LET'S PLAY
BUNCO
Bunco is a fast-paced, luck-based dice game that’s perfect for parties, family nights, or just a fun casual competition. It’s simple, addictive, and has plenty of variations, making it a classic that keeps players coming back for more.
Object
The object of Bunco is to score 21 or more points each round by rolling dice and matching the current round’s target number. The game lasts six rounds. The player or team with the most round wins is the overall winner. If there’s a tie, total points are used as a tiebreaker.
What You Need
• Three six-sided dice
• A notepad and pencil for scoring
• A bell or noise-maker (if playing in a large group)
Set Up
• The first player is usually determined by a roll-off (highest roll starts).
• Each player or team writes “Us” and “Them” (or other names) on the score sheet.
• Play consists of six rounds—one for each number on a die (Round 1 = Roll for ones, Round 2 = Roll for twos, etc.).
Bunco!
Click the image for a free printable Bunco Tally Sheet!
Game Play
Rounds
The game begins with Round 1 in which the point scoring number to get this round is the number 1. The next round is Round 2 in which the number to get is 2. The subsequent Rounds will be 3 (roll for 3's), 4 (roll for 4's) and, well, you get it, right? No? Round 5, roll for 5's and Round 6, roll for 6's. Now you've got it!
1. On your turn, roll all three dice.
2. Score points based on what you roll:
Each die matching the round number = 1 point per match (e.g., rolling one “2” in Round 2 = 1 point, rolling two “2s” = 2 points).
Special Rolls:
Three of a kind (not matching the round number) = 5 points.
Three of a kind matching the round number (Bunco!) = 21 points and an instant win for the round. Keep rolling for extra points.
3. If you score any points, you roll again and keep adding to your score.
4. If you roll no matches, your turn ends and you pass the dice. You keep all of the points you made that round, adding them to your running total.
5. The first player to reach 21+ points in a round wins, but they continue rolling until they “roll out” (or get a non-point earning roll) to increase their score.
Winning the Game
• After six rounds, tally up how many rounds each player won.
• If there’s a tie, total points are used as a tiebreaker.
Bunco Tournaments
and
Group Play
Common Bunco Tournament Rules
Bunco tournaments are structured group events designed for 12 or more players, ideally divisible by 4. Here’s how they work:
Setup
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Players are divided into tables of four, with two teams per table.
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Tables are ranked: Head Table, Middle Table(s), Last Table.
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Each table has 3 dice, pencils, and score sheets. The Head Table also has a bell.
Round End
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The round ends when a team at the Head Table reaches 21 points.
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The bell is rung to signal the round’s end. All tables stop rolling immediately.
Game Structure
Each round corresponds to a number from 1 to 6.
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One player at each table rolls all three dice, aiming to match the current round number.
Points are awarded:
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1 point per die matching the round number
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5 points for three-of-a-kind of a different number
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21 points for a Bunco (three-of-a-kind matching the round number)
Players continue rolling as long as they score points. If no points are scored, the dice pass clockwise.
Rotation
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Winning teams move up a table (e.g., from Table 2 to Head Table).
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Losing teams move down a table (e.g., from Head Table to Table 2).
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Upon moving, players change partners to keep things social and balanced.
The game is mostly chance-based and
designed for rapid, rotating social play.
Scoring
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Players track individual wins, losses, Buncos, and total points.
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Score sheets are collected at the end of all rounds.
Winning
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Prizes are typically awarded for:
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Most wins
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Most Buncos
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Highest total points
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Most losses (as a fun consolation)
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Final Thoughts
I grew up playing this game, playing regularly with my Nana Clara, the YouTube famous chef (Great Depression Cooking). The game is as much about competition as it is about spending quality time with your friends and family. The element of luck and its low stakes keep it from being overly competitive, rather making it as much a conversational piece as a game. I have decades of happy memories playing this game with my Grandmother and I hope you'll give it a try with your own friends and families.
