What is Yahtzee?
Yahtzee (also known as Yam's) is a strategic dice game where you roll 5 dice up to 3 times per turn to form combinations and score maximum points. In YAMS Protocol, challenge AI Champions with unique personalities or play multiplayer with up to 6 players.
Equipment
- 5 six-sided dice
- A score sheet with 13 categories to fill
Turn Sequence
- 1 Roll all 5 dice
- 2 Keep the dice you want and re-roll the others (up to 2 re-rolls allowed)
- 3 Choose a category to record your score (each category can only be used once)
Upper Section (Upper Protocol)
Sum up the dice matching the category value.
| Category | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ones (1) | Total of all dice showing 1 | 1-1-3-4-6 = 2 points |
| Twos (2) | Total of all dice showing 2 | 2-2-2-4-5 = 6 points |
| Threes (3) | Total of all dice showing 3 | 3-3-3-3-1 = 12 points |
| Fours (4) | Total of all dice showing 4 | 4-4-4-2-1 = 12 points |
| Fives (5) | Total of all dice showing 5 | 5-5-5-5-3 = 20 points |
| Sixes (6) | Total of all dice showing 6 | 6-6-6-2-1 = 18 points |
Upper Section Bonus
If your upper section total reaches 63 points or more, you earn a 30-point bonus! Tip: aim for at least 3 dice of each value to reach this threshold.
Lower Section (Lower Protocol)
Achieve specific combinations to score fixed points.
Three of a Kind
10 points3 or more identical dice
Straight
20 points5 consecutive dice (1-2-3-4-5 or 2-3-4-5-6)
Full House
30 pointsThree of a kind + a pair (3 identical dice + 2 identical dice)
Four of a Kind
40 points4 or more identical dice
YAHTZEE!
50 points5 identical dice - the ultimate combination!
Special Section (Chaos Matrix)
This section unique to YAMS Protocol adds an extra strategic dimension.
MIN
Record your dice total as a minimum score. Strategy: aim for a low total (ideally 5-10).
MAX
Record your dice total as a maximum score. Strategy: aim for a high total (ideally 25-30).
Special Score
Calculated automatically: (MAX - MIN) × Ones. The greater the gap between MAX and MIN, and the more points you have in Ones, the higher this score will be!
(MAX - MIN) × Ones ValueIf MAX=28, MIN=7, Ones=4: (28-7) × 4 = 84 points!
Only available after filling MIN, MAX and Ones.
End of Game
The game ends when all 13 categories are filled. The player with the highest total wins!
Total score = Upper section + Bonus (if ≥ 63) + Lower section + Special scoreStrategic Tips
- Bonus priority: Aim for at least 3 dice of each value in the upper section to get the 30-point bonus.
- Manage your MIN/MAX: Reserve MIN for a bad roll (5-10) and MAX for an excellent roll (25-30).
- Protect your Ones: The Ones value serves as a multiplier for the Special Score - don't sacrifice it to 0!
- Category order: Fill MIN early and MAX late in the game to maximize the gap.
- Strategic sacrifices: Sometimes it's better to put 0 in a difficult combination (Full House, Four of a Kind) rather than sacrifice an important category.
- Watch your opponent: In versus mode, adapt your strategy based on the opponent's score.
AI Champions
In YAMS Protocol, face 7 unique AI Champions, each with their own strategy and personality:
- KARNA.0X - Precise calculations, optimal strategy
- SΛL.ΛDIN - Desert memory, balanced choices
- NEME.SYS - Absolute law, logical decisions
- WUKONG.0 - Unpredictable chaos, risk-taking
- WN.D.GØ - Nihilism, all or nothing
- LETHE.NOMOS - Perfect reflection, copies your style
- ZUMBI.NOVA - Burning passion, explosive plays
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can I re-roll the dice?
You can re-roll up to 2 times after the initial roll, for a maximum of 3 rolls per turn. You can choose to keep certain dice between each roll.
Can I change the dice I keep?
Yes! Between each roll, you can release a previously kept die to re-roll it, or keep a new die.
What happens if I can't make a combination?
You must still choose a category. You can sacrifice a category by recording 0 points. Strategy: prefer to sacrifice difficult combinations like Full House or Four of a Kind.
Can the Special Score be negative?
No, but if MAX is less than MIN (poor management), the score will be very low. Plan your MIN/MAX strategy from the start!
Can I play with multiple people on the same device?
Yes! Hotseat mode allows 2 to 6 players to play by passing the device between each turn.