Board Games
How to play Ludo
Race four pieces around the shared circuit and up your home column. Captures send opponents back; first with all four home wins.
What you need
A Ludo board, four pieces per player and one six-sided die
Set up the game
- Choose colors and place all pieces in their matching starting areas off the track.
- Highest die roll starts, reroll ties; then turns pass clockwise. Identify each start square and home column.
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Playing Ludo
- Roll and move one piece the full amount, or pass if no legal move exists.
- A six allows entry. In this specific source convention, count six spaces beginning with the start square rather than stopping there.
- A six grants another throw, usable on an existing piece or another entry.
- Landing on an opponent returns it to its starting area. Landing on your own color creates a block opponents cannot cross or land on.
- After circling the board, enter your own home column. An exact roll reaches the home triangle; all four home wins.
An exact finish changes your choice
One piece needs three spaces to reach home and another remains on the circuit. A five cannot move the first into home and discard two. Move another legal piece five, or pass if none can use it. Keeping several pieces active gives later rolls more useful destinations.
Pick one complete convention
Ludo has several common rule sets rather than a universal tournament code. This one includes blocks, so inspect paired enemy pieces before counting a route. If your boxed instructions use protected spaces, different start movement or stacking limits, follow those throughout. Someone who mainly knows a phone app may recognize the board but expect a different consequence from the same die roll. Resolve that difference before the race begins.
Beginner decisions
- Compare the distance to a potential capture before automatically moving your leader.
- Keep more than one piece active when useful so later rolls have alternative destinations.
Common rule mix-ups
- Mixing entry movement from another app into this convention.
- Adding safe stars, three-six penalties or capture bonuses without agreement.
Questions about this game
Can I enter another home column?
No; each color uses its own lane.
Can children enter on 1?
The source suggests 1-or-6 as an optional faster-start variation. Announce it first.
Sources and edition notes
Masters Traditional Games friendly-play Ludo: clockwise travel, six-space entry, same-color blocks and exact finish. Many boxed/app rules instead place entering pieces only on the start square.
Sources and stated format checked October 14, 2026. This records a document check, not a claim of hands-on testing.
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