Maxi Yatzy (six dice)
Maxi Yatzy is the best-known variant, played widely across Sweden, Norway and Finland. It uses six dice instead of five and adds categories to match: Three Pairs, Five of a Kind, a Full Straight, and a Castle or House combination depending on the local rule set. The upper-section bonus target rises accordingly. With more dice in play, scores are larger and the decisions richer, which is why many serious players prefer it.
Forced Yatzy
In Forced Yatzy you cannot choose where to score. You fill the categories in a fixed order, usually top to bottom, taking whatever your dice give you. This removes most of the strategy and makes the game shorter and more about luck, which makes it a friendly option for children or a fast warm-up round.
Yatzy with friends
Multiplayer Yatzy is just the standard game with several columns on one sheet. The traditional way to play with friends is pass-and-play on a single device or sheet, taking turns until every column is complete. See our dedicated two-player guide for how the turns alternate and how to keep it fair.
Regional scoring quirks
Across Scandinavia you will find small house rules: some groups score a bonus for a second Yatzy, others vary the straight values, and a few add a Chance-style "free" box in Maxi Yatzy. None change the core game, but it is worth agreeing the rules before you start so nobody is surprised by a straight scoring differently. Our online game uses the standard five-dice Yatzy ruleset described on the scoring page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Maxi Yatzy?+
Maxi Yatzy is the six-dice version popular in Scandinavia. The extra die adds categories such as Three Pairs, Five of a Kind and a longer straight, and pushes the upper-bonus target higher. Scores run larger because there is more material to work with each turn.
What is Forced Yatzy?+
Forced Yatzy removes your free choice of category. You must fill the boxes in a set order, top to bottom, which strips out much of the strategy and makes the game faster and more luck-driven. It is a popular quick variant for younger players.
How is Yatzy played with friends?+
The simplest way is pass-and-play: everyone shares one device or one score sheet and takes turns. Each player completes their own column. The player with the highest grand total when all columns are full wins.