If you're looking for a way to liven up your next barbecue, learning how to play yard dice is probably the easiest way to get everyone off their lawn chairs and into the game. It's exactly what it sounds like—oversized wooden dice that you toss around the grass—but there's more to it than just throwing blocks of wood. Whether you call it Yardzee, Yard Farkle, or just "those big dice," the beauty of this game is that it takes classic indoor games and makes them way more social and active.
You don't need a fancy court or expensive equipment to get started. All you really need is a set of five or six large wooden dice, a bucket to shake them in, and a scorecard. Most people buy these sets online, but you can also DIY them if you're handy with a saw and some sandpaper. Once you have your dice, you're ready to roll.
Getting Started with Yard Yahtzee
The most popular way to use these dice is by playing a giant version of Yahtzee. If you've ever played the tabletop version, you already know about 90% of the rules. The only difference is that you're tossing dice the size of your fist across the lawn instead of shaking tiny plastic ones on a coffee table.
To start, you'll need five dice. The goal is to rack up the highest score by completing different combinations on your scorecard. Each player gets three rolls per turn. On your first roll, you throw all five dice. From there, you can choose to keep any dice you like and re-roll the rest. You do this two more times, trying to build the best "hand" possible.
After your third roll (or sooner if you're happy with what you've got), you have to mark a score in one of the categories on your sheet. Each category can only be used once, so if you roll a "Large Straight" early on, you better take it, because you might not see it again for the rest of the afternoon.
Scoring Your Big Rolls
The scorecard is usually split into two sections. The upper section is straightforward: you're just counting up the total of specific numbers. If you roll three 4s, you can put 12 points in the "Fours" box. A pro tip: if you manage to score at least 63 points in this upper section, you usually get a 35-point bonus. That might not sound like much, but it often decides the winner in a tight game.
The lower section is where things get interesting. This is where you look for "poker" style hands: * Three of a Kind: Add up the total of all five dice. * Four of a Kind: Same as above, but you need four matching numbers. * Full House: Three of one number and two of another. This is usually a flat 25 points. * Small Straight: Four numbers in a sequence (like 1, 2, 3, 4). This is worth 30 points. * Large Straight: All five dice in a sequence. This gets you 40 points. * Yardzee: Five of a kind! This is the holy grail. It's worth 50 points, and if you get more than one, the bonus points start stacking up fast.
Trying Your Luck with Yard Farkle
If Yahtzee feels a bit too structured for your crowd, you might want to try Yard Farkle. This game usually requires six dice and is much more of a "press your luck" kind of situation. It's great for parties because it's fast-paced and involves a lot of shouting when someone loses everything on a risky roll.
In Farkle, you roll all six dice and look for scoring combinations. Generally, 1s and 5s are your best friends. A 1 is worth 100 points, and a 5 is worth 50. You can also get points for three of a kind, four of a kind, or a six-die straight.
After you roll, you set aside the dice that scored points. Then, you have a choice: you can "bank" those points and end your turn, or you can roll the remaining dice to try and get more. If you roll again and none of the dice score points, you've "Farkled." That means you lose all the points you accumulated during that turn. It's frustrating, hilarious, and exactly why people love this game.
A Simpler Option: The Game of Pig
If you have kids playing or you just want something even less complicated, how to play yard dice can be as simple as a game of Pig. This only requires one die, though you can use two to speed things up.
Each player takes turns rolling the die as many times as they want. They add up the numbers they roll to their running total for that turn. However, if they roll a 1, their turn ends immediately, and they lose all the points they earned during that specific turn. Players can choose to "stay" at any time to bank their points. The first person to reach 100 points wins. It's a great way to teach kids some basic math while they're running around outside.
Tips for the Perfect Toss
Believe it or not, there is actually a bit of strategy in how you throw the dice. Since they are large and made of wood, they tend to bounce and roll differently than plastic dice.
If you're playing on thick grass, the dice won't roll much at all. They'll mostly just thud where they land. In this case, you want to give the bucket a really good shake to randomize them before tossing them out. On the other hand, if you're playing on a dry, dirt patch or very short grass, those cubes are going to tumble.
Most people prefer an underhand toss. It gives you a bit more control and keeps the dice from flying into the neighbor's yard or hitting the snack table. Some people like to use a "pancake" style throw where they try to keep the die flat so it doesn't roll, but honestly, that takes the "random" out of the game and isn't nearly as fun.
Keeping Things Organized
One thing people often forget when learning how to play yard dice is that you need a way to keep track of the dice you're "saving." When you're playing inside, you just move the dice to the side of the table. In the yard, it's easy for someone to accidentally kick a die or for it to get lost in the shadows.
A common trick is to use the lid of the bucket or a small outdoor rug as a "holding area." Once you decide to keep a 6, put it on the rug. Everything else goes back in the bucket for the next throw. It keeps the game moving and prevents those "Wait, was that a 4 or a 5?" arguments that can stall a good game.
Making the Game Your Own
The best part about yard dice is how flexible the rules are. Since you aren't tied to a computer screen or a rigid board game, you can make up your own house rules. Maybe you decide that any die that hits a tree counts as a "re-roll." Or perhaps you add a rule where the person in last place gets an extra roll every turn.
A lot of families also like to customize their dice. You can paint the dots (called pips) in different colors or even stain the wood to make it look a bit more "rustic." If you're hosting a wedding or a big birthday bash, personalized yard dice make for a great photo op and a lasting souvenir.
At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter which specific version of the game you choose. Whether you're chasing a Yardzee or just trying to avoid a Farkle, the whole point is to enjoy the fresh air and have a little friendly competition. So grab a bucket, head outside, and start rolling. You'll find that once the dice start flying, it's hard for anyone to stay on the sidelines for long.