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Bunco Directions for Kids

Bunco is a dice game that is played by twelve people seated at three tables. Each person takes turns throwing three sets of dice, trying to roll the designated number and adding to their scores. Winners progress to higher tables and losers move down to lower tables. Prizes are given out to the overall winners after six rounds. Given the ease of the game play and the party nature of the game itself, Bunco is an ideal game for a child's birthday or holiday party.

Things You'll Need

12 Players
3 tables
12 Chairs (4 per table)
12 dice (3 per table)
6 Pencils (2 per table)
6 scratch pads (2 per table)
12 score sheets (1 per person)
A bell or buzzer
Prizes for various achievements

Instructions

- 1
  Set up three tables in large room or ideally in three adjoining rooms with four chairs at each table. Place 3 dice, 2 scratch pads and 2 pencils at each table. Label each table "High," "Middle" and "Low", respectively. Place a bell or buzzer at the High table. Make scorecards or print out four columns (one for each set) with six rows across them. Number the rows one through six. Also add three spaces at the top of the scorecard for "Wins", "Losses" and "Buncos". These three spaces will be added up and filled in at the end of the entire game.
- 2
  Designate one player at each table as scorekeeper. People sitting across from each other at the table form a team for that round only. A player at the high table rings the bell and play begins.
- 3
  One player at each table rolls all three dice at once. The goal is to roll the number that corresponds with that round (from here on called a "mark") as many times as possible. Every mark equals at least one point. Each player rolls until they do not score any points, then the dice are passed to the player on his left.
- 4
  Every time a player gets a mark, that counts for a point. If the player rolls a three of a kind of ANY number other than the mark, it counts as five points. Any player rolling a three of a kind of the mark declares a "Bunco" and is awarded 21 points and scores a point on his/her scorecard.
- 5
  When a team rolls a combined score of 21 at the high table only, the bell is rung and that round's play ends for everyone. Teams with the highest combined score at each table win that round. Players on the winning team will mark a "W" on their scorecard and losers will mark a "L".
- 6
  The winning team from the head table stays put for the next round. The winning team from the middle table will move to the head table, and the winning team from the low table will move to the middle table. One player on the teams remaining at the tables will individually slide over one chair so that the teams are different for the next round.
- 7
  Play continues until four sets of six rounds are played. Players tally up their wins, losses and Buncos. Prizes are given out for achievements such as most wins, most Buncos, etc.

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