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I think I have been playing the Ludo game since I was a kid. And judging by the number of years I have lived, I can boldly say that this game has been here a really long time.
Ludo is a classic fun-time family board game. It’s truly a global board game. You can say it is as popular as Monopoly (okay, maybe we’re going too far. And by the way, who doesn’t know Monopoly?
Ludo Game is sometimes referred to as a cross and circle game. Basically, every player is in a race against each other, trying to navigate through the board as effectively and efficiently as possible.
It is the kind of game you would want to play while chilling with family and friends. The kind of game that keeps you entertained.
What is a Ludo Board Game in a Nutshell?
Ludo is a strategy board game, often autonomous, and requires high thinking and decision-making ability. In this game, players maneuver across the board with their tokens, trying to get those tokens to the finishing square before any other player. Yes, the game is that easy.
Ludo is originally from India, just like many other circle board games. The idea for this game was derived from the ancient Indian Paschisi game. As a result, they share a lot of similarities although Ludo is a lot easier to play. I think it was specifically designed to appeal to the English audience.
What are the Basic Rules of Ludo?
The rules of Ludo board games are quite simple. You don’t have to play the game over and over again to get the gist. Below are some of the basic rules in Ludo:
1. No of Participants
Generally, Ludo can be played by two, three, or four players. The board is divided into four parts with different colors, and each player is assigned one of these colors. Players are expected to sit beside the color they choose in order to access their tokens easily. If there are only two participants in the game, they must choose a corner opposite each other.
2. Releasing the Pawns/ Tokens/ Pieces
Before any player is qualified to release a pawn onto the board, he or she must obtain a score of 6 or 1. Without this score, every pawn remains in the home base, and the player will be unable to take any action. But once you get a 6 or 1, you are free to release your first pawn and move it across the board.
Subsequently, if you score another 6 or 1 after releasing your first pawn, you can release another pawn or move the pawn on the field. To make the game faster, pawns are placed in the open, and you don’t need a specific no to release them.
3. Moving the Pawn
To move the pawn, you have to roll the dice, and whatever score you get will determine how far the pawn will go across the board. For instance, if you roll the dice and get a score of 4, you will be permitted to move your pawn across 4 squares on the board.
At the start of the game, each player has 4 pawns. The first player to successfully move his or her pawn from start to finish is declared the winner.
4. Rolling sixes twice Icon
Rolling the die and getting a six is always very exciting. You get to roll again, and you have the liberty of releasing a new token unto the board or moving with an already existing piece. If you happen to roll another sixes, you get another extra turn.
However, there is a limit to this. If you happen to get another sixes after the third roll, you will not be allowed to exercise that privilege the third time.
5. Capturing pieces
As you move through the board, racing to get to the finish line, you can capture other players’ pieces. The essence of capturing other players’ pieces is to slow down your opponent and give you an upper hand in the competition.
If you capture another player’s piece, that piece goes back to base, and all the points that piece has accumulated get transferred to you. To release that piece again, your opponent will need to roll a 6 or 1.
6. Going home
The home area on every Ludo board consists of squares with the same color as your home base. A pawn can only enter this home track after going through the entire board unharmed. If a player drives all 4 pieces to the finishing square before another person, that player is declared the winner.
However, in some Ludo games, you do not need to take all your pieces home before you win. You can also win by earning the highest point and preventing your competitors from earning just as much.
What You’ll Need To Play a Ludo Game
To play the Ludo game, you need to have a Ludo set. A Ludo set contains the following:
Ludo Game board
The game board is the most important piece of equipment. No Ludo game can hold without it because nothing else can serve as a substitute. It is often made with wood or plastic. The plastic Ludo game board has a glass covering over it. This type of ludo board might not be suitable for children.
The ludo game board is usually divided into four equal parts, and each of these parts is either red, blue, green, or yellow. Once the game starts, a pawn leaves the home square, moves across the board in a clockwise direction, and finally into the home triangle, which has the same color as the home base.
Ludo Tokens/ Pawns
These are colorful pieces players use to move across the board and score points. Before the game starts, each player gets four tokens of a particular color that matches their home base. Sometimes the colors of the token might vary, but they always match the home squares of that particular board.
The Dice
The dice is shaped like a cube with either 1,2,3,4,5 or 6 written on each face of the cube. It is used to determine how far a player can move his piece. Most ludo games are played using one dice, but in some cases, the use of double dice is allowed.
How is Ludo Played?
Ludo is a game of luck and strategy, you can’t win with either of them. If you are going to win that ludo game, you need a fair share of both.
The Ludo game is divided into 3 parts; let’s get into it already.
1. The setup and first play
Choose a Home Base and Set Up
Every ludo board has 4 arms with 4 squares. If there are 4 players in the game, each player will choose one of the arms and gets 4 tokens of the corresponding color. Complete the setup by placing these tokens in the center of your home base. Now the game is ready to begin.
Determine the First Player
To determine which player goes first, you all can decide to roll the die, and whichever player gets the highest score gets the first turn. The person by the left takes the next turn because the game goes in a clockwise direction. If you have kids in the game, you can let the youngest kid take the first turn.
Release a Token into the Main Track
The rules here are slightly different for each game. But in most games, a player can only release a token if he or she scores a 6 or 1. To make the game faster, one token from each player is placed in the open. This means that you can make a move no matter what score you roll.
Roll the Die Again After You Roll a Six
Whenever you roll a 6, you are entitled to an extra roll. If you get a 1-5 score on the dice, move your piece on the board up by that no. If you are lucky enough to roll another 6, you can choose to move with the piece already in play, or you can release another piece onto the playing field.
End Your Turn
Your turn ends after you move your piece up on the board. The score you roll on the dice will determine the no of steps you will take. If you roll a 6, you earn yourself another turn, but there is a limit to this. If you roll a 6 three times consecutively, your turn is cut off.
2. Gameplay
Roll the Dice to Move a Piece
To move your piece across the board, you must roll the dice. If you have more than one piece in play, you can choose to move either of them. If you roll a 6, you can release a fresh token or go ahead with the tokens already in play. Finally, if you do not have any token on the playfield and you do not roll a 6, you will be unable to make any movements.
Capture an Opponent to Earn Points
You can capture an opponent when your token lands on the same spot where your opponent’s token is. When this happens, you send the opponent’s token back home, and every point the token has gathered up until then gets transferred to you. The returned token cannot be moved again unless the partner rolls a 6.
Make a Block to Protect Yourself
To make a block, move one of your pieces to another square that already has one of your pieces. With two of your pieces on the same square, you create a block. Although you can freely move your other pieces across this block, no other player can land on it, or move past it. To move the block, you must roll an even no. For instance, if you roll a 6, you can move the block by 3 spaces.
Try to Land in Safe Spaces
Not every ludo game has this. But if yours does, try to utilize it as often as possible. Examples of safe spaces are the globe and star markings on some ludo. If your piece lands on a globe, you are safe, and no other player can capture you unless they score a 6. When you land on a star, you get an automatic boost, and you move your token up ahead to the next start on the board.
3. Winning
Take Your Pieces Home
Once you have completed one clockwise movement around the board without being captured, you can retire home via the home column. Only the pieces of a particular color can go in the home column of that same color. For instance, yellow pieces can only move into a yellow home. You cannot move a blue piece into a yellow home.
Roll the Dice
Once you have your piece on the home column, roll the die to get a score that can take you to the finishing square. If you roll a number lower than what you need, move the piece up and wait for your next turn. If you roll a number greater than what you need, you must move a different piece.
Move All Your Piece To The Finishing Square and Win
To win the game, move all your pieces to the finishing square. Once you get the tokens to the home column, roll the numbers needed to get the pieces into the finishing square. If all four pieces successfully enter the finishing square, you will be declared the winner.
How Many People Can Play Ludo?
2-4 people play most physical and online ludo games. In this game, each of the 2-4 players race across the board, trying not to get captured till they get to the finishing square. But some recent versions of online ludo games allow up to 6 or 8 players. An example of this version is the Ludo King, which allows 6-8 players.
Where Can You Buy Ludo Online?
Do you know that you can buy Ludo online and have it delivered to you without leaving the comfort of your home?
Ludo is available on Amazon. You can click on the picture below to buy the classic Ludo edition.
What are the Different Types of Ludo Boards?
Ludo is originally from India. But over the years, this classical game has grown very popular, resulting in the birth of many variations across the world. Different variations have different rules. However, the general rule of the Ludo game still applies.
The different types of Ludo include;
- Chinese Ludo
- Korean Ludo
- Thai Ludo
- Indian Pachisi
- British Uckers
- North American Trouble
- Canadian Tock
- Spanish Parchis
- Swiss Eile mit Weile
- The Colombian Parques
Frequently Asked Questions About Ludo
What are the rules for 3 sixes in Ludo?
The rules state that if you score sixes three consecutive times during the game, your turn will be canceled. Getting sixes the first and second time is an advantage, but a third six is not.
What Happens if You Rule a Six?
If you rule a six, you move one of your pawns from the home base onto the field. If you already have a pawn in play, you can move that pawn up by six steps. In most Ludo games, you can only release a fresh pawn if you rule a sixes.
Is there any Trick to get a Six in Ludo?
There is no special trick to get a six in Ludo, especially if you are playing physically. Rolling a six is mostly by luck. But if you are playing ludo online, keep your eye on the timer and tap the dice just before time runs out. This will increase your chances of getting a six.
Which Is The Luckiest Colour In Ludo?
No color is the luckiest color in the ludo game, and no particular color gives you an upper hand in the game. Winning in a ludo game has more to do with your understanding of the game and your decision-making skills rather than the color of your token.
