Yahtzee Proficiency Test: Instructions

[ Overview | Notes | Explanation of Analysis ]

Overview

1. To roll the unkept dice: Click Roll button (below Score Card).
2. To select the dice to keep: check or uncheck Keep checkboxes (below the dice).
   Only allowed on first and second roll of each turn!
3. To score the current roll: Click button next to an empty category.
   Before clicking, the score in that category is displayed below the Score Card.
   Allowed on any roll; however, you must score your third roll!
4. Repeat steps above until all thirteen categories have been scored.
5. To receive an analysis of your choices: Click Analyze button (next to Score Card).
   The result is shown in a separate window and can be printed on a single page.
6. To start a new game: Click New Game button (above Score Card).

Notes

• There is no Undo button! Once you click to Roll or Score, your decision is final. Before scoring, the score in that category is displayed below the Score Card.

How to Read the Analysis

The first block shows a line for each roll. The columns contain the following information:

• # = turn number from 1 through 13
• Game State =
  • set of unscored categories:
    1 = Aces
    2 = Twos
    3 = Threes
    4 = Fours
    5 = Fives
    6 = Sixes
    T = Three of a Kind
    F = Four of a Kind
    H = Full House
    S = Small Straight
    L = Large Straight
    Y = Yahtzee
    C = Chance
  • number of points needed in Upper Section to obtain the bonus,
  • +/- depending on whether you scored 50 points for Yahtzee or not.
• Tot = total score so far
• Roll = dice values (sorted); number of rolls left (2, 1, or 0)
• You = either the list of the dice values you kept, or the category you scored (see under Game State for the meaning of the category letter codes)
• Expect = expected final score for your choice, assuming that all subsequent choices are made optimally
• SD = standard deviation in the final score under optimal play after your choice

• OSYP = OSYP's choice
• Expect = expected final score for OSYP's choice
• SD = standard deviation in the final score after OSYP's choice
• Delta = difference between OSYP's and your expectation, followed by a marker indicating the class (see next block for and explanation of the markers)

The second block counts all your choices in various classes:

• Choices identical to the Optimal Solitaire Yahtzee Player (OSYP).
• Choices not identical to OSYP but with (almost) the same expectation.
• Choices that differ from 0.01 to 1.00 from OSYP.
• Choices that differ from 1.00 to 5.00 from OSYP.
• Choices that differ 5.00 or more from OSYP.

The third block consists of the Score Card.