Upper section
Each upper box scores the total of the dice showing that face. The target across the whole upper section is 63 points, which unlocks the 50-point bonus.
| Category | Scores | Example | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ones | Sum of all dice showing 1 | Three 1s = 3 | 5 |
| Twos | Sum of all dice showing 2 | Three 2s = 6 | 10 |
| Threes | Sum of all dice showing 3 | Three 3s = 9 | 15 |
| Fours | Sum of all dice showing 4 | Three 4s = 12 | 20 |
| Fives | Sum of all dice showing 5 | Four 5s = 20 | 25 |
| Sixes | Sum of all dice showing 6 | Three 6s = 18 | 30 |
Upper bonus: reach 63 in the upper section and add a flat 50 points. The cleanest route is three of each number, but four sixes and four fives can cover a shortfall elsewhere.
Lower section
The lower section rewards combinations. Note that Yatzy scores pairs and kinds by their pip total, not a fixed amount, so higher dice are worth chasing.
| Category | Scores | Example | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Pair | Two dice of the same value, scores both | 6-6-4-2-1 = 12 | 12 |
| Two Pairs | Two different pairs, scores all four | 6-6-4-4-1 = 20 | 22 |
| Three of a Kind | Three matching dice, scores the three | 5-5-5-2-1 = 15 | 18 |
| Four of a Kind | Four matching dice, scores the four | 6-6-6-6-2 = 24 | 24 |
| Small Straight | 1-2-3-4-5, fixed score | 1-2-3-4-5 = 15 | 15 |
| Large Straight | 2-3-4-5-6, fixed score | 2-3-4-5-6 = 20 | 20 |
| Full House | Three of a kind plus a pair, all five dice | 4-4-4-2-2 = 16 | 28 |
| Chance | Sum of all five dice, anything goes | 6-5-5-4-3 = 23 | 30 |
| Yatzy | Five of a kind, flat 50 points | 5-5-5-5-5 = 50 | 50 |
Worked example of a full turn
Say you roll 5-5-3-2-1. You hold the two fives and re-roll the other three, getting 5-4-2. Now you hold the three fives and re-roll the last two, landing 5-6. Your final dice are 5-5-5-5-6. That is four of a kind. You could score it as Four of a Kind (20), Fives (20), or Chance (26). Chance banks the most here, but if you still need your Fives box or the upper bonus, scoring 20 in Fives may be the smarter long-term play.
Adding it up
Your final score is the upper subtotal, plus the 50 bonus if you reached 63, plus the lower subtotal. A solid target for a complete game is 220 or more; break 250 and you are playing well. Practice the decisions in a free game right now.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum score in Yatzy?+
With perfect rolls the theoretical maximum is 374: a full upper section of 105, the 50-point bonus, and a lower section that includes a 50-point Yatzy and maxed combinations. In practice a very strong game lands between 250 and 320.
Does a full house of five of a kind count?+
No. In Yatzy a Full House must be three of one number and two of a different number. Five of a kind does not count as a Full House; it belongs in the Yatzy box for 50 points.
How does the upper bonus work?+
Add up only the upper section, Ones through Sixes. If that subtotal reaches 63 or more you get a flat 50-point bonus. Sixty-three is exactly three of each number, so banking three of each across the upper section earns it.
Can the same dice score in more than one category?+
No. Each turn you score one set of dice into exactly one empty box, and that box is then used for the rest of the game. Choosing the best box for each roll is the heart of the strategy.