Official Bunco Rules
How To Play Bunco
4 - 12
Players
10+
Ages
60 MIN
Play Time
$10
Price
Over the years, Bunco has remained one of the favorite dice games and remains amongst the best options for your next party. It is super simple to explain the rules to one and all, and the game is small enough to slip easily into any pocket or purse. Simple to play, with no complication in it whatsoever, Bunco serves perfectly at casual parties.
Bunco works great in a big group and is really light-hearted and social, too. The players take turns trying to roll the correct number on their die, and whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins. The mix changes, as players move from the loser's table to the head table as the game advances.
If you're looking for a lively game to enjoy with friends and family, Bunco is a good avenue. Easy to pick up, the excitement can keep everyone talking long after the game is over. Try it out, and soon you will see why people cannot stop talking about the fun they had playing Bunco.
Bunco works great in a big group and is really light-hearted and social, too. The players take turns trying to roll the correct number on their die, and whoever has the most points at the end of the game wins. The mix changes, as players move from the loser's table to the head table as the game advances.
If you're looking for a lively game to enjoy with friends and family, Bunco is a good avenue. Easy to pick up, the excitement can keep everyone talking long after the game is over. Try it out, and soon you will see why people cannot stop talking about the fun they had playing Bunco.
- One Traveling Die (usually Some To Differentiate It)
- A Game Bell
- 9 Dice; Six Pads Of Tally Paper
- One Pad Of Score Sheets
- Six Pencils
- Official Bunco Game Rules And Instructions
Win the most points by correctly rolling the right number in rewarding combinations which will move you to the head table.
Perparation: At each table, players are randomly grouped into two teams. Couples sit across from each other, and one person from each team is selected to tally points during each round. Team points are recorded on the tally sheet and used exclusively for each number round. To conserve paper, previous round tallies can be crossed out, and new rounds can be continued on the same sheet.
Game Play: The pace of the game is set by the "Head" table, which initiates the game by ringing the bell. To begin, one player from each table attempts to roll "ones" with the three dice provided. Always roll with three dice. If one die displays the current target number, tally one point; if two dice show the target number, tally two points.
If you roll "three of a kind" matching the current target number, it's a Bunco, worth 21 points. Keep rolling and accumulating points. Remember to mark one BUNCO!!! point for yourself, not your teammate, on the bottom of your score sheet after your turn. If a player at the "Head" table rolls a BUNCO!!! at any time, the bell is rung, and the round concludes. Other players currently rolling finish their turn and continue accumulating points.
Keep in mind that the fuzzy die is passed from player to player each time a Bunco is rolled. If you roll "three of a kind" of a different number, award your team 5 points and continue rolling and accumulating points until you no longer roll the current target number.
If you fail to roll the current target number, the player to your left takes their turn. When the "Head" table reaches 21 points or rolls a Bunco, they ring the bell to signal the end of the round. The target number then changes to the next number (e.g., from 1 to 2, 2 to 3, and so on).
The victorious team remains at the "Head" table, with one teammate shifting over a chair to ensure new partners for the next round - a great way to mingle. The losing team from the "Head" table moves down to the "Middle" table.
The winning team from the "Middle" table advances to the "Head" table, while the winning team from the "Losing" table moves to the "Middle" table. The losing team from the "Middle" table descends to the "Losing" table, where one player shifts over one chair to ensure new partners.
Now, mark "W" or "L" (Winner or Loser) on your personal score sheet for that round. Keep your score sheet with you throughout the game and don't stick with your current partner - your new partner will be someone from the winning or losing team joining you at the "Winning," "Middle," or "Losing" table.
The "Head" table rings the bell to indicate the start of a new round. In the event of a tie score between teams, a roll-off will determine the winner (refer to the roll-off-Bunco Lingo).
Play continues for two full sets. Take a break for dessert after completing the first two sets, then resume with the final two sets. The game concludes once all four sets of Bunco! have been finished.
Each player then calculates their total Buncos, Wins, and Losses from each round, recording the totals at the bottom of their score sheet. Prizes are distributed at this time.
Please keep in mind that the official Bunco PDF rules listed below could be different depending on the version you have. They should be an exact copy of what came in your original packaging. Download them to view now or print them for later use.
Game Play: The pace of the game is set by the "Head" table, which initiates the game by ringing the bell. To begin, one player from each table attempts to roll "ones" with the three dice provided. Always roll with three dice. If one die displays the current target number, tally one point; if two dice show the target number, tally two points.
If you roll "three of a kind" matching the current target number, it's a Bunco, worth 21 points. Keep rolling and accumulating points. Remember to mark one BUNCO!!! point for yourself, not your teammate, on the bottom of your score sheet after your turn. If a player at the "Head" table rolls a BUNCO!!! at any time, the bell is rung, and the round concludes. Other players currently rolling finish their turn and continue accumulating points.
Keep in mind that the fuzzy die is passed from player to player each time a Bunco is rolled. If you roll "three of a kind" of a different number, award your team 5 points and continue rolling and accumulating points until you no longer roll the current target number.
If you fail to roll the current target number, the player to your left takes their turn. When the "Head" table reaches 21 points or rolls a Bunco, they ring the bell to signal the end of the round. The target number then changes to the next number (e.g., from 1 to 2, 2 to 3, and so on).
The victorious team remains at the "Head" table, with one teammate shifting over a chair to ensure new partners for the next round - a great way to mingle. The losing team from the "Head" table moves down to the "Middle" table.
The winning team from the "Middle" table advances to the "Head" table, while the winning team from the "Losing" table moves to the "Middle" table. The losing team from the "Middle" table descends to the "Losing" table, where one player shifts over one chair to ensure new partners.
Now, mark "W" or "L" (Winner or Loser) on your personal score sheet for that round. Keep your score sheet with you throughout the game and don't stick with your current partner - your new partner will be someone from the winning or losing team joining you at the "Winning," "Middle," or "Losing" table.
The "Head" table rings the bell to indicate the start of a new round. In the event of a tie score between teams, a roll-off will determine the winner (refer to the roll-off-Bunco Lingo).
Play continues for two full sets. Take a break for dessert after completing the first two sets, then resume with the final two sets. The game concludes once all four sets of Bunco! have been finished.
Each player then calculates their total Buncos, Wins, and Losses from each round, recording the totals at the bottom of their score sheet. Prizes are distributed at this time.
Please keep in mind that the official Bunco PDF rules listed below could be different depending on the version you have. They should be an exact copy of what came in your original packaging. Download them to view now or print them for later use.
Share with us your comments, funny stories, tips, advice, strategies, creative ways to play, questions about playing, problems with the directions, etc. All submissions will be reviewed within 24 hours.
Bonnie says:
I have a "tie" question. My Bunco group awards 3 prizes: 1) player with the most Buncos 2) the player with the highest score and 3) the player with the lowest score. We had 2 players that earned 2 Buncos each AND their final score also totalled the exact same. Is the winner of "the most Buncos" determined in a roll-off? If so, is the "loser" of the most Buncos considered for the 2nd prize of "high score?"
03-28-2019
I have a "tie" question. My Bunco group awards 3 prizes: 1) player with the most Buncos 2) the player with the highest score and 3) the player with the lowest score. We had 2 players that earned 2 Buncos each AND their final score also totalled the exact same. Is the winner of "the most Buncos" determined in a roll-off? If so, is the "loser" of the most Buncos considered for the 2nd prize of "high score?"
Diane says:
Need to know..dice leaving my hand and bell rings. Does that roll count? Can't find this rule anywhere.
07-05-2017
Need to know..dice leaving my hand and bell rings. Does that roll count? Can't find this rule anywhere.
Seth says:
Rules say game stops when bell is rung. I interpret that as everyone freezes. If there is any action after the bell that would be considered extra game play and deemed illegal (even if it's tallying up points). I can see there is a gray area here so maybe set the rule before you start what actions can be done after the bell rings.
07-05-2017
Rules say game stops when bell is rung. I interpret that as everyone freezes. If there is any action after the bell that would be considered extra game play and deemed illegal (even if it's tallying up points). I can see there is a gray area here so maybe set the rule before you start what actions can be done after the bell rings.
Jack says:
My sister is obsessed with this game and is planning on playing it with the entire family for Thanksgiving. We'll see how it goes and if everyone can learn how to play. She says the Bunco game rules are easy.
11-25-2015
My sister is obsessed with this game and is planning on playing it with the entire family for Thanksgiving. We'll see how it goes and if everyone can learn how to play. She says the Bunco game rules are easy.
Ed says:
I have heard a lot about Bunco but had never played it till last night. A pretty fun game for how simple it is to play. It worked well cause we had a large group of people. Rules were quickly explained and we were playing in no time.
10-26-2015
I have heard a lot about Bunco but had never played it till last night. A pretty fun game for how simple it is to play. It worked well cause we had a large group of people. Rules were quickly explained and we were playing in no time.
Here are some other games you might like to play at your next get together. Learning how to play new games can feel daunting at first but once you get the hang of it, it can be really fun to try out new games. You can also use our search feature at the top of the page to search for a specific criteria that might interest you. Who knows - you might just find your next favorite game.
