A Yahtzee score sheet has 13 boxes, and you must fill exactly one box after each turn. Each box corresponds to a different scoring category, and you can only use each category once per game. Understanding what each box means is the key to deciding which dice to keep and when to take a risk. This article walks through every category on the sheet, explains the scoring rules, and covers a few common variations so you can fill out your sheet with confidence.

Upper Section: Ones Through Sixes

The upper section contains six boxes, one for each die face from 1 to 6. In each of these boxes, you write the sum of all dice showing that number. For example, if you have three 4s and two 2s, your score in the Fours box would be 12 (3 × 4). The other dice do not affect that box’s score.

If your total score for all six upper‑section boxes is 63 or higher, you earn a 35‑point bonus at the end of the game. To reach 63, you need an average of a few per box, three of each number would give you exactly 63. Many players aim for this bonus by trying to score at least three of each face when they fill the upper boxes.

Lower Section: Scoring Big Combinations

The lower section has seven boxes for special combinations. Each box has its own rule:

  • Three of a Kind, Score the sum of all five dice if you have at least three of the same number.
  • Four of a Kind, Score the sum of all five dice if you have at least four of the same number.
  • Full House, Three of one number and two of another. Scores 25 points.
  • Small Straight, Four dice in sequential order (for example, 1‑2‑3‑4 or 2‑3‑4‑5). Scores 30 points.
  • Large Straight, Five dice in sequential order (1‑2‑3‑4‑5 or 2‑3‑4‑5‑6). Scores 40 points.
  • Yahtzee, Five of a kind. Scores 50 points. If you already scored a Yahtzee in an earlier turn and roll another one, you earn a 100‑point bonus for each additional Yahtzee. You can also use the bonus Yahtzee to fill another box in the lower or upper section as a joker (following the usual rules for that box).
  • Chance, The sum of all five dice. This is your safety box when no other category fits.

Note that Three of a Kind and Four of a Kind both use the total of all dice, not just the matched dice. A Full House, Small Straight, and Large Straight are fixed point values regardless of the dice numbers.

How the Game Uses the Score Sheet

In a standard game of Yahtzee, each player takes a turn by rolling five dice. You may roll up to three times per turn, setting aside any dice you want to keep between rolls. After your final roll, you must choose one of the 13 boxes on the score sheet and write your score there. Once a box is used, you cannot use it again in that game.

The original Yahtzee game was launched in 1956 by Edwin S. Lowe. The rules have stayed largely the same, but score sheets from different publishers may have slightly different layouts. To keep the grids square when printing, make sure to set your printer to 100 percent scale, not “fit to page”, so the boxes come out the right size for writing numbers.

Variations: Yatzy and Triple Yahtzee

Scandinavian Yatzy

Yatzy, the Scandinavian version, has 15 categories instead of 13. The upper section still has Ones through Sixes, but the bonus for reaching 63 or more is 50 points (not 35). The straights are fixed: a small straight (1‑2‑3‑4‑5) scores 15, and a large straight (2‑3‑4‑5‑6) scores 20. The lower section also includes categories for one pair and two pairs.

Triple Yahtzee

Triple Yahtzee uses three score columns on the same sheet. You play three complete games in parallel, one column per game. At the end, you multiply the total of the first column by one, the second column by two, and the third column by three, then add them together. This version rewards planning ahead because you need to decide which column to score each turn in.

Using a Printable Calendar for Practice

A printable calendar can hold one small task or puzzle per day as a routine. If you are learning the score sheet, you could write one category’s rule on each day of the month, for example, day 1: “Ones, sum of all 1s.” By the end of the month you would have reviewed every box. This is a simple way to build familiarity without needing dice in hand.

If you prefer to practice online, you can play Yahtzee online at yahtzee.now. It offers the same five dice, three rolls, and 13 categories, plus hints and statistics to help you learn the odds. No download or sign‑up is required.