🐍🪜 Snake and Ladder

How to play Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders is a pure race game and one of the oldest board games still played — it began in India as Moksha Patam, where the ladders represented virtues and the snakes vices. There are no decisions to make, which is exactly why it works for mixed ages: a four-year-old and an adult have identical odds.

1. 1

   Everyone starts at square one

   All players begin off the board and move onto square one with their first roll. Two to six people can play.

2. 2

   Roll and move

   On your turn, roll the die and advance that many squares. Turns pass round the group, and there is nothing to decide — the roll does the work.

3. 3

   Climb ladders, slide down snakes

   Land at the foot of a ladder and you climb to its top. Land on a snake's head and you slide back down to its tail. A single roll can change the whole standing.

4. 4

   Reach the final square to win

   The first player to land on the last square wins. Some versions require an exact roll to finish, which is what produces the agonising final turns.

Tips and strategy

• There is no strategy, and that is the appeal. It is a genuinely fair game between players of any age or skill.
• It is a natural first board game for children: it teaches turn-taking, counting and number recognition without needing tactics.
• Shorter boards keep young players engaged. A long game can outlast their attention.
• Expect the lead to change repeatedly. A single snake near the end undoes an entire game, which is part of the fun.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Snakes and Ladders?

Roll a die and move that many squares. Landing on a ladder's base lifts you to its top; landing on a snake's head drops you to its tail. The first player to reach the final square wins.

How many players can play?

Two to six. More players make for a livelier race, since there are more chances to watch someone hit a snake near the finish.

Is there any strategy in Snakes and Ladders?

None at all. Every outcome is decided by the dice, which is what makes it genuinely fair between adults and young children.

Where did Snakes and Ladders come from?

It originated in India as Moksha Patam, a game with a moral dimension: ladders represented virtues that sped your progress and snakes represented vices that set you back.