10 Dice Game Scoring Variants: Rules & How to Play

Dice games offer a fun and unpredictable way to pass the time with friends and family. The scoring rules are a key part of these games, deciding how points are awarded and how you win. This article explores 10 different scoring methods for dice games, including:

Scoring Dice Rolls

Game Scoring Dice Rolls
Yahtzee Ones, Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives, Sixes, Three/Four of a Kind, Full House, Small/Large Straight, Yahtzee, Chance
Farkle Single 1, Single 5, Three/Four/Five/Six of a Kind, Straight, Three Pairs
Shut the Box Single numbers, Pairs, Runs
Ten Thousand Single 1, Single 5, Three/Four/Five/Six of a Kind, Straight, Three Pairs
Pig Single die rolls
Liar's Dice Bluffing and guessing dice values
Chicago Roll target number each round (2 to 12)
Bunco Roll target number each round (1 to 6)
Ship, Captain, and Crew Roll 6 (ship), 5 (captain), 4 (crew) in order, then score remaining dice
Dice 10000 Single 1, Single 5, Three/Four/Five/Six of a Kind, Straight, Three Pairs

Key Rules and Winning Conditions

Explore these diverse scoring variants to keep dice games fresh and engaging. Understand the rules to tailor the game to your preferences, and have fun as you develop your skills!

1. Yahtzee

Yahtzee

Game Goal

Roll five dice to score the most points by creating specific number combinations.

Scoring Combinations

Category Points Scored
Upper Section
Roll 1s Sum of 1s
Roll 2s Sum of 2s
Roll 3s Sum of 3s
Roll 4s Sum of 4s
Roll 5s Sum of 5s
Roll 6s Sum of 6s
Lower Section
3 of a Kind Sum of all 3 matching dice
4 of a Kind Sum of all 4 matching dice
Full House 25 points for 3 of one number and 2 of another
Small Straight 30 points for 4 sequential numbers
Large Straight 40 points for 5 sequential numbers
Yahtzee 50 points for 5 of the same number
Chance Sum of all 5 dice

Rules

Winning

The player with the highest total score after 13 rounds wins.

2. Farkle

Farkle

Game Goal

Score points by rolling dice combinations. Balance risk and reward to reach the target score.

Scoring Dice Rolls

Roll Points
Single 1 100
Single 5 50
Three of a kind Face value x 100 (e.g., three 2s = 200)
Four of a kind 1000
Five of a kind 2000
Six of a kind 3000
Straight (1-6) 1500
Three pairs 1500
Two triplets 2500

Key Rules

Winning

First player to reach 10,000 points wins. Others get one last chance to beat the high score.

3. Shut the Box

Shut the Box

Game Goal

The aim of Shut the Box is to close as many numbers as possible on the board by rolling dice. It's a game of strategy and luck, where players must make the most of their rolls to minimize their score.

Scoring

Players score by rolling the dice and closing numbers on the board that match the sum of the dice. Here are the scoring options:

Roll Scoring
Single die value Close that number
Sum of both dice Close numbers that add up to the sum
Multiple numbers Close multiple numbers with one roll

Key Rules

Winning

The game ends when all players have had a turn. The player with the lowest score wins.

If a player closes all the numbers on the board, they win automatically.

4. Ten Thousand

Ten Thousand

Game Goal

Be the first player to score over 10,000 points by rolling six dice and keeping scoring dice to add to your running total.

Scoring Dice Rolls

Roll Points
1 100
5 50
3 of a kind 100 x number on dice (e.g., 3 twos = 200)
4 of a kind 200 x number on dice
5 of a kind 400 x number on dice
6 of a kind 800 x number on dice
Straight (1-6) 1,500
Three pairs 1,500

Key Rules

1. After scoring, you can roll again if you set aside at least one scoring die from your previous roll.

2. If you don't score any points on a roll, you lose all points for that turn.

Winning

The game ends when one player reaches over 10,000 points. Other players get one final roll to try and beat the leading score. The player with the highest score wins.

5. Pig

Pig

Goal

Be the first player to score 100 points.

Scoring

In Pig, you score points by rolling a single six-sided die:

Roll Points
2 2
3 3
4 4
5 5
6 6

Rules

Winning

The first player to reach 100 points or more wins the game.

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6. Liar's Dice

Liar's Dice

Game Goal

Be the last player with dice remaining by making accurate bids or catching others bluffing.

How to Play

Key Rules

Action Consequence
Correct bid Continue playing
Incorrect bid (challenged) Lose a die
Correct "spot-on" call All other players lose a die
Incorrect "spot-on" call Caller loses a die

Winning

The last player with dice remaining wins the game.

7. Chicago

Chicago

Game Goal

Be the player with the highest score after 11 rounds.

Scoring

In Chicago, you aim to roll every possible combination of two dice. There are 11 combinations, and you'll have 11 chances to roll them.

Each round has a target combination, starting at 2 and going up to 12 in sequence.

How to Play

1. The starting player rolls both dice. 2. For the first round, the target score is 2. If the player rolls two 1's, they score 2 points. If not, no points are awarded. 3. Play moves to the next player.

Round Target Combination
1 2
2 3
3 4
4 5
5 6
6 7
7 8
8 9
9 10
10 11
11 12

Winning

After 11 rounds, the player with the highest total score wins!

8. Bunco

Bunco

Game Goal

The aim of Bunco is to score points by rolling the target number for each round. The player or team with the most points at the end wins.

Scoring

Points are scored by rolling the target number for that round:

Round Target Number Points Scored
1 1 1 point per die showing 1
2 2 1 point per die showing 2
3 3 1 point per die showing 3
4 4 1 point per die showing 4
5 5 1 point per die showing 5
6 6 1 point per die showing 6

Rolling three of the target number is called a "Bunco" and scores 21 points, ending that round.

How to Play

  1. Players are divided into teams of two and seated at tables.
  2. Each round, players take turns rolling three dice, trying to roll the target number.
  3. Teams compete against other teams at their table.
  4. After each round, teams rotate tables and partners.

Winning

The game is played over six rounds. The team with the most rounds won is the winner. If there's a tie, the team with the most Buncos wins. If still tied, the team with the highest total score wins.

9. Ship, Captain, and Crew

Ship, Captain, and Crew

Goal

Roll a 6 (the "ship"), a 5 (the "captain"), and a 4 (the "crew") in three rolls or less. The remaining two dice are used to score points.

Scoring

Players score points by rolling the ship, captain, and crew in the correct order:

Roll Points
6 (ship) -
5 (captain) -
4 (crew) -
Remaining dice Sum of remaining dice

If a player rolls a 6, 5, and 4 in one or two rolls, they can re-roll the remaining dice to get a higher score.

Rules

Winning

The game continues until all players have had a turn. The player with the highest score at the end wins. If there is a tie, players take an extra turn until a winner is determined.

10. Dice 10000

Game Goal

Score over 10,000 points by rolling winning dice combinations.

Scoring Combinations

Roll Points
Single 5 50
Single 1 100
Three of a kind (except 1s) 100 x number rolled
Three 1s 1000
Four of a kind Double three of a kind score
Five of a kind Double four of a kind score
Six of a kind Double five of a kind score
Straight (1-6) 1500
Three pairs 1000

How to Play

  1. Roll the dice.
  2. Set aside scoring dice.
  3. Re-roll remaining dice to try for more points.
  4. If you don't score on a roll, you lose all points for that turn.

Winning

The first player to score over 10,000 points wins. Other players get one final roll to try to beat the highest score.

Comparing Dice Game Scoring Methods

Here's a comparison of the scoring methods for various dice games:

Game Goal Scoring Dice Rolls Key Rules Winning
Yahtzee Score points in 13 categories Ones, Twos, Threes, Fours, Fives, Sixes, Three/Four of a Kind, Full House, Small/Large Straight, Yahtzee, Chance Roll up to 3 times per turn, then score in one category Highest total score after 13 rounds
Farkle Reach 10,000 points Single 1, Single 5, Three/Four/Five/Six of a Kind, Straight, Three Pairs Bank points anytime. If no scoring combo, you "Farkle" and lose turn points First to 10,000 points. Others get one last roll
Shut the Box Close numbers on the board Single numbers, Pairs, Runs If you can't close numbers, your turn ends. Close all numbers to win instantly Lowest score wins after all players have had a turn
Ten Thousand Score over 10,000 points Single 1, Single 5, Three/Four/Five/Six of a Kind, Straight, Three Pairs Set aside scoring dice to re-roll. If no points scored, lose turn points First over 10,000 points wins. Others get one last roll
Pig Reach 100 points Single die rolls Roll and add to turn score. Roll 1 and lose turn points. Can "hold" anytime First to 100 points wins
Liar's Dice Be last player with dice Bluffing and guessing dice values Players only see their own dice. Make higher bids or challenge Last player with dice wins
Chicago Highest score after 11 rounds Roll target number each round (2 to 12) No points if you don't roll target number Highest total score after 11 rounds wins
Bunco Score 21 points per round Roll target number each round (1 to 6) Teams compete against others at their table. Rotate tables each round Team with most rounds won wins
Ship, Captain, and Crew Score highest points Roll 6 (ship), 5 (captain), 4 (crew) in order, then score remaining dice Re-roll remaining dice for higher score if rolled in 1-2 rolls Highest score wins after all players have had a turn
Dice 10000 Score over 10,000 points Single 1, Single 5, Three/Four/Five/Six of a Kind, Straight, Three Pairs Set aside scoring dice to re-roll. If no points scored, lose turn points First over 10,000 points wins. Others get one last roll

This table summarizes the goal, scoring dice rolls, key rules, and winning conditions for each dice game, making it easy to compare and understand the different scoring methods.

Final Thoughts

Dice games offer a wide range of scoring methods, each adding a unique twist to the classic dice rolling experience. From the familiar Yahtzee to the intriguing Ship, Captain, and Crew, exploring different scoring variants can enhance your gameplay and keep things fresh.

By understanding the various scoring systems, you can tailor the game to your preferences and create an engaging experience for you and your friends. Don't be afraid to experiment with house rules or combine elements from different games to craft your own unique scoring method.

Remember, the beauty of dice games lies in their simplicity. With practice, you'll develop your skills and become a dice game pro. Share your favorite scoring methods, tips, and experiences in the comments below, and let's grow the dice game community together!

As you delve into the world of dice games, keep an open mind and have fun. Mastering a new scoring method may take time, but the journey is part of the enjoyment. Happy rolling! 🎲

Key Takeaways

FAQs

What are the scoring rules for Farkle?

Here are the standard point scoring rules for Farkle:

Roll Points
5 50
1 100
Three of a kind (2-6) 100 x number (e.g., three 2s = 200, three 3s = 300)
Three 1s 1,000
Four of a kind 1,000
Five of a kind 2,000
Six of a kind 3,000
Straight (1-6) 1,500