Yahtzee and Yam's - MultiMedia

Yahtzee (also spelled Yatzee, Yatzy) or Yam‘s, is a traditional society game of reasoned chance. The goal is to get combinations with five dice to win maximum points. It belongs to the public domain.

Rules

The rules vary widely and many variations exist in the establishment of the score sheet and in the points tally. However the logic of probability must be met (for example, a small straight can not be 5 dice as soon as the large straight also consists of five dice). It is advisable for players to agree at the beginning of the game. The explanations below are an example of a current play.

Each player rolls the dice when it is his turn. His aim is, with the help of the five dice, to make a figure (5 identical dice, a pair, three of a kind…) To achieve this figure, he has the right to three rolls of dice per turn and it is for each throw free to restart all or just some of dice of his choice.

The winner is the one who makes the most points, some figures giving extra points if they are successful.

The score sheet is typically divided into two parts. However, some versions accept a third party, named intermediate part.

Yam’s Box 1985

Minor part

Maximum of 1: players must get as many dice with side 1/it counts 1 time the number of value of dice 1
Maximum of 2: players must get as many dice with side 2/it counts 1 time the number of value of dice 2
Maximum of 3: players must get as many dice with side 3/it counts 1 time the number of value of dice 3
Maximum of 4: players must get as many dice with side 4/it counts 1 time the number of value of dice 4
Maximum of 5: players must get as many dice with side 5/it counts 1 time the number of value of dice 5
Maximum of 6: players must get as many dice with side 6/it counts 1 time the number of value of dice 6

They get a 35 points bonus if the minor part of the total is greater than 63 points.

Major part

Three of a kind: players must get 3 dice of the same value / they score 3 times the value of identical dice
Four of a kind: players must get 4 dice of the same value / they score 4 times the value of identical dice
Full: players must get 3 dice of the same value and 2 dice of the same other value – (three of a kind + a pair) / they score 25 points
Small straight: players must get 4 dice in sequence (1-2-3-4 / 2-3-4-5 / 3-4-5-6) / they score 30 points
Large straight: players must get 5 dice in sequence (1-2-3-4-5 / 2-3-4-5-6) / they score 40 points
Yams: players must get 5 dice of the same value / they score 50 points (only 2 Yams are allowed)
Chance: players must get as many points / they mark the sum of the value of the dice

Depending on the total (bonuses included) for the minor and major parts, the winner is decided.

Yahtzee and Yam’s Public Domain differences

It’s this last part where the many versions of Yahtzee differ. Scoring Yatzy knows several possible variations:

A full house will always give you 25 points in Yahtzee while total in Yam’s is 25 points + the sum of the dice. For example, a full 4 4 4 5 5 give a total of 47 points (25 + 22)
A four of a kind is not worth much at Yahtzee, indeed, it is the total of the dice, for example with 6 6 6 6 1 it will give you 25. In Yam’s this gives you 40 points + dice, therefore 40 + 25 = 65 points
A Yahtzee or a Yam’s (5 identical dice) is worth 50 points in Yahtzee, and 50 + dice in Yam’s so from 55 to 80 points. This is “fairer” for if a Yahtzee of 6 is done in Yahtzee, it is worth same value as a Yahtzee of 1 (it should, however, note that the probability of getting five identical faces is the same regardless of the value of the face)

1-6 For each figure, you must have a maximum of dice. If you get at least 63 points in the column, you have a bonus of 35. Example of sum of the dice “3 3 3 2 4” For 3: 3 * 3 = 9, For 2: 2, For 4: 4 Min strictly less than Max sum of 5 dice “3 2 3 2 4” 3 + 2 + 3 + 2 + 4 = 14 Max strictly greater than min sum of 5 dice “3 5 6 3 4” 6 + 5 + 6 + 2 + 4 = 25
Three of a kind dice 10 + sum of the 3 dice “5 5 5 3 2“ 10 + 5 * 3 = 25
Four of a kind dice identical 30 + sum of the 4 dice “3 3 3 3 6“ 30 + 3 * 4 = 42
Full 3 identical dice + 2 other identical dice, sum of 30 + 5 dice “3 3 3 6 6“ 30+ (3 * 3) + (6 * 2) = 51
Straight 5 dice, 30 + sum of 5 dice “2 3 5 4 6“ 30+ 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 = 50
Yams 5 identical dice, sum of 50 + 5 dice “6 6 6 6 6“ 50 + 6 * 5 = 80

Yahtzee Public domain

The top part

Combination >>> Points
Ace >>> 1 × the number of dice of 1 obtained
Two >>> 2 × the number of dice of 2 obtained
Three >>> 3 × the number of dice of 3 obtained
Four >>> 4 × 4 the number of dice of 4 obtained
Five >>> 5 × the number of dice of 5 obtained
Six >>> 6 × 6 the number of dice of 6 obtained
Subtotal >>> Total points obtained above
Premium >>> 35 points if the subtotal is greater than or equal to 63 points
Total I >>> Sum of the subtotal and the possible premium

The premium is achieved by having 63 points – bringing the score to 98. To get 63 points, you must have got three aces, three of two, three of three, etc.

Lower part

Combination >>> Description >>> Points
Three of a kind >>> Three identical dice >>> Sum of all dice
Small straight >>> 1,2,3,4; 2,3,4,5 or 3,4,5,6 >>> 30 points
Large straight >>> 1,2,3,4,5 or 2,3,4,5,6 >>> 40 points
Full >>> Three identical dice + two identical dice >>> 25 points
Four of a kind >>> Four identical dice >>> Sum of all dice
Yahtzee >>> Five identical dice >>> 50 points
Chance >>> Nothing special >>> Sum of all dice

Yam’s public domain

The top part

The upper portion is substantially the same, only the premium differs, it is obtained 60 points, and is more complex to calculate. It is 30 points plus the difference between the realized score and 60.

Central part

Combination >>> Description >>> Points
Higher (or more) >>> Must be greater than the “lower” box >>> Sum of dice
Lower (or less) >>> Must be below the “upper” box >>> Sum of dice

To count the lower and upper total simply add the two boxes This part replaces the chance of Yathzee

Lower part

Combination >>> Description >>> Points
Four of a kind >>> Four identical dice >>> 40 points + sum of dice
Full >>> Three identical dice + two identical dice >>> 30 points + sum of dice
Small straight >>> Following 4 dice >>> 45 points
Large straight >>> Following 5 dice >>> 50 points
Yam’s >>> Five identical dice >>> 50 points + sum of dice
Rill >>> 4 identical dice + 1 reverse die >>> 50 points

Variants

Sec: It is only allowed a single roll of the dice.
Score sheet with multiple columns: order, inverted order, disorder, sec. (The player chooses each throw in which column he registered his score).
Pairs / Three of a kind: ability to upgrade the grid using boxes: “1 pair” / “2 pairs” / “Three of a kind“
Two straights with 5 dice: Small 1-2-3-4-5 (45 points) and large 2-3-4-5-6 (50 points)
The “Rill“: it is an improved four of a kind, that is to say 4 identical dice + a fifth die having the value of the face opposite to that of 4 dice. For example : 4x [1] and 1x [6], 4x [4] and 1x [3], 4x [2] 1x [5], etc.