Yacht (dice game)

Yacht[1] is a public domain dice game, similar to the Latin American game Generala, the English game of Poker Dice, the Scandinavian Yatzy, and Cheerio.[2] Yacht dates back to at least 1938.[1] Yahtzee (trademarked in the United States by Hasbro[3]) is a later development, similar to Yacht in both name and content.

The name Yacht is also used for a number of later dice games that include many features of Yahtzee, being closer to Yahtzee than the original Yacht game.[4][5]

Gameplay

The object of the game is to score points by rolling five dice to make certain combinations. The dice can be rolled up to three times in a turn to try to make these combinations. A game consists of twelve rounds. After each round the player chooses which scoring category is to be used for that round. Once a category has been used in the game, it cannot be used again. The scoring categories have varying point values, some of which are fixed values and others where the score depends on the value of the dice. A Yacht is five-of-a-kind and scores 50 points; the highest of any category. The winner is the player who scores most points.

Scoring

The following are the 12 categories and the points scored in those categories:

Category Description Score Example
Ones Any combination The sum of dice with the number 1 scores 3
Twos Any combination The sum of dice with the number 2 scores 6
Threes Any combination The sum of dice with the number 3 scores 12
Fours Any combination The sum of dice with the number 4 scores 8
Fives Any combination The sum of dice with the number 5 scores 0
Sixes Any combination The sum of dice with the number 6 scores 18
Full House Three of one number and
two of another		 Sum of all dice scores 19
Four-Of-A-Kind At least four dice showing the same face Sum of those four dice scores 20
Little Straight 1-2-3-4-5 Varies
Often 30		 scores 30
Big Straight 2-3-4-5-6 Varies
Often 30		 scores 30
Choice Any combination Sum of all dice scores 13
Yacht All five dice showing the same face 50 scores 50

If a category is chosen but the dice do not match the requirements of the category the player scores 0 in that category.

A Yacht cannot be scored on Full House but can be scored on Four of a Kind, although the fifth dice is not counted in the score. The score for the Straights vary, but 30 is a typical score for each.[6][7]

The maximum possible score depends on the scoring rules used but with the above rules and both straights counting 30, the maximum score is 297.[6]

Score sheet

CATEGORY SCORE
Ones
Twos
Threes
Fours
Fives
Sixes
Full House
Four of a kind
Little Straight
Big Straight
Choice
Yacht
TOTAL

Comparison with Yahtzee

The rules of Yacht differ from those of Yahtzee in a number of ways:

There are a number of differences to the category names compared to Yahtzee. "Aces" is often called "Ones", "Small Straight" is called "Little Straight", "Large Straight" is called "Big Straight", "Yahtzee" is called "Yacht" and "Chance" is called "Choice". The order of the categories on the score sheet can also be different to that used on a Yahtzee score sheet. There is no "upper" or "lower" section scoring, just a "Total" row at the bottom of the score sheet.

Although there are no official rules for Yacht, the scoring of some categories generally differs from that used in Yahtzee. Four-of-a-kind scores the sum of those four dice, not all five dice. Full house scores the sum of the five dice, not a fixed score of 25. The scores for the straights can be different to that used in Yahtzee.

References

  1. 1 2 Wood, Clement and Goddard, Gloria, The Complete Book of Games, Halcyon House, NY, 1938
  2. ↑ Cheerio Instructions
  3. ↑ Yahtzee trademark registration at USTPO
  4. ↑ Yacht Instructions
  5. ↑ How to Play Yacht Game
  6. 1 2 http://www.family-games-treasurehouse.com/yacht.html
  7. ↑ http://www.mindbenders.webspace.virginmedia.com/Downloads/Yacht%20Scoresheets.pdf
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