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Yahtzee Strategy: How to Actually Win More Games
The core strategy: secure the 35-point upper bonus by banking Fives and Sixes early, chase five of a kind whenever three matching dice appear on the first roll, keep Chance as a safety net for busted turns, and take zeros in Aces rather than wasting strong rolls on weak boxes.
1. Treat the upper bonus as priority one
The 35-point bonus is the most controllable big score in the game. Stay on the three-of-each pace, and when a roll offers similar points in two places, prefer the upper box while the bonus is still live.
2. Chase five of a kind early, not late
Three matching dice on the first roll gives you two full re-rolls at the other two dice. That's when the 50 (plus future 100-point bonuses) is worth chasing. Three of a kind appearing on your last roll is just a scoring decision, not a chase.
3. Take your zeros in the cheapest box
When a turn busts, zero the box with the least to lose, usually Aces (max 5) or Twos (max 10). Never zero the 50-point box or Large Straight while realistic chances remain.
4. Save Chance for a real emergency
Chance is the only box that accepts any dice, which makes it insurance. Spending it early on a mediocre 18 leaves you nowhere to hide when a late turn collapses. Held to the end, it converts a busted five-of-a-kind chase (say, 6-6-6-4-2) into a respectable 28–30.
5. Know your straight odds
An inside run (2-3-4-5) completes the large straight on either end, 1 in 3 per re-roll. Open runs like 1-2-3-4 need one exact number. Bank the sure 30 early; chase the 40 late. Details in the straights guide.
6. Fill full house with cheap dice
The full house pays a flat 25, so low pairs and triples belong there: spend 2-2-2-3-3 on it and save your Sixes for the upper section and the of-a-kind boxes.
7. Re-roll with a target, not a hope
Before every re-roll, name the box you're trying to fill. Holding 5-5 while vaguely wanting "something good" wastes rolls; holding 5-5 to build the Fives box (bonus pace!) or a five-of-a-kind chase is a plan.
Practicing in Feltzee
Feltzee is a fast way to build these instincts because every open box shows its potential score for the current dice; the cost of each choice is visible before you commit. The Upper Bonus tracker keeps tip #1 honest, the local top-10 gives you a number to beat, and new felt tables unlock at 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 500, and 650 points, turning practice into a ladder.
Download Feltzee free on the App Store.
Quick answers
What should I fill first?
There's no fixed order, but keep the upper bonus pace early and hold Chance as long as you can. Fill cheap boxes with busted turns.
When should I zero the five-of-a-kind box?
Only when the game leaves no choice, typically in the last turns with no chase left. A zero there also forfeits all future 100-point bonuses.
Play it free in Feltzee
The classic five-dice game on green felt: free, offline, no ads, no account. 5.0★ on the App Store.
