How to play Ludo
Ludo is a race game for 2-4 players, descended from the Indian game Pachisi. Each player has four tokens to move from their home base all the way round the board and into the centre. It is driven by dice, but the decisions about which token to move — and when to knock out an opponent — are where games are actually won.
Roll a six to enter the board
All four of your tokens start in your base. You need a six to move a token out onto the track. Rolling a six also earns you another roll.
Move a token by the number rolled
Each turn you roll once and move one token that many spaces along the track. With several tokens in play, choosing which to move is the whole game.
Capture opponents by landing on them
Land exactly on a square occupied by an opponent and their token goes back to its base to start again. Safe squares are the exception — tokens there cannot be captured.
Get all four tokens home
After a full circuit, tokens turn into your home column and need an exact roll to reach the centre. The first player to bring all four home wins.
Tips and strategy
- Spreading tokens across the board beats rushing one. A single leading token is easy to capture and sets you back a full lap.
- Capturing is usually worth more than advancing. Sending an opponent back costs them everything that token has travelled.
- Keep a token near your home entrance as a blocker when you are ahead.
- Count the distance before committing. A token six or fewer squares ahead of an opponent is in immediate danger.
- Use safe squares deliberately when you are moving through a crowded stretch, not just when convenient.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you play Ludo?
- Roll a six to bring a token onto the board, then move tokens round the track by your dice roll. Landing on an opponent sends their token back to base. The first player to get all four tokens into the centre wins.
- How many players can play Ludo?
- Two to four. Four is the traditional game and creates the most capture opportunities; two plays faster and more tactically.
- Do you need a six to start in Ludo?
- Yes. A token can only leave the base on a six, and rolling a six also grants you an extra roll.
- What are safe squares?
- Marked squares where a token cannot be captured. Landing on one lets you pass through contested parts of the board without risk.