How to play Yahtzee with darts: the 10-box Standard version, the 6-box Fast version, scoring, strategic tips and worked examples.
A little-known adaptation of the classic dice game that turns every three-dart throw into a strategic bet. It's absent from most scoring apps and mainstream scoreboards - but it's exactly the kind of mode that hooks casual players and gives seasoned throwers something new to think about.
Every player owns a scorecard of N boxes (10 in Standard, 6 in Fast). On each three-dart throw, you pick a free box and record your score there. A box can only be used once. When every box is filled, the game ends and the highest total wins.
About 15 to 20 minutes for three players.
The version closest to traditional Yahtzee. Six numbered boxes, four combination boxes.
| Box | How you score |
|---|---|
| Ones through Sixes | Sum of hits on that number (single = 1×, double = 2×, triple = 3×) |
| Three of a Kind | Three darts in the same segment: raw sum of the three |
| Straight | Three darts on three consecutive numbers: 30 flat points |
| Yahtzee | Three triples in the same segment: 50 flat points (rare, iconic) |
| Chance | Raw sum of your three darts - the "safety net" box |
Worked example: you record T20 + S20 + miss in Chance and pocket 80 points. Had you recorded it in Three of a Kind you would have scored 0 (not three darts in the same segment). Choice matters.
About 8 to 10 minutes for three players.
A shorter version - great as filler between two 501 legs, or as an entry point for newcomers who don't want to face a 10-box card straight away.
| Box | How you score |
|---|---|
| Pair | Two darts in the same segment: sum of both |
| Three of a Kind | Three darts in the same segment: raw sum |
| Small Street | All three darts in the 1-10 zone: raw sum |
| Large Street | All three darts in the 11-20 zone: raw sum |
| Five of a Kind | A triple + a double in the same segment (5 impacts in 2 darts): 100 flat points |
| Chance | Raw sum of your three darts |
Tip: Five of a Kind is worth 100 flat points for only two darts. If your 20 is on fire (T20 + D20), hold this box for the right moment.
The real game isn't throwing hard - it's picking the right box. Three principles that win rounds:
Got a mediocre throw at the start? Dump it in a hard box (Yahtzee, Five of a Kind) that you probably won't hit. Save your safe boxes (Chance, Ones through Sixes) for the endgame.
Never spend Chance early with an average throw. When you botch a throw late in the game, that's where it earns its keep.
Check the opponents' sheets: if they whiffed Ones, you can slow down there. If they're on fire, you need to swing for the fences - Yahtzee, Straight, Five of a Kind.
The mode is virtually absent from the reference scoring apps (DartConnect, Russ Bray, Nakka). Score Darts ships it as a native mode with both Standard and Fast variants, solo, multi-player or team.
You can play it in the browser at score-darts.com, or on the iOS and Android apps.
Score Darts tracks scores for you. Focus on your target.
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