Quick Guide: How To Play Yard Dice Rules & Scoring

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Quick Guide: How To Play Yard Dice Rules & Scoring

Yard dice games bring giant fun to your backyard. Many people ask, What is Yardzee? It’s a popular version of a classic dice game, played with oversized dice outdoors. Think of it like the board game Yahtzee, but big enough for the lawn! This guide explains Yard Dice rules and Yard dice scoring so you can start playing quickly. We will cover How to play Yardzee and other Outdoor dice games rules using these big dice. Get ready for some fun!

Gathering Your Gear: Yard Dice Game Setup

To play a Giant dice game, you need a few things. The setup is simple.

• Big Dice: You need five large dice. These are easy to see and fun to roll outside. Many sets are made of wood or foam.
• Scorecards: Each player needs a scorecard. You can print special Yardzee scorecards or just use paper. Make sure they have space for different scores.
• Pencils: For writing down scores.
• Buckets or Containers (Optional): Some people like to roll the dice inside a bucket. This keeps them from rolling too far away. This is where the name Bucket dice game rules comes from for some games.

That’s it! Find a nice open space like your yard, patio, or even a park. Make sure the area is flat and clear of things you could trip over. Your Yard dice game setup is now complete!

Learning the Basic Yard Dice Rules

Playing yard dice is easy. The main idea is to roll the dice to get certain number groups. Each player takes turns. A turn usually has up to three rolls.

Here are the basic steps for one player’s turn:

1. First Roll: The player rolls all five dice.
2. Choose Dice: After the first roll, the player looks at the dice. They choose which dice to keep and which to roll again. They can keep none, some, or all.
3. Second Roll: The player rolls the dice they did not keep. Again, they look at the dice and choose which ones to keep for good.
4. Third Roll: The player rolls the remaining dice one last time.
5. Score: After the third roll (or earlier if they choose to stop), the player must use the final result of the five dice to score points in one box on their scorecard.

Players take turns doing this. The game ends when everyone has filled all the scoring boxes on their card. The player with the most points wins!

Getting the Rules Right: More on Turns

Let’s look closer at the turn rules for Outdoor dice games rules.

• You Don’t Have to Roll Three Times: A player can stop after their first or second roll if they are happy with the dice they have. They then score right away.
• Keeping Dice: When you keep a die, you set it aside. It cannot be re-rolled in that turn.
• Changing Your Mind: Once you set a die aside to keep it, you generally can’t decide to re-roll it later in that same turn.
• Using the Scorecard: Each scoring box on the scorecard can only be used once per player in a game. If you roll a combination you can’t score (because that box is already used or you didn’t get any valid combination), you must choose a box to score a zero in. Often, players use a low-scoring box or one they know they won’t get later, like the Yardzee box itself if they missed it.

These Large print yard dice rules are simple, making it fun for everyone.

Figuring Out Yard Dice Scoring

Scoring is the most important part of How to play Yardzee. The goal is to get combinations of dice that match the boxes on your scorecard. There are different sections on the card.

Let’s break down the common scoring categories you’ll find for Yard dice scoring.

Upper Section Scoring

The upper section is about getting as many dice of the same number as possible.

• Ones: Score points for each number 1 rolled. If you roll three 1s, you score 3 points (3 x 1).
• Twos: Score points for each number 2 rolled. If you roll four 2s, you score 8 points (4 x 2).
• Threes: Score points for each number 3 rolled.
• Fours: Score points for each number 4 rolled.
• Fives: Score points for each number 5 rolled.
• Sixes: Score points for each number 6 rolled.

Bonus for Upper Section: There’s a bonus if your total score in the upper section reaches a certain number. For Yardzee, this is usually 63 points. If you reach 63 or more, you get an extra 35 points! This bonus is a big goal. To get 63 points, you need to average three of each number (3×1 + 3×2 + … + 3×6 = 3 + 6 + 9 + 12 + 15 + 18 = 63).

Let’s look at an example roll and how to score it in the upper section:

Suppose you roll: 4, 4, 4, 2, 5

• You could score 12 in the Fours box (3 x 4).
• You could score 2 in the Twos box (1 x 2).
• You could score 5 in the Fives box (1 x 5).
• You would score 0 in the Ones, Threes, and Sixes boxes with this roll.

You must pick only one box to score in per turn.

Lower Section Scoring

The lower section is about getting specific combinations of dice, much like in poker.

• 3 of a Kind: Get three dice with the same number. Score the total of all five dice. Example: Roll 3, 3, 3, 5, 2. Total = 16.
• 4 of a Kind: Get four dice with the same number. Score the total of all five dice. Example: Roll 6, 6, 6, 6, 1. Total = 25.
• Full House: Get three dice of one number and two dice of another number. Example: Roll 4, 4, 4, 2, 2. This scores a fixed 25 points.
• Small Straight: Get four dice in a row. The numbers must be like 1-2-3-4, 2-3-4-5, or 3-4-5-6. Example: Roll 1, 2, 3, 4, 6. This is a small straight. Score a fixed 30 points. The fifth die doesn’t matter.
• Large Straight: Get five dice in a row. The numbers must be 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6. Example: Roll 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This scores a fixed 40 points.
• Yardzee: Get all five dice with the same number. This is the hardest to get! Example: Roll 5, 5, 5, 5, 5. This scores a fixed 50 points.
• Chance: Score the total of all five dice. You can use this box for any roll that doesn’t fit another category, or when you just want to score the sum of the dice. Example: Roll 1, 3, 4, 5, 6. Score 19 points (1+3+4+5+6).

Here is a table showing the standard Yardzee scoring:

Category	How to Get It	Points	Notes
Upper Section
Ones	Sum of all 1s	Sum of 1s
Twos	Sum of all 2s	Sum of 2s
Threes	Sum of all 3s	Sum of 3s
Fours	Sum of all 4s	Sum of 4s
Fives	Sum of all 5s	Sum of 5s
Sixes	Sum of all 6s	Sum of 6s
Upper Bonus	Total Upper Section score is 63 or more	+35 Points	Get 3 of each number to hit 63 easily
Lower Section
3 of a Kind	Three dice the same number	Sum of all dice
4 of a Kind	Four dice the same number	Sum of all dice
Full House	3 of one number, 2 of another	25 Points	e.g., 4,4,4, 2,2
Small Straight	Four numbers in sequence (e.g., 1-2-3-4)	30 Points	e.g., 1,2,3,4, any
Large Straight	Five numbers in sequence (e.g., 1-2-3-4-5)	40 Points	e.g., 1,2,3,4,5
Yardzee	All five dice the same number	50 Points	e.g., 6,6,6,6,6
Chance	Any combination	Sum of all dice	Use when you can’t score elsewhere

Yardzee Bonus Rules

What happens if you roll another Yardzee after you’ve already scored 50 points in the Yardzee box? Great question! This is called a Yardzee Bonus.

• If you roll a second, third, or more Yardzee and you scored 50 in the Yardzee box the first time (you didn’t use it for 0), you get a 100-point bonus!
• Plus, you can then use that Yardzee roll as a “wildcard” to score in any other box on the score sheet.
  • If you use it in an upper section box (Ones through Sixes), you score the sum of all dice (e.g., a Yardzee of 6s would score 30 points in the Sixes box, plus the 100 bonus).
  • If you use it in a lower section box (3 of a Kind, 4 of a Kind, Chance), you score the sum of all dice (e.g., a Yardzee of 6s would score 30 in Chance, plus the 100 bonus).
  • If you use it for a Full House, Small Straight, or Large Straight, you score the fixed points for that category (25, 30, or 40 points), plus the 100 bonus. You can do this even if the dice numbers don’t match the straight (e.g., a Yardzee of 3s can be used as a Large Straight for 40 points). This is a powerful way to score points!
• If you rolled a Yardzee but had to score 0 in the Yardzee box earlier in the game (because you couldn’t score anywhere else), you cannot get the 100-point bonus. You can still use the Yardzee roll to score in another available box, but you won’t get the bonus points.

These bonus rules make getting multiple Yardzees very exciting and can really boost your score! This level of detail is part of standard How to play Yardzee guides.

Strategies for Better Yard Dice Play

Just like in the smaller version, there’s some thinking involved in Yard Dice rules. Here are a few tips:

• Go for the Upper Section Bonus: Trying to get at least three of each number in the upper section is a good plan. The 35-point bonus can make a big difference. In early turns, try to get as many of one number as you can.
• Save Chance: The Chance box is useful for when you have a bad roll and can’t score anywhere else without taking a zero in a valuable box. Try not to use it early unless your roll gives you a really high sum.
• Prioritize Hard Combos: Yardzee, Large Straight, and Small Straight are hard to get. If you have a chance to roll for one of these, it might be worth trying.
• Manage Zeros: You will have rolls that don’t fit any open box. You must score a zero somewhere. Try to score zeros in boxes you know you are unlikely to get (like Sixes if you’ve had bad luck with 6s all game) or in boxes that have lower fixed points (like Full House if you really need a straight).
• Watch Other Players: See which boxes your opponents are filling. This doesn’t change your rolls, but it helps you see where everyone stands.

Playing smart with Yard dice rules can lead to higher scores.

Exploring Other Outdoor Dice Games Rules

While Yardzee is very popular, the large dice can be used for other fun games too! Here are a couple of examples:

Yard Farkle Rules

Yard Farkle is another game you can play with six (sometimes five or six) yard dice. The goal is to be the first player to reach a target score, often 10,000 points.

Here’s a basic rundown of Yard Farkle rules:

• Scoring Dice: Only certain dice score points.
  • Single 1s = 100 points
  • Single 5s = 50 points
  • Three 1s = 1000 points
  • Three 2s = 200 points
  • Three 3s = 300 points
  • Three 4s = 400 points
  • Three 5s = 500 points
  • Three 6s = 600 points
  • Four of a kind = Double the three-of-a-kind score (e.g., four 2s = 400)
  • Five of a kind = Triple the three-of-a-kind score (e.g., five 2s = 600)
  • Six of a kind = Quadruple the three-of-a-kind score (e.g., six 2s = 800)
  • A straight (1-2-3-4-5-6 with one roll) = 1500 points
  • Three pairs (e.g., 2,2, 4,4, 6,6 with one roll) = 1500 points
  • Four of a kind and a pair (e.g., 3,3,3,3, 5,5 with one roll) = 1500 points
  • Two three-of-a-kinds (e.g., 2,2,2, 6,6,6 with one roll) = 2500 points
• How a Turn Works:
  1. Roll all six dice.
  2. Look for scoring dice or combinations. You must set aside at least one scoring die.
  3. Decide to “push your luck” or “bank” your points.
     • Bank: Stop rolling and add your current points for the turn to your total score. Your turn ends.
     • Push Your Luck: Roll the remaining dice (the ones you did not set aside for score). You must set aside at least one scoring die from the new roll. If you can’t set aside any scoring dice from the new roll, you “Farkle.”
• What is a Farkle? If you roll the dice and none of them are scoring dice or part of a scoring combination you can take, you “Farkle.” You score zero points for that turn, even if you had points saved up from earlier rolls in the turn. Your turn ends.
• “Hot Dice”: If you manage to score with all six dice in one turn, you have “Hot Dice.” You get to roll all six dice again and continue adding to your score for that turn.
• Starting to Score: Usually, players need to reach a minimum score (e.g., 500 points) on their first turn before they can start banking points.
• Winning: The first player to reach or pass the target score wins. Some rules say you must reach it exactly, others let you go over.

Yard Farkle offers more risk and reward than Yardzee, as you decide whether to keep rolling. It’s another great use for your Large print yard dice rules.

Bucket Dice Game Rules (Simple Version)

Sometimes, “Bucket Dice” just means playing Yardzee or Farkle using a bucket to roll. But there’s also a simpler game that uses the dice and buckets.

Here’s a simple version of Bucket dice game rules:

• Setup: Place 10 buckets (or containers, bowls, etc.) in a row or a spread-out pattern. Label each bucket with numbers 1 through 10.
• Gameplay: Players take turns rolling the five yard dice.
• Scoring:
  • After rolling, players look at the sum of their dice.
  • They try to “fill” the buckets by adding the sum to the number already in the bucket.
  • Example: If you roll a total of 7, you can score that 7 in the bucket labeled “7”. The goal is to fill all 10 buckets.
  • A different version: Instead of summing, you use the individual dice. If you roll a 3 and a 4, you can score in the “3” bucket and the “4” bucket. Or if you roll two 5s, you score in the “5” bucket. The goal is to get a die or combination of dice that totals the bucket number (e.g., a 2 and a 3 to score in the “5” bucket).
• Winning: The first player to “fill” or “close out” all their buckets (1 through 10) wins.

These Bucket dice game rules offer a different kind of challenge and are very easy for young players to learn.

Keeping Track: Scorecard Details

Using a clear scorecard is vital for Yard dice scoring.

• Upper Section: You’ll see spaces for “Game 1,” “Game 2,” etc. for each player. Write the score for Ones, Twos, etc., in the correct box for that turn. Sum these scores at the bottom of the upper section.
• Bonus Line: There’s a line to mark if you got the Upper Section bonus (usually 63 or more points). Write 35 here if you earned it.
• Upper Total: Add the sum of the upper section scores and the bonus (if any).
• Lower Section: Write the score you get for 3 of a Kind, Full House, Yardzee, etc., in the correct box for that turn.
• Lower Total: Sum all the scores in the lower section.
• Grand Total: Add the Upper Total and the Lower Total for the player’s final score.

Some scorecards also have sections for tracking Yardzee bonuses separately. Make sure everyone understands which box they are scoring in each turn. If you mess up a roll and can’t score, write a “0” in a box you choose. This box is now used up.

Frequently Asked Questions about Yard Dice

Here are some common questions people ask about Outdoor dice games rules and Giant dice game instructions.

• Q: Can I roll the dice anywhere?
  A: Yes, you can roll them on grass, concrete, decks, etc. Just make sure the area is safe and flat. Rolling in a bucket or a designated area can help keep the dice from going too far.
  
• Q: What if a die rolls off the playing area?
  A: If you are using a defined area, a die that rolls out is usually not counted for that roll. You might have to re-roll just that die, or the whole roll might be invalid depending on house rules. Agree on this before you start.
  
• Q: Can more than one person play?
  A: Yes, yard dice games are great for groups! Two or more players can play Yardzee or Farkle.
• Q: How long does a game of Yardzee take?
  A: A game of Yardzee usually takes about 15-30 minutes, depending on the number of players. Each player gets 13 turns (one for each scoring category).
• Q: What if I roll a Yardzee but already used the Yardzee box for 0?
  A: Based on common Yardzee rules, you do not get the 100-point bonus in this case. You can still use the roll to score in another available box (like scoring 30 points in the Sixes box if you rolled sixes), but you miss out on the bonus points.
• Q: Are Yard Dice sets different?
  A: Most sets have five or six large dice (usually 3.5 inches or larger). Some sets come with scorecards or buckets. The core Large print yard dice rules for Yardzee are standard, but Yard Farkle might use six dice instead of five.
• Q: Is Yardzee the same as Yahtzee?
  A: Yes, Yardzee is the outdoor, large-scale version of the classic game Yahtzee. The How to play Yardzee rules and scoring are the same as Yahtzee rules and scoring.

Playing yard dice is a fun way to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family. With these Yard Dice rules and scoring tips, you are ready to roll!