Kismet (dice game)
A dice game of fate with colored pips.
Kismet is a dice game for multiple players that first appeared in 1964. Its name comes from the Turkish word meaning "fate." The trademark is owned by Lakeside Industries (or Lakeside Games). Lakeside Games originally published it, and Endless Games now produces it. The game is marketed as "The Modern Game of Yacht," and its rules are similar to those of Yacht and Yahtzee, though with some differences. The most notable difference is that Kismet's dice have colored pips instead of all one color.
The game includes five white dice, each with colored pips: the 1 and 2 sides have black pips, the 3 and 4 sides have red pips, and the 5 and 6 sides have green pips. A dice cup, a scorecard pad, and a pencil are also provided.
Players take turns rolling all five dice. Each turn allows up to three rolls. On the second and third rolls, a player may set aside any dice from the previous roll to try for a better combination. After the third roll, the player must record a score in an open category on their scorecard. If no category can accept the final roll, the player must enter a zero in an open space.
The scorecard has two main sections: the Basic Section and the Kismet Section.
The Basic Section works like the upper section of Yahtzee. There are six categories: Aces (ones), Deuces (twos), Treys (threes), Fours, Fives, and Sixes. For each category, a player adds up the pips on all dice showing that number. For example, after the third roll, dice showing a 4 could be scored as 12 in the Fours category (if three dice show 4), or as 3 in the Treys category (if one die shows 3), or as 6 in the Sixes category (if one die shows 6), provided those categories are still open. A bonus of 35 points is awarded if the Basic Section total reaches at least 63. Two higher bonus levels exist: a total of 71 to 77 earns 55 bonus points, and a total of 78 or more earns 75 bonus points.
The Kismet Section is scored based on dice combinations similar to poker hands. The colored pips matter here, as they determine the scoring criteria.
Kismet does not give bonus points for rolling multiple five-of-a-kinds.
- Introduced
- 1964
- Trademark holder
- Lakeside Industries (or Lakeside Games)
- Original publisher
- Lakeside Games
- Current producer
- Endless Games
- Game type
- commercial dice game
- Marketed as
- The Modern Game of Yacht
Lore & Background
Kismet consists of five white dice with colored pips: 1 and 2 have black pips, 3 and 4 have red pips, and 5 and 6 have green pips. The game includes a dice cup, a pad of scorecards, and a pencil. Players take turns rolling five dice, with up to three rolls per turn. On the second and third rolls, a player may hold back dice from previous rolls to create better scoring combinations. At the end of the third roll, the player must enter a score into an open field on their scorecard; if no field can be used, they must enter a zero into an open field.
The scorecard is laid out in two sections: the Basic Section and the Kismet Section. The Basic Section plays similarly to Yahtzee's upper section, with six categories (Aces, Deuces, Treys, Fours, Fives, and Sixes) scored by adding the total of dice that match the category. A bonus of 35 points is earned with a minimum of 63 in the Basic Section. Kismet provides two further bonus levels: a score of at least 71 but no more than 77 earns a bonus of 55 points; and 78 or more, a bonus of 75 points.
The Kismet Section is scored based on creating dice combinations similar to poker hands, with the colored dice determining scoring criteria. Kismet does not provide for bonus points for multiple five-of-a-kinds. After scoring a Kismet, a subsequent five-of-a-kind can be used as a 'joker', which can be scored in any open category in the Kismet Section (except the Straight category) or the appropriate number category in the Basic Section if not already scored.
Reader's Guide
Kismet's significance lies in its variation on the Yacht/Yahtzee formula, introducing colored pips that affect scoring in the Kismet Section. The game's name, meaning 'fate' in Turkish, is reflected in a unique rule: in multi-player games, if one player rolls a second Kismet, all other players must take a zero in the first open category (Basic or Kismet section), effectively losing a turn, while the rolling player rolls again. This rule applies to subsequent Kismets as well, giving the rolling player a strong advantage. The game was originally published by Lakeside Games in 1964 and is currently produced by Endless Games, with E. William DeLaittre holding the trademark. Its legacy includes being marketed as 'The Modern Game of Yacht' and maintaining a niche among dice game enthusiasts, as evidenced by its presence on BoardGameGeek and instructional videos on YouTube. The game's scoring system, with multiple bonus levels in the Basic Section and poker-like combinations in the Kismet Section, offers strategic depth beyond standard Yahtzee.
Did You Know?
- The game's name is the Turkish word for 'fate'.
- Kismet was originally published by Lakeside Games and is currently produced by Endless Games.
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