Components
- 5 Custom National Park Dice
- Custom Travel Dice Cup with Lid
- Custom Score Pad
- Pencil
- Instructions
What's the Same?
Play the National Parks Travel Edition of Yahtzee the same way you play traditional Yahtzee!
What's Different?
- The dice! They feature fun park icons which replace the pips.
- The dice cup can store all the components for easy travel.
- Use this legend to help score.
Object of the Game
Roll dice for scoring combinations and get the highest total score.
Traditional Yahtzee Rules
On each turn, roll the dice up to 3 times to get the highest-scoring combination for one of 13 categories. After you finish rolling, you must place a score or a zero in one of the 13 category boxes on your score card.
The game ends when all players have filled in their 13 boxes. Scores are totaled, including any bonus points. The player with the highest total wins.
Each player takes a score card. To decide who goes first, each player in turn rolls all 5 dice. The player with the highest total goes first. Play then passes to the left.
Taking a Turn
On your turn, you may roll the dice up to 3 times, although you may stop and score after your first or second roll. To roll the dice, place them in the dice cup, shake them up, and roll them out.
First roll: roll all 5 dice. Set aside any "keepers". You don't need to declare which combination you're rolling for; you may change your mind after any roll.
You may stop and score after your second roll, or set aside any "keepers" and roll a third time.
Third and final roll: reroll ANY or ALL dice you want. After your third roll, you must fill in a box on your score card with a score or a zero. After you fill in a box, your turn is over.
Scoring
When you are finished rolling, decide which box to fill in on your score card.
For each game, there is a column of 13 boxes. You must fill in a box on each turn; if you can't (or don't want to) enter a score, you must enter a zero.
Fill in each box only once, in any order, depending on your best scoring option.
The score card is divided into an Upper Section and a Lower Section. Scoring combinations for each section are explained below.
To score in the Upper Section, add only the dice with the same number and enter the total in the appropriate box. For example, with the dice shown on the next page you could score 9 in the Threes box, 2 in the Twos box or 4 in the Fours box.
Your goal in the Upper Section is to score a total of at least 63 points, to earn a 35-point bonus. The bonus points are based on scoring three of each number (Aces through Sixes); however, you may earn the bonus with any combination of scores totaling 63 points or more.
Each of the Lower Section scoring combinations is explained in detail.
3 of a Kind
Score in this box only if the dice include 3 or more of the same number. For example, with the dice shown the 3 of a Kind box.
Other Scoring Options: you could instead score 18 in the Chance box, or you could score in the Upper Section: 15 in the Fives box, 2 in the Twos box or 1 in the Aces box.
4 of a Kind
Score in this box only if the dice include 4 or more of the same number. For example, with the dice shown here you could score 14 points in the 4 of a Kind box.
Other Scoring Options: you could instead score 14 in the 3 of a Kind box or in the Chance box - or you could score in the Upper Section: 8 in the Twos box, or 6 in the Sixes box.
Full House
Score in this box only if the dice show three of one number and two of another. Any Full House is worth 25 points. For example, with the dice shown here you could score 25 points in the Full House box.
Other Scoring Options: you could instead score 19 in the 3 of a Kind box or in the Chance box - or you could score in the Upper Section: 9 in the Threes box or 10 in the Fives box.
Small Straight
Score in this box only if the dice show any sequence of four numbers. Any Small Straight is worth 30 points. You could score 30 points in the Small Straight box with any of the three dice combinations shown here.
Other Scoring Options: you could instead score in the Chance box, or in the appropriate Upper Section box.
Large Straight
Score in this box only if the dice show any sequence of five numbers. Any Large Straight is worth 40 points. You could score 40 points in the Large Straight box with either of the two dice combinations shown here.
Other Scoring Options: you could instead score in the Small Straight box, the Chance box, or the appropriate Upper Section box.
Yahtzee
Score in this box only if the dice show five of the same number (5 of a Kind). A Yahtzee example is shown here. The first Yahtzee you enter in the Yahtzee box is worth 50 points. For each additional Yahtzee you roll, you earn a bonus.
Chance
Score the total of any 5 dice in this box. This catch-all category comes in handy when you can't (or don't want to) score in another category, and don't want to enter zero. For example, you could score 22 points in the Chance box with the dice shown here.
Yahtzee Bonus
If you roll a Yahtzee and have already filled in the Yahtzee box with a 50, you get a 100-point bonus! And place a check mark (✓) in the Yahtzee BONUS box on your score card.
Then fill in one of the 13 boxes on your score card according to the JOKER RULES, described below.
As long as you've scored 50 in the Yahtzee box, you get a Yahtzee bonus for each additional Yahtzee you roll - just squeeze in the check marks if necessary! If you roll a Yahtzee and have already entered zero in the Yahtzee box, you do not earn a Yahtzee bonus.
However, you must fill in one of the 13 boxes on your score card according to the JOKER RULES below.
Joker Rules
Score the total of all 5 dice in the appropriate Upper Section box. If this box has already been filled in, score as follows in any open Lower Section box:
- 3 of a kind: total of all 5 dice
- 4 of a kind: total of all 5 dice
- full house: 25 points
- small straight: 30 points
- large straight: 40 points
- chance: total of all 5 dice
If the appropriate Upper Section box and all Lower Section boxes are filled in, you must enter a zero in any open Upper Section box. For example, you roll 5 Fours.
You've already entered zero in the Yahtzee box, and have also scored in the Fours box in the Upper Section. The Joker rules allow you to score in any open box in the Lower Section. You decide to score 40 points in the Large Straight box.
End of the Game
Once each player has filled in all 13 category boxes, the game ends. Each player now adds up his or her score as follows:
Upper Section: Add up the Upper Section scores and enter the total in the TOTAL SCORE box. Enter the 35-point bonus in the BONUS box if you scored 63 points or more. Then enter the total in the TOTAL box.
Lower Section: Add up the Lower Section scores, and enter the total in the TOTAL of Lower Section box. Add 100 points for each checkmark in the Yahtzee BONUS boxes.
Grand Total: Add the Upper Section and Lower Section scores, and enter the total in this box. This is your score for the game.
After the scores are tallied, the player with the highest Grand Total wins the game!
A Turn Example
You're well into a 4-player game. Your dice rolls and scoring strategy are illustrated below.
First Roll
You could roll again for Fours or 3 of a Kind or Large Straight. You've already scored your Small Straight, so it's risky, but the 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 gives you a good chance of rolling either an Ace or a Six in the next two rolls. You decide to set aside the Small Straight and re-roll the die.
Second Rolle
You roll a Two. You could re-roll the die again for your Large Straight, or set aside the 2 Twos and roll for your Twos or for 3 of a Kind. You decide to set aside the Twos and re-roll the remaining 3 dice.
Third and Final Roll
You roll 1 Two and 2 Threes. You could score 6 points for Twos, 12 points for 3 of a Kind, or 25 points for Full House. You decide on the Full House because this combination can be tough to roll.
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