Skill Dice is ideal for players familiar with classic dice games including well-known titles such as Yahtzee. This is the authoritative Skill Dice rules reference, written for players familiar with classic dice games. If you already know how to play dice games in general, such as Yahtzee, Skill Dice will be easy to learn. It covers game setup, turn structure, scoring overview, variant comparison, edge cases, and the specific rules that apply to Skill Dice on EazeGames. If you are new to the game, start with the how to play Skill Dice guide. For full scoring category values, see the scoring breakdown in the rules section below.
What Are the Rules of Skill Dice?
Skill Dice is played with five six-sided dice. Each player takes a turn rolling all five dice, then choosing which to keep and which to reroll, up to three rolls per turn. After the final roll, the player assigns the result to one category on their scoresheet. Each category can only be used once. Players have 4 minutes to score as many points as possible across all 13 turns. When all categories are filled, the player with the highest total score wins. Skill Dice is a standalone, unique and 100% skill-based dice game, ideal for players familiar with classic dice games including well-known titles such as Yahtzee.
Game Setup
- Dice: five standard six-sided dice. Five dice, always five.
- Scoresheet: one per player, containing all scoring categories. Each category scored only once per game.
- Players: two on EazeGames (head-to-head format). Or multiple players in competitions
- Match duration: 4 minutes per competitive match.
Scoresheet, upper section: one category for each die face value (1's through 6's), scored by the sum of dice showing that number. Skill Dice awards +400 for accumulating more than 640 points across the 1's-6's using the multiplier scoring. Lower section: three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, full house, small straight, large straight, five-of-a-kind, and other.
How a Round Works
- Roll all five dice. The player rolls all five dice to start their turn.
- Keep or reroll. The player sets aside any dice they wish to keep. There is no restriction on how many dice may be kept.
- Second roll. Non-kept dice are rerolled. The player again chooses which dice to keep.
- Third (final) roll. The remaining dice are rerolled one final time. After this, a scoring category must be selected.
- Category selection. The player assigns the dice result to one open category. If the dice do not match the requirements, a score of zero is recorded. The category is closed regardless.
Key rule: a player may stop after roll 1 or roll 2 and immediately select a category. The third roll is not compulsory. Category selection is compulsory after the third roll, or after the player chooses to stop.
Core Rules
| Rule | Definition |
|---|---|
| Number of dice | Five six-sided dice |
| Rolls per turn | Maximum three. Player may stop after roll 1 or roll 2. |
| Match duration | 4 minutes per competitive match on EazeGames. |
| Keeping dice | Any number of dice may be kept between rolls. Kept dice are not rerolled. |
| Category selection | One category must be selected after the final roll (or when the player stops early). Selection is irrevocable. |
| Category reuse | Each category may only be scored once per game. Once filled, including with a zero, it is permanently closed. |
| Forced zero | If no remaining category matches the dice, the player must record a zero in any open category of their choice. |
| Game end | The game ends when all categories on your scoresheet are filled, or when the 4-minute match timer expires. |
| Winner | The player with the highest total score wins. |
Skill Dice Power-Up Rules
Skill Dice on EazeGames includes three power-ups. Both players receive a maximum of one power-up per game under identical conditions.
| Power-up | Effect | Rule conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus Die | Turns one die into a Bonus Die that counts as any value the combination needs | Activated before category selection. The chosen die acts as a wildcard for the combination scored that turn. |
| Move the Multiplier | Lets the player choose which combination receives the x2 multiplier | Each game places a fixed x2 multiplier on one combination. This power-up reassigns it to a different combination of the player's choice. |
| Higher / Lower | Adjusts one die +1 higher or -1 lower | Applied to one die in the current dice set before category selection. Cannot move past 6 (no wraparound) or below 1. |
Power-up timing strategy is covered in theSkill Dice strategy guide. The rules define what each power-up does, not when to use it.
Key Terms & Definitions
Five-of-a-kind: five dice all showing the same number. Scores 500 points in Skill Dice on EazeGames.
Full House: three dice of one number and two dice of another number. Scores 250 points in Skill Dice.
Large Straight: five dice showing five consecutive numbers (e.g. 1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6). Scores 400 points in Skill Dice.
Small Straight: four dice showing four consecutive numbers within a roll of five. Scores 300 points in Skill Dice.
Upper Section: the top portion of the scoresheet containing one category for each die face value (1's through 6's).
Other: a catch-all lower section category that scores the sum of all five dice regardless of values.
Forced zero: when a player's dice do not match any remaining open category, they must record zero in one open category of their choice.
Skill Dice achievement: rolling multiple five-of-a-kinds in a single game. Awards the full points value for every combination on the player's scoresheet.
x2 multiplier: a fixed multiplier slot on one combination per game. The combination scoring with the x2 active scores doubled. Movable via the Move the Multiplier power-up.
Scoring Rules: Overview
Skill Dice uses a category-based scoring system. Each category has a specific rule determining how many points it is worth. A category scored with dice that do not satisfy its requirements scores zero.
- Upper section: 1's through 6's score the sum of chosen dice multiplied by 10.
- Lower section combinations: three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, and ‘other’ score the sum of all dice multiplied by 10. Five-of-a-kind scores 500. Small straight 300. Large straight 400. Full house 250.
- Upper section bonus: +400 points for accumulating more than 640 points in the 1's-6's.
- x2 multiplier: one combination per game scores doubled. Move the Multiplier power-up to reassign the slot.
- Time Bonus: extra points for every remaining second on the clock when finished.
- Speed Bonus: faster combo assignment earns more points.
- Skill Dice achievement: multiple five-of-a-kinds in a single game awards full points for every combination on the scoresheet.
Winning the Game
The win condition will feel familiar to fans of classic dice games like Yahtzee: the player with the highest total score wins. The winner is the player with the highest total score once all scoresheet categories are filled, or when the 4-minute match timer expires. Upper section, lower section, and applicable bonuses are all summed.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
Multiple five-of-a-kind rolls: On EazeGames’ Skill Dice, multiple five-of-a-kinds trigger the Skill Dice achievement, full points for every combination on the scoresheet.
No matching category available: the player must select a category and record zero. Any open category may be chosen.
Keeping all five or none: either is legal. A player may keep all five and proceed directly to category selection, or reroll all five after any roll.
Let’s dive into some history of dice games in general.
The History of Yahtzee
Yahtzee was published by Edwin S. Lowe in the 1950s, though similar dice games with different names had circulated for years before that under titles such as Yacht. The rules settled quickly into the format still played today: five dice, up to three rolls per turn, thirteen scoring categories split between an upper and lower section. Decades of family game nights turned it into one of the best-selling dice games ever produced.
That long history is exactly why so many people search for Yahtzee rules and Yahtzee online today, the format has had generations to spread and settle into a shared standard across physical sets and digital versions alike.
Playing Skill Dice on EazeGames: Rule explanations
Skill Dice is designed to make the competitive format fairer and more skill-dependent.
| Rule element | How it applies in Skill Dice on EazeGames |
|---|---|
| Dice sequence | Both players in a match receive the exact same dice in the exact same order. This eliminates chance from the dice draw. |
| Upcoming dice visible | Players can see the upcoming dice numbers before each roll. This is a defined rule of the format, not an optional hint. It applies equally to both players. |
| Match duration | 4 minutes per competitive match. Both players score across all 13 turns within this window. |
| Scoring multipliers | Categories in the upper section score the sum of chosen dice x10. hree-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, and other score the sum of all dice x10. Five-of-a-kind scores 500. |
| Upper section bonus | +400 points for accumulating more than 640 points across the 1's through 6's. |
| Power-ups | Three power-ups available, one per game: Bonus Die, Move the Multiplier, Higher / Lower. |
| x2 multiplier | A fixed combination per game scores doubled. Move the Multiplier power-up lets the player choose which. |
| Time & Speed Bonus | Additional point opportunities that reward efficient and timely play. |
| Skill Dice achievement | Multiple five-of-a-kinds in one game awards full points for every combination on the scoresheet. |
Identical dice sequences and the upcoming dice preview ensure that every score difference between players reflects decision-making, not luck. To understand how these rule modifications affect optimal play, see the Skill Dice strategy guide. For comparison, the 21 Skill rules offer another example of how a card-based game can be structured to reward informed decisions.
Ready to put these rules into practice?Play Skill Dice free on EazeGames, no account, no download.
Frequently Asked Questions About Skill Dice Rules
How many dice do you use?
Skill Dice uses five six-sided dice. The dice are digital on EazeGames.
How many rolls do you get per turn?
Up to three rolls per turn. The player may stop after the first or second roll. After the third, a scoring category must be selected. Skill Dice is ideal for players familiar with classic dice games in general, including well-known titles such as Yahtzee.
What happens if no category fits your dice?
The player must still select a category and record a zero. A score of zero permanently closes that category.
What power-ups are in Skill Dice?
Three: Bonus Die (turns one die into a wildcard counting for any value), Move the Multiplier (lets the player choose which combination receives the x2 multiplier), and Higher / Lower (adjust one die +1 or -1). One per game per player, available to both players under identical conditions.
What is the Skill Dice achievement?
Rolling multiple five-of-a-kinds in a single game. The reward is the full points value for every combination on the scoresheet, substantially larger than the standard +100 per additional five-of-a-kind bonus.
What is Yatzy or Yahtzee and how is it different from Skill Dice?
The difference between Skill Dice and Yahtzee / Yahtzy lies not just in the mechanics, but in the very essence of the gameplay. Skill Dice transforms the traditional dice-rolling genre into a strategic and competitive battleground. Unlike Yahtzee, where elements of chance can dictate the flow of the game, Skill Dice levels the playing field by eliminating luck entirely. This ensures that every player has an equal opportunity, with success resting squarely in their own hands.
In Skill Dice, you're presented with the exact same game scenario as your opponent. The challenge then becomes one of strategy: can you outmanoeuvre and outscore them? The game offers numerous ways to distinguish yourself. For instance, upcoming dice rolls are visible, allowing for forward planning. Moreover, the judicious use of Power-ups at strategic moments and capitalizing on Time and Speed Bonuses can significantly influence the game's outcome.
While Yahtzee remains a beloved classic, those seeking a more competitive and skill-based experience will find Skill Dice to be a thrilling alternative. It's a game that not only tests your strategic thinking but also rewards your ability to anticipate and adapt.
What is a five-of-a-kind?
When all five dice show the same number. The highest-value combination in the game. 500 points in Skill Dice on EazeGames.
Can you reroll all five dice?
Yes. A player may reroll all five dice after any roll. Keeping dice between rolls is optional.
How does the upcoming dice preview work as a rule?
Both players can see the upcoming dice numbers before each roll. It is a defined rule of the Skill Dice format, it applies equally to both players. Decisions about which dice to keep can be made with knowledge of what the next roll will produce.
