Hobbies And Interests
Understanding The Top Section
The top of the Yahtzee scorecard has six entries, each corresponding to one of the numbers on a die. During a turn, players try to get the most dice they can to show the same number and record that many points in the appropriate slot.
For example, on a first roll the player had two dice that came up with the number two. The player can then re-roll the other three dice trying to get more twos. If collectively at the end of their three rolls the player has four dice that have come up with the number two, they would enter a score of eight in the slot for twos.
The top section is crucial for winning because it gives players an opportunity to make a bonus. If the total score of the upper section is 63 or higher, the player gets an additional 35 points. In most Yahtzee games making the bonus will assure you a chance at winning while not making the bonus almost guarantees a loss.
Top Section Strategy
The total of 63 points represents the score achieved if the player gets three of each number. If a player only gets two dice to show a one and takes a score of two in that slot, they will need to get four of another number to make up the difference and get the bonus.
One strategy to employ is filling in the lower numbers first because it is easier to make up for a deficit with the bigger numbers. If you only get a score of two in the one's column, getting four of any other number will make up the deficit. If you only score 12 in the sixes' column, you will need four of at least two other numbers to achieve the bonus.
Understanding the Bottom Section
The bottom of the Yahtzee scorecard awards set numbers of points for various combinations of the dice. These include three and four of a kind, a small and large straight -- four or all five dice in a numerical sequence, a full house, which is a three-of-a-kind and a pair, chance where you can record the total of all five dice on a turn gone awry, and Yahtzee, which scores a game-changing 50 points.
Chance
Chance is your first line of defense when the outcome you were hoping for doesn't come up. You get to enter the total of the five dice as your score. While it's tempting to consider saving your chance if that value is low, it is still better to use chance than take a zero in a slot that is worth more points.
Yahtzee
After using chance, if a player has a turn go badly not making the combination they were hoping for, they can choose to take a zero in any of these entries. Try not to take a zero in Yahtzee until you absolutely have to. Cutting off the opportunity to score that many points can be problematic, especially if another player has a Yahtzee. At that point the only chance of winning is to get a Yahtzee of your own.
Crucial Decisions
With your priorities being the bonus from the top half and getting a Yahtzee you will often have to make hard choices. Don't be afraid to use the three- and four-of-a-kind on the bottom to bail out turns where the numbers you need for the top did not come in. The same with using chance and taking a zero on the lower half of the scorecard. The bonus often is the difference in winning or losing.
Finally remember that Yahtzee is a game of luck. If you have a chance to get a Yahtzee by all means go for it. The thrill of victory far outweighs the agony of defeat.