Rules / American 13-category rules
American 13-category rules
The rules most of the world outside the Nordics knows, sold as Yahtzee®. Thirteen boxes, no pairs, straights that are runs, and a joker rule for repeat five-of-a-kinds.
Updated 9 September 2026
Play: American 13-categoryPrint a blank score sheet
| American 13-category | How it scores | Example | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ones | Sum of all dice showing 1. | 5 | |
| Twos | Sum of all dice showing 2. | 10 | |
| Threes | Sum of all dice showing 3. | 15 | |
| Fours | Sum of all dice showing 4. | 20 | |
| Fives | Sum of all dice showing 5. | 25 | |
| Sixes | Sum of all dice showing 6. | 30 | |
| Bonus | 35 points when the upper section reaches 63. | 35 | |
| Three of a kind | 3 dice of the same face. Scores the sum of all 5 dice. | 30 | |
| Four of a kind | 4 dice of the same face. Scores the sum of all 5 dice. | 30 | |
| Full house | 3 of one face and 2 of another. Scores 25 points. | 25 | |
| Small straight | Any 4 dice in a row (for example 2-3-4-5). Scores 30 points. | 30 | |
| Large straight | Any 5 dice in a row (for example 2-3-4-5-6). Scores 40 points. | 40 | |
| Chance | Any dice. Scores the sum of all of them. | 30 | |
| Yatzy | All 5 dice showing the same face. Scores 50 points. | 50 | |
| Maximum | Every box at its best, plus the bonus. | 375 | |
Where it differs
There are no pair boxes. Three and four of a kind score the sum of all five dice, not just the matching ones. Full house is a flat 25. Small straight is any four in a row for 30, large straight any five in a row for 40. The upper bonus is 35, still at 63.
Extra five-of-a-kinds and the joker
A second five-of-a-kind pays a 100-point bonus when the first one scored 50. Score the dice in the matching upper box if it is open. If not, score them in any open lower box at full value: this is the joker rule. If no lower box is open, write a zero in an upper box. If the five-of-a-kind box holds a zero, there is no bonus but the joker rule still applies.
Questions
What is the difference between Yatzy and Yahtzee?
Yahtzee® has 13 boxes, no pairs, straights as runs (30 and 40), a flat 25 full house, and a 35 bonus. Yatzy has 15 boxes with pairs, fixed straights (15 and 20), full house as the sum, and a 50 bonus.
How much is a second Yahtzee worth?
A 100-point bonus, plus whatever the dice score in the box the joker rule sends them to.