Yatzy
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Yahtzee. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2012. |
Yatzy [1] is a public domain dice game, similar to the Latin American game Generala, the English game of Poker Dice, the Yacht (dice game), the Cheerio (dice game) [2] and Yahtzee (trademarked by Hasbro in the United States [3]). Yatzy is most popular in the Scandinavian countries.
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[edit] Gameplay
Yatzy can be played solitaire or by any number players. Players take turns rolling five dice. After each roll, the player chooses which dice to keep, and which to reroll. A player may reroll some or all of the dice up to two times on a turn. The player with the highest total score wins the game.
[edit] Scoring
The following combinations earn points:
Upper Section:
- Ones: The sum of all dice showing the number 1.
- Twos: The sum of all dice showing the number 2.
- Threes: The sum of all dice showing the number 3.
- Fours: The sum of all dice showing the number 4.
- Fives: The sum of all dice showing the number 5.
- Sixes: The sum of all dice showing the number 6.
If a player manages to score at least 63 points (three of each number) in the upper section, they are awarded a bonus of 50 points (in some instances 25 or 35).
Lower Section:
- One Pair: Two dice showing the same number. Score: Sum of those two dice.
- Two Pairs: Two pairs of dice. Score: Sum of dice in those two pairs.
- Three of a Kind: Three dice showing the same number. Score: Sum of those three dice.
- Four of a Kind: Four dice with the same number. Score: Sum of those four dice.
- Small Straight: The combination 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Score: 15 points (sum of all the dice).
- Large Straight: The combination 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Score: 20 points (sum of all the dice).
- House: Any set of three combined with a set of two. Score: Sum of all the dice.
- Yatzy: All five dice with the same number. Score: 50 points.
- Chance: Any combination of dice. Score: Sum of all the dice.
In some instances the sets in Two Pairs and House must have different numbers, i.e. the combination 5, 5, 6, 6 will constitute Two Pairs, but 5, 5, 5, 5 will not. In other instances they may be equal.
[edit] Variations
The two most common variations are Forced Yatzy and Maxi Yatzy:
[edit] Forced Yatzy
In this variant the players must score in exactly the same sequence as listed above, i.e. Ones first, then Twos, and so on. The requirement for upper section bonus is reduced to 42 (two of each number).
[edit] Maxi Yatzy
This variant is played with 6 dice. Here the Yatzy-combination is removed and the following combinations are added to the lower section:
- Three Pairs: Three pairs of dice. Score: Sum of all the dice.
- Five of a Kind: Five dice with the same number. Score: Sum of those five dice.
- Full Straight: The combination 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Score: 21 points (sum of all the dice).
- Castle: Two sets of three dice showing the same number. Score: Sum of all the dice.
- Tower: A set of four combined with a set of two. Score: Sum of all the dice.
- Maxi Yatzy: All six dice with the same number. Score: 100 points.
Also, upper section score requires 84 points (four of each) to get the bonus, here 100 points.
