What is Ludo?
Ludo is a board game played by many people since their childhood. The colourful board and the game rules make this board game very exciting whether you play it for free or for real money. Today it has found its way to online casinos. Since the pandemic, people’s favourite pass time has been to play Ludo online. Have you ever played Ludo? If your answer is no, then you must try playing once.
Ludo involves a square board with a playing space in the shape of a cross, a dice, and four coloured tokens for each home yard matching its colour. 2- 4 players can play this game simultaneously. Every arm of the cross has 3 columns of equal size squares. Each column mostly has 6 squares. The column in the middle has 5 coloured squares, the player’s final home column. These squares end in a triangle in the centre of the board.
There is another coloured square in the column nearest to the player’s yard, the starting square from where the player starts his first move. There are 4 different coloured home yards with 4 tokens of the yard’s colour. The four colours are red, green, yellow, and blue. Every player pays their turn clockwise.
To win the classic Ludo game, the winner must move all four tokens from the starting point (their home yard) to the finish point (home).
The board has 8 safe squares. The four starting point squares and the four squares marked with a star are the safe squares. When a token or many tokens land here, it cannot be sent to the home yard if an opponent’s token lands on the same square.
Table of Contents
- What is Ludo?
- Main Difference Between Classic & Online Versions of Ludo
- What Is a Sorry Board Game?
- Ludo FAQs
Unknown Interesting Facts about Ludo
- The game Ludo comes from Pachisi, an Indian game mentioned in Mahabharata, an ancient text. The name Pachisi comes from the Hindi word Paccīs means twenty-five, which is the highest score one could get in this game. The word Ludo means ‘I Play’ in Latin.
- The Ellora caves in Maharashtra, India, have drawings of the boards that show that Ludo existed for ages. In 1896 Ludo was patented in England after adding dice to it.
- Different versions with different names of this game exist in various countries. The Spanish call it Parchis, the Swedish call it Fia, the British call it Uckers, and the Africans call it Ludu. In Canada, the Ludo version is called Tock, which uses playing cards instead of dice. The Chinese Ludo version is called Aeroplane Chess, where aeroplanes are the tokens. There are many, many more versions of Ludo.
- Ludo involves skill/strategy. Luck does play a small part when the player rolls the dice.
- Ludo is not just an ordinary game. Educational Institutions consider it an educational game. Kids not only enjoy playing Ludo, but they all get to learn from it. One example would be the math involved while counting the numbers on the dice and moving the tokens accordingly. Ludo also teaches excellent business lessons. For example, it teaches you that with the right strategy and a never-give-up attitude, you could win even if you were the last player to roll the dice and get six. Ludo teaches you patience and planning.
How to play the Ludo Classic Game?
- To play Ludo classic version, you need two players, if not 3 or 4.
- All the players should select their token colours and place them in the matching coloured yard.
- The game gets played clockwise. The dice needs to be rolled by all the players To decide who will start the game. The youngest layer, or the player with the highest number on the dice, gets to start the game.
- You need to roll a 6 on the dice to move the token/s from the yard to the starting point.
- After your get a 6, roll the dice again and move the token forward based on the number rolled on the die. For example, if 5 got rolled, you move your token 5 steps ahead.
- Once your turn is over, pass the dice to the next player on your left. The game will continue clockwise, and players will move their tokens based on the number rolled on the die.
- During your next turn/s, if you roll a 6, you can move another token to the starting point. Roll the dice again and move any of your tokens outside your yard square. If you roll 6 three times consecutively, it doesn’t benefit you. Your turn will get disqualified, and any token moved to the starting point during that turn will go back to the yard square.
- While moving your tokens, try and capture the opponents’ tokens and send them back to their home yards. You can do this by landing on the colourless blank square with an opponent’s token.
- Create blocks to prevent your opponents from moving head too quickly.
- When needed, land on the safe squares marked with a star. It will save your token from getting killed by an opponent approaching you.
- Once any of your tokens reach the middle column of your home, your opponent cannot follow you anymore. You need to roll the dice to get the exact number of steps needed to reach the home square in the centre. For example, you are 4 steps behind to reach the home square, and the dice rolled number 5. You will have to miss your turn till you get a 4 or a number below it that will help you reach the home square.
- Once a player has all four tokens in the home square, he wins the game. The game can continue among the remaining players till one player has their token/s yet to reach the home square.
Game Rules to Remember
Rule of the Sixes
- Six is the highest number on the dice. You need to get six on the dice to move your four tokens from your yard to the starting point.
- After you get a six for the first and second time, you are allowed to roll the dice again and make a move.
- However, if you roll the dice and get 6 a third time in a row, you will not be able to use any of the 6s. You will have to miss your turn as you cannot move any token in this scenario.
Block Rules
- When two or more tokens of the same colour land on the same square, a block gets formed. When you own a block-piece, an opponent cannot come on the same square nor pass it.
- Another advantage of a block is that your opponent cannot eliminate your tokens unless theirs is a block too.
- You can, however, eliminate any existing single token belonging to an opponent once you land on the common square. The elimination sends the opponent’s token to their yard and remains there till they roll 6 on the dice.
Though block may sound bossy and tempting, you must remember you must reach all your tokens to the home square to win. Blocking for a little while is understandable. Blocking for a longer extended period will hamper your movement by staying put in one place.
Reaching an Occupied Square
In Ludo, you can reach a square that already has a token. The rules differ based on whose token it is.
- If the token present on the square is yours, then placing another of your tokens on the same square creates a block.
- But, if the existing token is your opponent’s, you kill it and send it back to the opponent’s yard. You get to roll the dice again to eliminate the opponent’s token.
How to Win Bonus Turns?
You win a chance to roll the dice more than once during a turn when:
- You get a 6 on the die. You do not get an extra turn when you get 6 a third time in a row.
- You kill an opponent.
- Your token reaches the home square triangle.
Tips & Tricks To Win in Ludo
- Know the game rules well before you start playing.
- Have a game plan, as this is a game of skill.
- Do not move a single token alone to reach the home square. An opponent may kill your token midway. Make sure to get all your tokens at the starting point.
- Try and kill as many tokens of your opponents. It will give you time to reach all It4 tokens to the home square before your opponents do.
- Create blocks to stop your opponents from advancing.
- As and when possible, place your tokens on safe squares. It will save them from getting killed by the opponents’ tokens.
Ludo has many variations. When players play Ludo online for money, the game is time-bound. Playing your best within the time limit is crucial and challenging. You need to win more points than your opponents before the game ends. This way, you can be the winner.
There is one trick we tried, and it worked. After your points are better than your opponent’s, you can waste time by not pressing the dice button quickly. It gives the opponent less time to make more moves and earn more points. Make sure you focus on increasing your points first.
Main Difference Between Classic & Online Versions of Ludo
Ludo is still a board game, whether played in person or online. A few of the rules of online Ludo differ from the Classic version of Ludo. The table below explains this.
Ludo Game Rules | Classic Ludo Version | Online Ludo Version |
---|---|---|
Rule of the 6s | The game is not time-bound. All the tokens need a dice roll of 6 to reach the starting point. | Online Ludo is time-bound. The time limit depends on the number of players and the casino. |
Block Rule | If you create a block using two or more tokens on a square, your opponent’s token cannot land nor pass the blocked square. | An opponent can cross the block created by you on a square. |
Winning Rule | You must reach all your 4 tokens to the home square before your opponents. | You win based on the points collected. You don’t need to reach all your 4 tokens to the home square. |
What Is a Sorry Board Game?
Ludo has different variations when played in other countries. One of the popular versions is the Sorry board game. A few of the game’s rules are similar to the basic Ludo board game. The game board used has a different pattern/design.
The main goal for every player is to reach all their four tokens to the home point. The first player to achieve the goal becomes the winner.
The game can be played between 2-4 players. Each player gets 4 tokens belonging to a particular colour. There is no die/dice involved here. Instead, the game uses 45 cards.
The deck of cards has 4 cards of each number except for number 1, which has 5 cards. Cards with numbers 6 and 9 are not part of the game to avoid confusion. We also have card numbers 11 and 12, unlike the usual playing cards that have numbers till 10 only.
There is a special card called the SORRY card, which could act as a game changer. No face cards get used.
The game starts with the first player pulling the card from the draw pile and then placing it in the discard pile area. Once all the cards from the draw pile are over, the cards from the discard pile are shuffled and used. The youngest player starts the game or the one who draws a card with the highest number. The game proceeds clockwise.
Let’s get to know the role of each card to understand the game better.
Card Number | card role |
---|---|
1 | Card number 1 helps get the tokens to the starting point. If a token is in the playing area, you can move that token one step ahead. |
2 | The number 2 card can also move the token to the starting point or move the played token two steps forward. The player gets a chance to pick another card if he gets the number 2 card. He could pick the second card even if he could not use the number 2 card to make any move. |
3 | The number 3 card helps move the token three steps ahead. |
4 | When you get the number 4 card, you move four steps backwards. |
5 | The number 5 Card lets you move five steps ahead. |
7 | You move seven steps ahead with the number 7 card, or you could split the number to move two of your tokens. No backward movement of any token is allowed. The whole number should get used in a single or split move. The split numbers cannot get a token to the starting point. |
8 | You can move eight steps ahead with the number 8 card. |
10 | You can move ten steps ahead or just one step behind with the number 10 card. |
11 | When you get card number 11, you can move ahead eleven steps, or you could exchange position with an opponent’s token unless their token is in the safety zone. If you cannot move ahead eleven steps, you could choose to miss your turn. It is not compulsory to switch places. |
12 | You can move twelve steps ahead with the number 12 card. |
SORRY Card | When you get the Sorry card, you can move your token/pawn from the start space to any legal square on the board occupied by the opponent’s token/pawn. You send the opponent’s token back to its start point by doing so. But, if you do not have any token at your start point or there are no tokens of the opponent on any legal square, then you miss your turn. An opponent’s token cannot be bumped if it is in the safety zone, home square, or at the start point. |
Remember a few more points when playing the Sorry board game. They are:
- When you land on the triangle of a slide, you can slide to the end of that zone. And in the process, you send any token back to the starting space, including your token/s. If the slide colour matches your token colour, do not slide as you need to enter your home space in the next moves.
- Two tokens cannot occupy the same square in Sorry. If you land on a square that has the opponent’s token, you move in and send the opponent’s token back to their starting space. But, If your token occupies the space, you cannot land another token of the same colour there. This rule applies even to the starting point square. You can have only one of your tokens at the starting point square, and an opponent can bump your token if their token lands on your starting point square.
- Cards 4 and 10 let you take a few steps backwards. If your token is at the starting point, you could move it backwards. But you cannot let it enter your safety zone during that move. However, on your next turn, you could move your token forward to the safety zone without going around the whole board area.
- You have to play your token even if it does not benefit you. And, you miss your turn when it is not possible to move your token/s.
- Only you can enter your safety square.
Ludo FAQs
How many players are needed to play Ludo?
To play Ludo, you need a minimum of 2 to 4 players.
How to play Ludo?
All players must move their tokens clockwise by rolling the dice to reach the home square. The person to reach all 4 tokens to the home square first wins the game. The game can continue till one player has tokens left on the board play area.
Are playing cards used in Ludo?
A version of Ludo called Sorry uses cards instead of dice. It has similarities to Tock; the Ludo version played in Canada.
What is Ludo called in America?
Ludo is called Parcheesi in America. Their boards are, however, slightly different from the classic version of Ludo.
Who invented Ludo?
Ludo originated in India. The name Ludo got patented in England in 1896
What is a block in Ludo?
When two tokens of one player land on the same square, it creates a block. The rules for the block are different depending on the Ludo version.
How to win Ludo online?
You have to score the maximum points within the set game time to win the game. Reaching all your tokens to the home square for online Ludo is not compulsory.
How can you score in Ludo online?
A player earns points for every roll of the dice. They can earn more points when a 6 gets rolled, and their tokens reach home.
What happens when an opponent kills your token in Ludo online?
You will lose all the points earned through that token, and the token will go back to your yard. It will wait there till a 6 gets rolled on the dice.
Are three 6s a hat-trick in Ludo?
If you roll 6 three times consecutively, you miss your turn. You cannot make any move.
Is Ludo a game of chance?
Ludo is a game of skill.