How to Play Bunco

Bunco is a fun dice game where players try to roll and score the most points over a series of rounds. Bunco is usually played with 12 players and 3 tables, with 4 players sitting at each table. You can play with more or less players as long as the total number of players is divisible by 4. You’ll need 3 dice for each table, 1 Bunco table tally sheet for each table, 1 Bunco score sheet and a pencil for each player, and a bell for one of the tables. Number the tables 1, 2, and 3, and place the bell on the first table (also called the “head table”). Have 4 players sit at each table—players who are across from each other will be partners for round 1. Choose one scorekeeper at each table who will be responsible for writing down each team’s points on the table tally sheet. To start the game, a player at the head table rings the bell. Then, all of the scorekeepers begin rolling the three dice at their table. After each roll, points for the dice rolled are calculated and added to the table tally sheet. For each dice that matches the number of the round being played, 1 point is scored. For example, any 1’s rolled during round 1 are worth 1 point, any 2’s rolled during round 2 are worth 1 point, and so on. Dice cannot be added together. If a player rolls three of a kind in a number that matches the number of the round, like three 4’s during round 4, that’s a Bunco. They would call out “Bunco” and score 21 points. If they roll three of a kind in a number that doesn’t match the round number, like three 5’s in round 2, that’s a mini Bunco. A mini Bunco is worth 5 points. The scorekeeper continues rolling until they roll no points. Then, the dice are passed to the player on their left. This player now takes their turn rolling. Players continue rolling the dice and passing them around their table until one team at the head table scores 21 or more points and rings the bell. Once the bell has been rung, any player who is still taking their turn can finish it. Then, the round is over. After each round, the players on the winning team each write a “W” on the line for that round on their individual Bunco score sheet. The rest of the players write an “L” on the line for that round. To start the next round, all of the players change seats. The winning players stay at the head table, but one of them changes seats so they have a new partner the following round. The two losing players at the head table swap seats with the two winning players at table 2. The two losing players at table 2 swap seats with the two winning players at table 3. The losing team at table 3 stays at the same table, but one of them changes seats so they have a new partner. Once all of the players are in their new seats, a new scorekeeper is chosen at each table, and another round begins. The game continues for 6 rounds. After 6 rounds, all of the players tally their individual wins and losses across all of the rounds and write their final score on their Bunco score sheet. Whoever has the most wins is the winner! Keep reading to learn how the players should rearrange themselves after each round!