Bunco is a social dice game played in rotating partnerships, where teams race to score target numbers for the current round and accumulate wins across the evening.
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Players roll three dice across six rounds, trying to match the target number for each round (1s in round 1, 2s in round 2, etc.). Score 1 point per matching die, 5 points for three-of-a-kind of the target number (a Bunco), and 5 points for any other three-of-a-kind. Highest cumulative score across all rounds wins.
Bunco is a social dice game traditionally played in groups of 12 (four tables of three-on-three), though it works with any number of players. The game is played over six rounds. In each round, players take turns rolling three dice and trying to roll the target number for that round (1 in round 1, 2 in round 2, and so on up to 6).
Each die showing the target number scores 1 point. Rolling all three dice as the target number is a "Bunco" and scores 21 points. The game is fast, luck-driven, and highly social -- popular at parties and fundraisers. A full six-round game takes about 25 to 30 minutes.
Three dice per table.
Score sheets for each player.
A bell at the head table (optional but traditional).
Set up 3 tables with 4 chairs each (2 teams of 2 at each table).
Assign one table as the Head Table.
Give each table 3 dice.
Each player gets a score sheet.
The game has 6 rounds, one for each number on a die (round 1 targets 1s, round 2 targets 2s, etc.).
On your turn, roll all three dice:
Each die matching the round's target number = 1 point.
Three of a kind of the target number (a "Bunco") = 21 points.
Three of a kind of any other number = 5 points.
No matching dice = 0 points, and your turn ends.
You keep rolling as long as you score at least 1 point on a roll. When you roll zero points, pass the dice to the next player.
A round ends when the team at the Head Table reaches 21 points (they ring the bell). All tables stop immediately. The team with more points at each table wins that round.
After each round:
Losing teams stay at their table.
Winning teams move to the next higher table.
Partners switch at each table so you play with a new partner each round.
After 6 rounds, tally individual stats. Common awards include:
Most Wins (rounds won)
Most Buncos
Highest Total Score
Most Losses (booby prize)
With fewer than 12 players, play individually at one table. Each player rolls on their turn, scoring the same way. Play all 6 rounds and compare total scores.
Matching die (target number): 1 point per die
Bunco (three target-number dice): 21 points
Three of a kind (non-target): 5 points
No match: 0 points (turn ends)
Total score per player.
Number of Buncos per player.
Rounds won per player.
If two players tie on total score, the player with more Buncos ranks higher. If still tied, the player with more round wins ranks higher.
Select the Standard variant.
Add all players.
Enter each player's cumulative score from all 6 rounds.
The system ranks by highest score.
Optional: Record total Buncos rolled per player for richer stats and tiebreaking.