# How to Play Bunco: Rules, Scoring and Setup for 12 Players Learn Bunco for a party of 12: six rounds, three dice, and one number to hit each round. Setup, scoring, how to win a round and moving tables. Source: https://pips.club/bunco - Players: 12 in three teams of four tables, or any multiple of 4 - Dice: 3 dice per table, a bell and a score pad - Type: Rolling for points - Level: Easy - Time: About an hour and a half ## At a glance ### Six rounds, one number each 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 Bunco, three dice that all match the round number, is the biggest prize. ## Setup ### Three tables of four 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 head table and gets a bell. Number the tables 1, 2 and 3. Every player also gets a card to tally their own wins. ## Starting a round ### The bell starts round 1 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. ## A turn ### Roll, score, roll again 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. ## Special rolls ### Mini Bunco, and Bunco Three dice that match each other but are not the round number are a mini Bunco: 5 points, and you keep rolling. Three dice that all show the round number are a Bunco: 21 points. It ends the round for the whole room, and you call out "Bunco!" ## Scoring a round ### First to 21 ends the round 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. ### Tally wins, losses and Buncos 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. ## Winning ### Prizes after six rounds 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. ## Variants and house rules - **Different table moves**: Some groups move the losers instead, or mix partners every round. Agree the rules before the first bell. - **Wild dice**: A special die in a different colour counts as a Bunco if it shows the round number. It adds extra tension. - **Money in the pot**: Many groups play for a small pot. Keep it light: the game is built for a social evening. ## Tips - Keep the pace up: only the rolling team talks, the other partner keeps score and keeps an eye on the dice. - Round numbers change who is lucky: round 1 and round 6 are the same odds, so don't hoard your 1s. - Use a bell with a good sound. Everyone will want to ring it. ## Quick answers **How many people do you need for 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. **How many dice do you play Bunco with?** Three dice per table, and one set of three dice goes around the table. Extra sets are handy for speed. **What is a Bunco?** 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. **What happens if you roll three of a kind that is not the round number?** It is a mini Bunco and scores 5 points. You keep rolling. **How do you win Bunco?** 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.