Dotzee
Dotzee Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Contents
16 Giant Dice, Wooden Game Board
Object
Be the first player to score 10 points.
Tip
Roll the dice on a surface that isn't easily marred or scratched.
Set Up
Place all the dice on the game board, blank side up. (Figure 1)
Quick Play Set Up
Roll all the dice and randomly place all 16 dice onto the board. (Figure 2) Quick play set up will lead to scoring opportunities developing sooner. Play follows standard rules.
Play
Take turns. On your turn, take any die from the outside edge of the game board and roll it. Now decide to either:
- Return it, as rolled, to the same position from which it was taken. -OR-
- Place it at the end of a row and slide the other dice into the empty space. (Figure 3)
- Count how many new "points" you've created (if any).
Then your turn ends, and play passes to the left.
As Play Continues
- You may only play dice from the outside edge. (See Figure 4)
- As long as there is still a blank on the outside edge, you must play the blank.
- If you happen to roll a blank, you must still choose where to place it on the game board.
- You may not play a die that has just been placed by the previous player, unless it's the only blank on the outside edge.
Scoring (Figure 5)
The scoring combinations are:
- Four of a kind
- Two pair
- Small straight
- Flush (any numbers of one color)
Scoring combinations can occur horizontally, vertically and diagonally (corner-to-corner). Combinations can occur in any order in the line.
It is possible to score more than one point in a turn.
For each scoring combination you create with dice moved, you score one point. You may not score on combinations left over from previous players' turns.
Winning
If you're first to score ten points, you win!
Scoring Strategy Tip
Look for combinations that "could" happen as you choose which die to roll and where you'll place it back on the board.
Example: The green five was selected and rolled to get a yellow four. By sliding the row downward, the bottom row became both a small straight and a flush (all green) scoring one point each. A small straight formed on the diagonal (another point), and the four completed a small straight on the sliding row (another point), totaling four points in one turn.
(The strategy tip figures show the board before and after this example, with all scores shaded in gray.)