Printable Bunco rules

Bunco in one page

12 players · 3 tables · 3 dice per table · bell · tally sheets

Bunco is played by teams of two at tables of four, usually 12 players at three tables. Each round has a target number from 1 to 6; on your turn you roll three dice and score 1 point for each die showing that number, and you keep rolling as long as you score. Three of a kind in the round number is a Bunco worth 21 points, and a round ends when a team at the head table reaches 21, after which winners move up and partners change.

In brief

• Teams of 2; partner sits across from you
• Rounds 1–6: target is the round number
• Roll 3 dice: 1 point per die matching the round
• Three of the round number = Bunco = 21 points
• Three of another number = mini Bunco = 5 points
• Keep rolling while you score; no points, pass left
• Head table team hits 21 → ring the bell
• Other tables finish the turn; higher team wins
• Mark W or L and any Buncos on your tally
• Winners move up; head-table losers go to the last table
• Switch partners every round
• Most wins, most Buncos, most losses win prizes

Setup

1. Set up three tables with four chairs each for 12 players. Name one the head table (Table 1), then Table 2 and Table 3. Put three dice, a scorepad, and pencils on each table, and a bell at the head table.
2. Hand out tally sheets. A common way to seat people is to mark some tally sheets with table numbers and let players draw them. Partners are the two players sitting across from each other.
3. At each table, choose a scorekeeper for each team or one for the table. The scorekeeper tracks team points for the round.
4. Round 1 targets 1s, round 2 targets 2s, and so on up to 6s. Six rounds make one set. The World Bunco Association's format plays four sets in an evening.

On your turn

1. When the head table rings the bell, one player at each table starts rolling all three dice at the same time as every other table.
2. Score 1 point for each die that shows the round number. In round 4, a roll of 4-4-2 scores 2 points.
3. If you roll three of a kind that isn't the round number (a mini Bunco or baby Bunco), your team scores 5 points.
4. If you roll three of the round number, shout "Bunco!" Your team scores 21 points and you mark a Bunco on your tally sheet.
5. As long as your roll scores anything, keep rolling. When a roll scores nothing, pass the dice to the player on your left, who is on the other team.

Scoring

Winning

After the last round, everyone totals their wins, losses, and Buncos. The player with the most wins is usually the overall winner; Wikipedia notes that ties are often broken by total points. Most groups award several prizes, such as most Buncos, most wins, most losses, and the traveling prize, which is held by whoever rolled the most recent Bunco when the night ends. Hosts often decide ties with a roll-off.