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Object
The object of Yahtzee is to score the highest possible score within the 13 rounds of the game. Players roll five dice in order make the desired combinations, which have different fixed or variable point values. The results of each turn are recorded on a special score sheet.
Some of the required rolls are similar to poker hands, such as three of a kind, four of a kind and full house. Others are based on the added point value of like dice for each of the six numbers. At the end of the 13 turns, the player with the highest point total wins the game, according to the Hasbro Yahtzee website.
Turns
During each turn, the player rolls all five dice at once. The player then chooses if he would like to roll some or all of the dice again. The player may make up to three rolls in one turn. The player may also choose to keep the results of any of the three rolls. However, once a player has rerolled, he cannot revert back to the results of the previous roll.
For example, a player who rolls five sixes would not likely roll again because he has rolled the highest point value roll in the game. A five of a kind is known as a "Yahtzee." However, if the player rolls 2-2-6-5-3, then he may choose to keep the pair of twos and roll the remaining three dice in hopes of getting more twos to improve his score in the twos column. The play rotates clockwise until all turns have been completed and the score sheets are filled.
Scoring
Scoring in Yahtzee is done on one of two sections of the special Yahtzee score sheet. The upper half of the score sheet is scored by adding the total of all the specified dice on a particular number. For example, if you are attempting to roll fives, and the third and final roll leaves you with 5-5-5-5-2, then the player could choose to add 20 points to his fives column. Once the box is scored, it cannot be scored again.
The lower section of the score sheet has several roll combinations with some higher point values. This portion of the sheet contains the three of a kind, four of a kind, full house, small straight, large straight and Yahtzee.
The three and four of a kind rolls are scored by adding the face values of the like dice. Using the example from above, if a roll results in a 5-5-5-5-2, the player could choose between placing 20 points in the upper section under the fives column, or he could place 20 points in the four of a kind column, or even in the three of a kind column if he so desired.
A full house is three of a kind and a pair together, which is worth 25 points regardless of the combination. A small straight is four dice in a numerical sequence, which is worth 30 points. A large straight is all five in a numerical sequence and is worth 40 points. A Yahtzee is five of a kind, which is worth an automatic 50 points.
Additional Scoring Rules
In addition to the rules listed above, there are special circumstances that allow players to score additional points. Located at the end of the bottom half of the score sheet is a column called "Chance." A player may choose to use any roll in the Chance column. The best strategy here is to enter a roll that will not fit into another category, or will only fit into one that has already been scored. The points scored equal the total face value of all five dice combined.
Sometimes a players rolls an additional five of a kind Yahtzee after already scoring a Yahtzee. When this happens, the player puts a check in the bonus box next to the Yahtzee column. This check is worth 100 extra points. The player must score this additional Yahtzee in the corresponding upper section box. However, if that too has been filled in, then the player qualifies for the "joker rules": He can fill in any lower section that hasn't been achieved yet. Note that if the player had previously entered a zero in the Yahtzee box, that score stands.