How to Play Zonk

Let's Play Zonk!

Learn how to play the classic dice game Zonk and become a Zonk master.

Table of Contents

On this journey to master the game of Zonk, you will encounter the following tasks.

Module 1: History and Rules

Page 4

Learning Objectives

Page 3

Module 2: Keeping Score

Page 13

Module 3: Variants of Zonk

Page 22

Learning Objectives

Let's Play Zonk!

Learn about the history of Zonk.

Objective 1:

Understand the rules and terminology of the game to win the game.

Objective 2:

Recognize how points are earned and keep score on a score sheet.

Objective 3:

Recognize different variations of Zonk and be able to distinguish the differences between each variation.

Objective 4:

Module 1

History and Rules

HistoryRules Terminology Quiz

In this module:

Learn about the history of Zonk.

Objective 1:

Understand the rules and terminology of the game to win the game.

Objective 2:

Module 1

History and Rules

History

Zonk came into existence during the autumn of 1978, originating in a freshman dormitory at a university in upstate New York. This unique dice game was initially conceived as a 6-dice venture, incorporating the use of three pairs of colored dice to create specific scoring combinations. While it drew inspiration from Cosmic Wimpout, a slightly older game played with five custom dice, Zonk set itself apart by featuring six dice and, notably, incorporating the essential BH rules into its gameplay. The five-dice games were essentially variations of Cosmic Wimpout, which had been in existence even earlier and was commercially available.

https://www.zonkthegame.com/rules.php

Module 1

History and Rules

Rules

Object of the Game

Get to 15,000 points first.

Starting the Game

Whoever rolls the highest number on a single dice goes first. The game continues around counter-clockwise.

Player Turns

At the start of each turn, the player must roll all 6 dice symultaneously. Then they may pick out score combnations to earn points. In order to make sure your points count, you need to first roll 500 points in one turn without getting a zonk. After the first 500, you only need 300 points before your turn ends. If you roll all 6 die- all with scoring combinations- you must roll them all again simultaneously. If you roll the die and recieve no scoring combinations, you get a zonk and your turn ends.

Module 1

History and Rules

Terminology

Click on the card to reveal the definition. Make sure to click the card to hide the definition before clicking the next term.

Zonk

Running Total

On the board

On the board

Royale

Three-of-a-kind

Running Total

When a player scores, the points they earned in that turn is added to the rest of the points they received from previous turns.

Rolling a 1,2,3,4,5, and 6 all in the same roll. This is only possible when there are 6 die in play.

Having three dice of the same number in the same roll.

Scoring the first 500 points of a game per player. Aftewards, players can score a minimum of 300 points before they can end their turn.

Zonk

When a player rolls the dice and recieves no scoring combinations, they recieve no points and 'Zonk'.

Three-of-a-kind

Royale

Quiz

This quiz is meant to test what you have learned in this module. If you don't get a question right, that is okay.

Question 1/4

Module 1 Quiz

Question 2/4

Module 1 Quiz

Question 3/4

Module 1 Quiz

Question 4/4

Module 1 Quiz

Module 2

Keeping Score

Video: How to keep scoreWays to score Try it yourself Quiz

In this module:

Recognize how points are earned and keep score on a score sheet.

Objective 3:

Module 2

Keeping Score

How to keep score

As you start playing the game, it is important to keep score of the running total. Using a score sheet, record the total score from each round. Remember, you need over 300 points to end your turn after getting on the board. If you get a zonk, you get no points.

Module 2

Keeping Score

Earning Points

Three-of-a-kind

A single 5

A single 1

If you roll more than 2 die and get 3 of the same number (3, 3, 3) then you earn 100 times that number. (4, 4, 4 = 400 points)

If your dice lands on a 5, you earn 50 points for that dice.

If one of your dice lands on 1, then it is considered 100 points.

Module 2

Keeping Score

Earning Points Continued

Three 5's

Three 1's

Royale

When you roll all 6 die and earn a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 all in the same roll. This can only be done when there are 6 die.

Rolling three 1's earns you 1000 points.

Similar to rolling Three-of-a-kind, three 5's earns you 500 points.

Module 2

Keeping Score

Tap to reveal the answer

Try it yourself

What running total do Abby, Bob, and Carl have on their 5th turn?

Try to keep score for Abby, Bob, and Carl's 5th turn.

Abby rolls a 1, 2, 5, 2, 4, 6 on her first roll. On her next roll, she gets 1, 3, 4, 2. On her third roll she gets 3, 6, and 2.

Bob rolls a 1, 3, 3, 4, 6, 1 on his first roll. On his second roll, he gets 1, 5, 3, 6. On his third roll, he gets 5, 3, 2. The next roll, he gets 5 and 6.

Carl rolls a 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 4 on his first roll. He then rolls a 5, 2, 6, 3 on his second roll.

Quiz

This quiz is meant to test what you have learned in this module. If you don't get a question right, that is okay.

Question 1/3

Module 2 Quiz

Question 2/3

Module 2 Quiz

Question 3/3

Module 2 Quiz

Unit 3

Variants of Zonk

Wheaton College ZonkDetroit Zonk Albany Style Zonk Quiz

This module includes:

Recognize different variations of Zonk and be able to distinguish the differences between each variation.

Objective 4:

Module 3

Variations of Zonk

Wheaton College Zonk

Developed at Wheaton College in Massachusetts in the early-to-mid 1990s, this version of Zonk has slight variantions like 5 dice instead of 6. Here are more changes from the original zonk.

It is played with 5-dice instead of 6.

A "Royale" is referred to as a Straight and can be worth either 150 or 50 points.

A "Train Wreck" is refered to as a Zonk if it's the player's first roll or a Vanna if it's a subsequent roll.

A "Zonk" is referred to as Bloades.

No requirement to hit 300 to stop. Getting into the game (Dialing in) requires 250 instead of 500.

https://www.zonkthegame.com/rules.php

Module 3

Variations of Zonk

Detroit Zonk

The origin of Detroit Zonk is unkown but speculated to be Detroit, Michigan. This version is similar to the original version you learned in modules 1 and 2.

A "Royale" is referred to as a "Straight" and is worth only 1000, instead of 1500 points.

A "Train Wreck" is referred to as a "Six-Die Zonk!" In addition, there is an optional rule that allows the player to make a new game rule.

Players may stop even if all 6 dice are scoring.

"Spazzing" is a rule that states a player forfeits their turn if any dice fall from the playing surface during the first roll.

https://www.zonkthegame.com/rules.php

Module 3

Variations of Zonk

Albany Style Zonk

This variant is used in the Albany, New York Zonk league. Much of this variant is similar to what you have learned in previous modules. Here are the variations that make this style different.

Straights are worth 1,500 points.

Four of a kind initiates a "social" no additional points are scored , for example four 4's would score 400 points, and four 5's would score 550 points.

Five of a kind are a thousand times the number, except for 1's, which are 10,000 points.

https://www.zonkthegame.com/rules.php

Quiz

This quiz is meant to test what you have learned in this module. If you don't get a question right, that is okay.

Question 1/4

Module 3 Quiz

Question 2/4

Module 3 Quiz

Question 3/4

Module 3 Quiz

Question 4/4

Module 3 Quiz

Congratulations! You're a Zonk master!