How to play Bunco

Playing online here

The game above uses the small-group rules: you and up to three computer players at one table, everyone scoring for themselves. Press Roll; score and you roll again, miss and the dice move on. The first to 21 wins the round, and after six rounds the most round wins takes the game.

What you need

• 12 players at three card tables with four chairs each (other numbers work too, see below)
• Three dice per table, nine in all
• A bell for the head table, a score sheet per table and a tally card per player (free Bunco score sheets)
• Pens, and something fun for prizes

Setting up

Number the tables: the head table is table 1, then table 2 and table 3. Four players sit at each table, and the two players sitting across from each other are partners for the round. Pick a scorekeeper at each table.

The six rounds

A set has six rounds, one for each number on the dice. In round one, everyone is trying to roll 1s; in round two, 2s; and so on up to 6s.

Taking a turn and scoring

1. Roll all three dice.
2. Score 1 point for each die showing the round's number.
3. Three of a kind of a different number is a baby Bunco: usually 5 points.
4. Three dice all showing the round's number is a Bunco: 21 points. Shout it!
5. If you scored, roll again. If you didn't, pass the dice to the left.

Your partner's points are added to yours. The table keeps one score for each pair.

When a round ends

Every table plays at the same time. The round ends when a team at the head table reaches 21 points and rings the bell. The other tables stop, even mid-turn, and the team with more points at each table wins the round there. A tie is broken with a quick roll-off.

Switching tables and partners

• Winners at the head table stay; the losing pair moves down to the last table.
• Winners at the other tables move up one table.
• After everyone moves, split up so you have a new partner: partners always sit across from each other.

Keeping the tally

After each round, every player marks a win or a loss on their own tally card, plus any Buncos they rolled. Then the points go back to zero: only wins, losses and Buncos carry over to the next round. After all six rounds, start a new set at round one. Our Bunco score sheets include printable tally cards and an online tally that works out the prize winners for you.

Prizes

Most groups put a few dollars each into a pot and split it between:

• Most wins
• Most Buncos
• Most losses (the booby prize)
• The last Bunco of the night, often with a traveling prize that the winner holds until the next game

Bunco for a small group

With two to four players, play at one table with no partners. Everyone scores for themselves, and the first player to 21 points wins the round. After six rounds, the player with the most round wins takes the game; tie-breaks go to most Buncos.

Bunco with 5 to 11 players

Fill tables of four first: those players play in teams of two, aiming for 21 as usual. Anyone left over sits at a table of two or three and plays alone, needing only 11 points to win the round at that table.

Many groups would rather keep everyone in teams and fill an empty seat with a "ghost" player whose points come from a spare roll each turn. Either way, agree before the first round.

Common variations

• Low and high baby Buncos: some boxed sets score three of a kind below the round number as 7 and above it as 5.
• No baby Buncos: three of a kind of another number scores nothing.
• Shorter rounds: play to 11 points instead of 21 for a quicker game.
• The fuzzy die: a player who rolls a Bunco holds a fuzzy die until someone else rolls one; whoever has it at the end wins a prize.

A little history

Bunco started out in the 1800s as a gambling game, and gave its name to "bunco" scams and the police "bunco squads" who chased them. It came back as a friendly parlor game and has been a staple of neighborhood clubs since the 1980s.

Frequently asked questions

What is Bunco?

Bunco is a social dice game played with three dice, usually by 12 people at three tables. It's almost pure luck, so it's more about the conversation and the snacks than strategy, which is why Bunco clubs and Bunco nights are so popular.

How many people do you need for Bunco?

A classic Bunco party has 12 players at three tables of four, but any number from 2 up works: 5 to 11 players mix team tables with players rolling alone, and 2 to 4 play at one table with no partners.

How much is a Bunco worth?

A Bunco, three dice all showing the round's number, scores 21 points and wins the round at once at the head table.

What is a baby Bunco?

Three of a kind of any number other than the round's number. Most groups score it 5 points; some boxed rules give 7 for numbers below the round and 5 for numbers above.

How long does a game of Bunco take?

A set of six rounds takes 30 to 45 minutes. Most Bunco nights play three or four sets with a break for food in between.

Who wins Bunco?

The player with the most wins at the end of the night. Groups usually also give prizes for most Buncos, most losses and the last Bunco rolled.