Bunco is a social, group dice game that requires no skill. Players attempt to roll specific numbers on the dice depending on the round. Roll a 3-of-a-kind during the matching for a Bunco! Find the video tutorial and written explanation for how to play bunco below. Show
Bunco TutorialNeededMultiple of four players; three dice for every four players; pen and scorecards SetupEach table needs four players divided into two teams. Teammates sit across from each other. The tables are labeled with one as the head table, and any other tables are numbered. ObjectiveWin rounds by scoring more points than your opponents. Points are scored by rolling matching numbers on the dice of the round number. Game ScoreRolling one matching number is 1 point. Rolling two matching numbers is 2 points. Rolling three matching numbers is a Bunco and is 21 points. Rolling three dice of a kind in a different number than the round is 5 points.
Game PlayThe first player begins rolling and collecting points. If a player’s roll contains at least 1 point, that player gets to roll again. Once a player rolls no points, the dice move clockwise to the next player. The player’s accumulated points are recorded for that team. Once a team at the head table scores 21 or more points, a sound is made to signal the round is over. The current rollers at the other tables continue to roll until a no point roll to finish their turns. If the score is tied, each player gets one more turn. The team with the most points after all players had one more turn wins the round. Six rounds make up one game. The amount of time available can determine the amount of games played. Player ScoreThe players on the teams that scored more points during the round record a “W” for the round. The player on the teams that scored less points than their opponents record an “L” for the round. Each individual player that rolled a Bunco during the round will record a tally under the Bunco section of the player scorecard. Team SwitchAfter each round, players switch tables and partners. The two players that won the round move one table ahead. For example, winners at table 2 move ahead to table 1. The two players that lost at the head table move to the last table. Players will change seats so that each player has a different partner than the previous round. Overall WinnersIt is common for each player to ante a small amount of money into a pot. There are different variations to the payouts after all the games are played. A simple payout may look like the following:
By Mychelle Blake Mychelle is a writer and web designer who is passionate about a wide variety of topics and enjoys sharing her knowledge with readers. Read More Learn about our Editorial Policy. Updated April 4, 2022 Bunco is a dice game that's been around since the 1800s and is a favorite at parties and social gatherings. Although players enjoy adding their own variations to the rules, there are some basic guidelines to follow to enjoy the game. Printable Bunco Game Rules and ScoresheetLooking for a free printable bunco game rules PDF? Just click the image below to download and print game rules and scoresheets for Bunco. It's helpful to have a cheat sheet of the rules handy when playing, especially for brand new players. You can access a helpful Adobe guide if you need help with the download. Bunco Game Set-upBunco is a classic game traditionally played with 12 players. You will seat three people each at four tables and one table will be considered the "head table." Each table should be supplied with:
Getting Started With BuncoThe first step is determining which players will sit at the head table.
Playing Without Twelve PlayersIf you have a situation where you have less than 12 players, you can split up the number of players by three. You need to have at least three tables to play, but you don't have to have four people at each table. On the other hand, if you have more than 12 players, you can add more tables with up to four players each or even set up your own Bunco tournament. Playing With an Odd Number of PlayersYou can play with an odd number of players if you use a "ghost." The partner of the ghost rolls the dice and keeps score for the ghost. Basic Bunco Game RulesFollow the rules detailed below to play bunco:
Ending the Bunco GameWhen the players have decided to end the game with their last round, the scorekeepers should review the scoresheets to determine the winning team.
Variations in Bunco Game RulesThere are many variations of Bunco that players enjoy. Some common variations include:
Video Rules for BuncoYou may find it helpful to share a video overview of the rules for bunco with the people in your group. This video can be particularly helpful when a new player is joining the group or when seasoned players would like a refresher. You could even play it during a brief happy hour before the game begins to help everyone brush up and get ready for an evening of fun.
Learning to Play BuncoWhile Bunco may seem a bit complicated at first, once you start, you'll see how fun and easy the game is to play. Bunco isn't the kind of game you can play with just a few people, but it's great for groups. While 12 is the ideal number of players, you could play with as few as eight people by using three tables of three, with a "ghost" at one table. Bunco is a terrific dice game for a group gathering, such as a girls' night out party. You can be creative with the basic rules by adding in variations and prizes to ensure that everyone has fun no matter who has the winning score. © 2022 LoveToKnow Media. All rights reserved. How many prizes do you need for Bunco?One group of twelve players collects $10 at every game and awards $50 for most wins, $30 for most buncos, $20 for last bunco, and $12 for most losses, and $1 each to the remaining 8 players as a pity prize.
How many dice do you need for bunko?How to Play Bunco: Some Basic Bunco Rules. To start with, some people spell it bunko, so this section is "How to Play Bunko" for those folks...but bunco and bunko are the same game. Each group of four should have a set of three dice. Each table of four players is numbered: Number One (head table), Two, Three, etc.
How do you set up a Bunco table?There are three tables with four players at each. The head table starts the rounds. Each table has two teams of two players- us and them. Your teammate is the person sitting across from you.
|