Bunco is a
game of dice, often played in social groups at monthly game nights. To add to the excitement, groups have the
option of adding in a little gambling via a pot of cash or prizes to be won at
the end of the night. Food, cocktails, and
a little witty repartee between players often accompany the rolling of the
dice. After all, Bunco is a fun and
fast-paced game of chance, but it’s also an excuse to be with friends and cut
loose a little!
The game is
played at tables of four in competing teams of two. An arrangement of three or four tables of
players is common, with tables ranked “high” to “low” to organize movement
between the tables between rounds. A round
consists of “rolling for” a specific number on the di. A game is complete after six rounds, or, when
each number on the di (from 1 to 6) has been “rolled for.” During each round, a team gets 1 point
whenever they roll the number being rolled for, 5 points when they roll three
of a kind of any number (a “Baby Bunco”), and 21 points when and if they roll
three of a kind of the number being rolled for (a “Bunco”). Players take turns rolling the three dice and
attempting to be the first team at any table to reach a cumulative score of 21
or to be the first to roll a Bunco for that round. An individual player gets to keep rolling as
long as she scores 1 or more points with each roll. Once she fails to score, she passes the dice
to her left and the opposing team gets a chance to score.
Once a team
at any of the tables has reached 21 points or rolled a Bunco, the round is
completed, final scores for the round are recorded, and winning teams move up
to a higher table. The losers at the
head table move to the lowest table.
Players also switch partners at the end of the round, so you never play
with the same partner twice in a row.
Remember, it’s a game of chance, ladies!
There’s no rhyme or reason to it.
During the evening, players
track the number of rounds they win (and lose), their cumulative points from
round to round, and also the number of Buncos (scored individually). Some
groups also keep track of Baby Buncos. Click
here to find Free Buncolator Scoresheets.
At the end of the night, overall points, wins, losses and Buncos are
tallied and prizes are awarded.
