (2 + 2 + 2 + 2).
• A roll of 3, 3, 5, 4, 2 scores 6 points in Threes (3 + 3).
• A roll of 4, 4, 4, 5, 3 scores 12 points in Fours (4 + 4 + 4).
• A roll of 5, 4, 2, 1, 3 scores 5 points in Fives (5).
• A roll of 6, 6, 6, 3, 2 scores 18 points in Sixes (6 + 6 + 6).

Tip: If you score three of each number from 1 to 6 in the upper section, you’ll reach exactly 63 and get the bonus.

Lower Section

This part scores based on patterns in the dice rather than specific numbers. Some categories award a fixed score, while others use the sum of all five dice.

Examples (see Figure 3):

• Three of a Kind: At least 3 matching dice. Add up all five dice. A roll of 3, 3, 3, 6, 2 scores 17 points.
• Four of a Kind: At least 4 matching dice. Add up all five dice. A roll of 3, 3, 3, 3, 6 scores 18 points.
• Full House: Three of one number and two of another. Fixed score: 25. A roll of 2, 2, 2, 4, 4 scores 25 points.
• Small Straight: Four sequential numbers. Fixed score: 30. A roll of 2, 3, 4, 5, 5 scores 30 points.
• Large Straight: Five sequential numbers. Fixed score: 40. A roll of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 scores 40 points.
• Yahtzee: All five dice match. Fixed score: 50. A roll of 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 scores 50 points.
• Chance: No pattern needed. Add up all five dice. A roll of 3, 2, 5, 4, 6 scores 20 points.

Extra Yahtzees and the Joker Rule

If you roll a Yahtzee after already filling in the Yahtzee box, special rules apply.

Case 1: You already scored 50 points in the Yahtzee box

You get two things on that turn:

• You get 100 bonus points added to the Yahtzee bonus section.
• You also get a joker, which means you can use the roll in another box but with some conditions.

How the joker works:

• If the matching box in the upper section is still empty, you must use it there. For example, if you roll 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 and the Fours box is still open, you must score 20 points there (5 x 4).
• If that upper box is already filled, you can score in any open box in the lower section, even if the roll doesn’t match the category. For example: if you roll 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 and the Fours box is already used, you can choose Full House and score 25 points, even though you didn’t roll a real Full House.

Case 2: You already scored 0 points in the Yahtzee box

You don’t get the 100-point bonus, but you can still use the joker the same way as in Case 1.

Scoring and Winning

When all 13 boxes are filled, the game ends. Final score is calculated like this:

• Upper Total: All six boxes, plus the 35-point bonus if earned.
• Lower Total: Total of all lower categories, plus 100 points for each bonus Yahtzee.
• Grand Total: Upper + Lower.

The player with the highest total wins.

Tips for Online Play

Yahtzee is just as much about planning as it is about rolling. Here are some strategies that apply no matter how lucky you get.

Early Game

• Try to get at least three of each number (1s through 6s) in the upper section. That adds up to 63 points, which earns you a 35-point bonus at the end. Even a few missing points can cost you that bonus, so it’s often worth focusing on this early in the game.
• Use Chance only when you're really stuck. It’s your safety net so don’t waste it early on a roll that could fit somewhere else.
• If you roll a Full House or a Straight, take it unless you have a better option. These are hard to chase later, so don’t let them go to waste.

Mid Game

• Don’t chase Yahtzee unless you can afford the risk. Losing a good Four of a Kind for a failed Yahtzee can cost you the game.
• Think ahead. If you already used Threes and you roll 3, 3, 3, you can’t put it in the Threes box again so make sure another category can still take it, like Three of a Kind or Chance.

Late Game

• Try to save high-value boxes like Yahtzee, Large Straight or Four of a Kind for later if you can. These boxes can give you 40, 50 or even more points, so it’s often better to wait until you roll something strong. If you use them too early for a weak score, you might regret it when a perfect roll comes up later and you have nowhere to put it.
• Pay attention to which boxes are still open on your scorecard. If you only have a few options left, try to roll with those in mind. For example, if all you have left is Large Straight and Sixes, don’t waste a turn going for a Full House that you already filled. Always roll with a goal that matches what’s still available.

Now you know how it all works. Pick your favorite avatar (just tap or click on it), roll the dice and see how fast you become a Yahtzee master.