Bunco rules

How to play Bunco at a party of twelve: three tables, six rounds to a set, and a new partner every round. The rules sheet and table cards print it all, free for Letter or A4, with a box for your group's own rules; both are an original design called Tinkersby.

Players: Twelve at three tables of four is usual, and any multiple of four works
You need: Three dice for each table, a bell, a score card each and a tally for each table
A night: Six rounds to a set and four sets to a night, a couple of hours with a break
Free PDFs: The rules sheet and four table cards, Letter or A4, at actual size

Bunco scoring

What a roll scores, shown in round 3, when everyone rolls for 3s. You keep rolling while you score, and pass the dice when a roll scores nothing.

The roll	In round 3	Points
Each die showing the round's number	3 1 6	1 each
All three showing the round's number: a bunco	3 3 3	21
Three of a kind of any other number	5 5 5	5
No die on the round's number: pass the dice	2 4 6	0
A team at the head table reaches 21		The bell rings and every table stops

The 5 points for three of a kind is a rule most groups play and some leave out, so agree on it first. A bunco also earns the roller a mark in the Buncos box on their score card.

Print the rules

Two sheets in amber on white: the whole night on one page, and four table cards to cut apart, one for each table and a spare. Print them at actual size. No account needed.

2 templates

TinkersbyPrintable Bunco Rules

The rules of Bunco to print for a party of twelve. The Rules Sheet has the night in seven steps, from sitting down to counting the wins, the points with the dice drawn, the six rounds of a set, the prizes most groups give and a box at the foot for your group's own rules. The Table Cards sheet has four cards to cut apart, one for each table and a spare, with the rounds, the points and who moves where. Each sheet is 8 × 10 inches and prints on Letter or A4.

2 designs4 sample rules sheets4 fields

ChimebyBunco Score Sheet

Printable Bunco score cards, four to a sheet with dashed lines to cut along. Each card has a player's name, three sets of six rounds marked by dice, and boxes for wins, losses and buncos. The table tally is the scorekeeper's sheet, with Us and Them for every round and the scoring at the foot. Type four players' names in a row and they print on that sheet's cards, or leave them out for blank cards. Each sheet is 8 × 10 inches and prints on Letter or A4.

2 designs6 sample score sheets7 fields

How to play Bunco, step by step

Twelve players at three tables: the head table, the middle table and the last table. Each team is the two partners facing each other.

Sit down
Four to a table, partners facing each other. Put the bell on the head table and three dice on every table, and give everyone a score card.
Roll for the round's number
Round 1 is for 1s, round 2 for 2s and so on up to 6s. On your turn, roll all three dice and score for your team.
Keep rolling
You keep the dice while you score. When a roll scores nothing, pass them to the player on your left.
Ring the bell
When a team at the head table reaches 21, it rings the bell and every table stops after the roll in play. A tie is settled by one more roll each.
Win or lose
Each player marks a W or an L for the round on their score card, and a mark in Buncos for every bunco they rolled.
Move and change partners
The head table's winners stay and its losers go to the last table. At the other tables the winners move up. The two who arrive at a table split up, so every team is new.

Questions about Bunco rules

Everything you need to know before getting started.

Still have questions? Contact us

How many people do you need for Bunco?

Twelve is the usual number, at three tables of four, and any multiple of four works the same way. If someone is missing, many groups play a ghost: the absent player's partner rolls for both of them.

Do winners or losers move in Bunco?

Winners, except at the head table. There the winners stay and the losers go to the last table. At every other table the winners move up a table and the losers stay put. Then partners change, so nobody plays with the same partner twice in a row.

Does reaching 21 at the other tables end the round?

No. Only the head table's 21 ends the round. The other tables keep rolling until the bell, and their scores can pass 21.

How long does a game of Bunco take?

A round takes a few minutes, a set of six rounds about half an hour, and a night of four sets about two hours with a break for food.

Who gets a prize in Bunco?

Most groups give prizes for the most buncos and the most wins, often one for the most losses, and some one for the last bunco of the night. Everyone adds up their own score card when the last round ends.

Can I download the Bunco rules without signing up?

Yes. Each PDF on this page has two pages, the rules sheet and four table cards, on Letter or on A4, with no account needed. Print them at actual size: each sheet is 8 × 10 inches on either paper.

Where do we keep score?

Each player keeps a score card with a W or an L for every round, and each table has a tally for the points. Both are free to print. Bunco score cards and a table tally.