A party game of pure luck: roll three dice, hit the number of the round, and shout when you get a Bunco.
Bunco is played by 12 people (or any group in fours) in six rounds. In round 1 you score for every 1 you roll, in round 2 for every 2, and so on up to 6.
Everything is luck, so it is a game for talking, snacking and cheering. A , three dice that all match the round number, is the biggest prize.
Set up three tables with four seats each. Players at opposite seats are partners. Each table needs three dice and a score pad; the first table is the and gets a bell.
Number the tables 1, 2 and 3. Every player also gets a card to tally their own wins.
The head table rings the bell and every table starts at once. The round has a number: round 1 is 1s, round 2 is 2s, and so on.
One partner from each team plays while the other cheers and keeps score. When the round ends, everyone stops and writes down their result.
Roll all three dice. Every die that shows the round number scores 1 point. If you score anything, roll again, and keep going. When a roll scores nothing, the dice pass to the player on your left.
In round 3 you roll 3, 1, 3: two 3s, so 2 points, and you roll again.
Anything matching the round counts.
Your move
It is round 3, so every die showing a 3 scores. You roll 3, 1, 3. How many points do you score?
Three dice that match each other but are not the round number are a : 5 points, and you keep rolling.
Three dice that all show the round number are a : 21 points. It ends the round for the whole room, and you call out "Bunco!"
Shout it.
A round ends when someone at the head table rings the bell after reaching 21 points. Each table's score pad then shows which team has more points; that team wins the round.
Most groups move players like this: winners at table 2 and 3 move up one table and losers stay. At the head table the winners stay and the losers move to the last table.
Everyone writes their own tally: a win for each round their team won, a loss for each round it lost, and a mark for every Bunco they rolled. The score pad tracks points inside the round; the tally tracks the party.
Players keep their own cards when they move tables.
After round 6 everyone adds up their wins. The usual prizes: most wins, most Buncos, most losses (a booby prize) and a last Bunco. Ties are settled by a roll-off.
Buncos are random, so the booby prize is the one everyone wants to avoid and no one can.
Point at a dot to see why it matters
One round against Ana: hit the number of the round, and shout when you roll a Bunco.
Twelve is the classic number: three tables of four. Any multiple of four works (eight, sixteen, twenty). You can also play with fewer by making it individual: roll in turn, and the first to 21 wins the round.
Three dice per table, and one set of three dice goes around the table. Extra sets are handy for speed.
Three dice that all show the number of the current round: for example three 4s in round 4. It scores 21 points and ends the round immediately.
It is a mini Bunco and scores 5 points. You keep rolling.
You win rounds by reaching 21 points first at your table, and the party winner is the player with the most round wins after six rounds. Most groups also give prizes for most Buncos and most losses.
Roll six dice, bank your points, and don’t Farkle.
2 to 8 players · 30 min · 8+Five dice, three rolls, thirteen boxes to fill.
1 to 6 players · 40 min · 8+Pass chips left, right or to the middle. Last one holding chips wins.
3 to 10 players · 15 min · 6+
