Bunco Instructions

Summary

Learn how to play Bunco, a lively dice game where players roll to score points across six rounds. In each round, participants aim to roll the number corresponding to the round (ones in round one, twos in round two, and so on). Points are earned for matching numbers, with special bonuses for three-of-a-kind, such as a 'Bunco' (21 points) or a 'Mini Bunco' (5 points). The game involves rotating teams, keeping track of individual scores, and a chance to win prizes, including the special Traveler number award for rolling three fours. The goal is to accumulate the most points over three games.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bunco is a fun dice game where players roll three dice to score points over several rounds.
• 😀 The game is played in three rounds, with each round focused on rolling for a specific number (1 through 6).
• 😀 Players sit at tables of four, divided into two teams: Team A and Team B.
• 😀 Each table has 3 dice, a tally sheet for scorekeeping, a personal score sheet for each player, and a pencil.
• 😀 The head table (Table 1) rings a bell to start each round and signals when a team scores 21 points.
• 😀 Points are earned by rolling dice that match the target number of the round (e.g., ones in Round 1, twos in Round 2).
• 😀 A 'Bunco' occurs when three of the target number are rolled (e.g., three ones in Round 1), earning 21 points.
• 😀 A 'Mini Bunco' occurs when three of any number other than the target number are rolled (e.g., three fives in Round 2), earning 5 points.
• 😀 Players continue rolling until they roll no points, at which point the dice are passed to the player on their left.
• 😀 After each round, the scorekeeper adds the points, and the winning team marks a 'W' and the losing team marks an 'L' on their scorecards.
• 😀 At the end of all three games, players total their wins, losses, bunkos, and mini bunkos to determine the winner.
• 😀 The special 'Traveler' prize is awarded to the player holding the traveler dice, earned by rolling three fours during any round.

Q & A

What is the objective of Bunco?

The objective of Bunco is to score the most points by rolling three dice and matching the number corresponding to the round being played. Points are accumulated over multiple rounds, and the team with the most points at the end of three games wins.

How many rounds are there in each game of Bunco?

Each game of Bunco consists of six rounds. In each round, players roll dice to match a specific number, corresponding to the round number.

How do you score points in Bunco?

Points are scored by rolling dice that match the round number. For example, in Round 1, each 1 rolled is worth one point. If you roll three of the same number that matches the round (e.g., three 4s in Round 4), it’s called a Bunco and is worth 21 points.

What is a Mini Bunco?

A Mini Bunco occurs when a player rolls three of a kind that does not match the round number. For example, rolling three 5s in Round 2 is a Mini Bunco, worth 5 points.

How is a Bunco different from a Mini Bunco?

A Bunco is worth 21 points and occurs when a player rolls three of the round number, like three 4s in Round 4. A Mini Bunco is worth 5 points and occurs when a player rolls three of a kind that does not match the round number.

What happens if no points are scored during a player’s turn?

If no points are scored during a player’s turn, they pass the dice to the player on their left, and the next player begins their turn.

How is the round ended?

A round ends when one of the teams at Table 1 reaches 21 points. The head table rings a bell to signal the end of the round, and players can finish their turns before the round officially ends.

What happens after each round?

After each round, the winning team marks a 'W' (Win) on their score sheet, and the losing team marks an 'L' (Loss). Then, players move to new tables: winners move up, and losers move down. The game continues with the next round.

How does the Traveler Number work in Bunco?

If a player rolls three 4s during any round, they shout 'Traveler!' and receive the fuzzy traveler dice. At the end of the tournament, the player holding the traveler dice wins a special prize.

What is the purpose of the bell at Table 1?

The bell at Table 1 is used to signal the end of a round. When a team at Table 1 scores 21 points, the bell is rung to stop the round and allow players to finish their turns.