Ludo Rules and Popular House Variations for Family Game Night

Ludo is the board game almost every family in Pakistan knows, but every household plays it a little differently. Here are the basic rules and the most common variations, so you can agree yours before the first roll.

The basics

• Two to four players each choose a colour and take four pieces.
• Pieces start in your home base and must travel all the way around the board and up your coloured path to the centre.
• Players take turns rolling the die and moving one piece by that number.
• The first player to get all four pieces home wins.

Popular house rules

Agree these before you start:

• A six to start. You need to roll a six to move a piece out of your base.
• Roll again on a six. Rolling a six gives you another turn.
• Three sixes. In many homes, rolling three sixes in a row cancels your turn.
• Capturing. Landing exactly on an opponent's piece sends it back to their base.
• Safe squares. Some squares (often marked with a star) can't be captured on.
• Blocks. Two of your pieces on the same square form a block that others can't pass.
• Exact roll home. You need the exact number to reach the centre.

Tips for a great game night

• Write your house rules down so nobody "remembers" them differently halfway through.
• Keep the dice and pieces in a pouch or box with the board.
• Mix it up with carom for a longer evening; see how to play carom.

Get a board

Our ludo board game is a classic family set. Ask us on WhatsApp what's included in the set in stock.