How to play Bunco

Bunco is a social dice game for large groups. The classic setup is twelve players split across three tables with four at each, but anything from eight and up works as long as the number divides into fours. Every table needs three dice, a pencil and a simple score sheet for the table, and each player also keeps a personal scorecard for wins, losses and buncos.

One table is named the head table and gets a small bell or something else that makes a clear sound. At every table, the two players sitting opposite each other are a team for the round, and one player per table keeps score.

A full game runs over six rounds. In round 1 everyone hunts for ones, in round 2 for twos, and so on up to sixes in round 6. All tables play at the same time, and the round starts when the head table rings the bell.

On your turn you roll all three dice:

• Each die showing the round number scores 1 point.
• Three of the round number is a bunco and scores 21 points. Call it out, so nobody is in doubt.
• Three of a kind of any other number scores 5 points.

As long as your rolls keep scoring, you keep rolling. The first roll that scores nothing ends your turn, the points go on your team's line, and the dice pass to the left.

The round is over when a team at the head table reaches 21 points and rings the bell. Play stops at every table, and the team with the most points at each table wins the round there. If a table is tied, each team gets one extra roll to settle it.

Everyone notes a win or a loss on their scorecard, and then the seats change: the losing team at the head table moves down to the lowest table, the winners at the other tables move up one table, and the winners at the head table stay put. Players also switch partners between rounds, so nobody plays with the same teammate twice in a row.

The game ends after round 6, and many groups manage two to four full games in an evening. When you are done, everyone adds up their scorecards. Bunco usually crowns several winners: most wins, most buncos, and often a small consolation prize for most losses. Agree before you start which categories count and whether there are prizes.

The game is also spelled Bunko, and both spellings mean the same game. A popular extra rule is the travelling item: a small soft toy or bean bag moves to whoever rolls an agreed combination, for example three twos. Whoever holds it when the evening ends gets a prize of their own.

If you like simple party games with chips, try LCR or Help Your Neighbour.

Twelve players at three tables is the classic setup, but eight or sixteen work just as well, as long as the group divides into teams of four per table. With fewer people you can play a simplified version around one table: same rolls and scoring, no table changes, and the highest score after six rounds wins.