5 Ludo Rules | Are You Playing Ludo Right? [ Official Rules]

The ludo is a super easy, popular, and very exciting game. The rules of playing ludo are as simple as ABC! Unlike other sports, the rules of how to play ludo are very simple.

There are thoroughly defined steps or rules for; king rules, tournaments, rules, double goti, sixes, pachisi, etc.

Like all other sports rules, as you read here, we welcome you to the Ludo Rules with a definitive Guide on how to win Ludo Every time!

Ludo Game | Rules of Ludo Starting, Killing, Fouls & Penalties ] Expert Guide

Ludo is a popular board game like carrom, chess, Backgammon, etc. It is played as singles or doubles or even by 3 players.

It needs a small paper or wooden board, 16 coins of 4 different colors (4 green, 4 blue, 4 red and 4 yellow), and one small cube-like die.

As per the rules of Ludo, the players/teams have to advance their coins or counters by turn-wise rolling the six-sided die/dice on the board.

The pace of each coin is determined by the number of dots one gets after rolling the die.

Moreover, the movement of each coin is directed towards the respective pocket or home from where it embarks on its journey.

However, its circumnavigation towards its destination is fraught with ups and downs, advancement, and repatriation—that result after its being captured or killed by an opponent’s coin.

This process of rolling the die and subsequent movement of the coins continues until a player or team manages to propel all the coins concerned to the finishing point—home—before the opponent.

Let’s now have a glance at the procedure as well as the rules of Ludo.

Objectives of Playing Ludo

The primary objective of players/teams in Ludo is to make all their coins successfully reach “Home” after marching through the entire track of the board.

And the secondary objective of the players is to slow down the pace of the opponent’s coin by killing them.

Related Game: How to Play Sevens | Sevens Game Rules & Instructions

Equipment Needed to Play Ludo

The ludo is a super easy and super affordable game, not necessarily needing the costly equipment. All you need is the following to play ludo;

  1. A Ludo Board,
  2. Ludo Coins/Tokens
  3. Ludo Dice.

Let’s briefly overview the ludo equipment

1. A Ludo Board

The board acts as the court of Ludo. It has four square-shaped pockets/houses or jails.

Each pocket is allocated to one player with four coins of the same color.

Moreover, it has a track that consists of 52 small steps, including 4 home stops (with arrows) or 4 safe stops (with stars).

Lastly, it has four rectangular home runs (one for each pocket) that are considered the finishing steps.

2. Coins or Tokens in Ludo

The Ludo coins are 16 in number. They have 4 different colors; green, blue, red and yellow.

As per the rules of Ludo, each player should have 4 coins of the same color before he starts the game.

3. Die or Dice of Ludo

This is a six-sided small cube. Each side has a different number of dots that range from 1 to 6. Team composition and position of players in Ludo

As per the rules of Ludo and the availability of pockets on board, you can play singles, doubles, or with three players.

It means a Ludo game can be played as one on one (singles), two on two (doubles), or three players against one another.

As far as the position of players is concerned, in singles, each player sits diagonally opposite; in doubles, each pair of partners sit diagonally opposite; and, in a game of three players, each player occupies one pocket.

Similar Read: 10 Basic Rules to Play Tennis for Beginners & Advanced Players

Ludo Rules | Rules How to Play Ludo Game

Ludo is fairly easy to play. However, it involves prudent moves and timely decisions to beat one’s opponent and win the game.

Moreover, one needs to be familiar with the rules of Ludo before playing it. Let’s now learn how to play Ludo and the rules of Ludo:

Rule #1. Rules for Starting the Ludo Game

In order to start this super exciting game, you need to observe the following points in mind;

First of all, arrange the equipment of Ludo; Ludo board, 16 coins, and one die.

After arranging the equipment, select your teammate and pockets. As per the rules of Ludo, there have to be a minimum of 2 players and a maximum 4 players to start the game.

In the case of two players, both the players should sit diagonally to each other.

And in the case of 4 players, each pair of two players/partners should sit diagonally to each other, and the opponent’s pair should also sit diagonally to each other.

However, in the case of 3 players, each player sits in one pocket. Hence, one pocket remains vacant.

As per the rules of Ludo, each player should have four coins of the same color at his disposal. These coins have to be inside a pocket of the same color.

Now the players should decide who serves first; you can decide it by means of tossing or rolling the die to get maximum dots and serve.

Rule #2. Rules for Die & its Number in Ludo

Following are the major rules in points;

After the decision, the first server should roll the die. If he gets six dots on rolling the die, he will release one of his coins and will roll the die once more.

If he gets another 6, he will release another coin from his pocket and rolls again.

In case the first server does not get six dots on rolling the die, he will not be able to utilize other numbers unless any of his coins are out of pocket.

In this situation, he will pass the turn to his opponent. As per the rules of Ludo, each player should pass the turn in a clockwise direction.

The same rule applies to every player. One cannot release one’s coin unless one gets six dots. In addition to that, one cannot utilize less than six dots until one’s coin is at large.

Once a player gets 6, he can release his coin. And, once the coin is out of the home pocket, he can utilize other numbers of the die.

Each number (from 1 to 6) on the die makes the coin move some steps ahead. If you get one dot, your coin advances one step ahead; if you get two dots, your coin advances two steps ahead, and so on.

In case a player, after rolling the die, gets three consecutive 6s, his turn is passed to the opponent, and his three 6s stand null and void.

However, one can avail himself of one, two, or four consecutive 6s.

Rule #3. Rules for Killing or Capturing the Coins in Ludo

This is probably the most thrilling and tormenting aspect of the Ludo game. The death or capture of the coins repatriates them to their home pockets—no matter how far they have traveled.

Moreover, they prolong the game and make it difficult for the opponent to restart the journey of killed coins.

Let’s see how a coin is captured;

As per the rules of Ludo, your coin should reach the square wherein your opponent’s coin is positioned in order to capture or kill it.

When you manage to capture your opponent’s coin, you get a bonus roll. In fact, the more coins you kill, the more bonus rolls you earn.

However, you cannot capture your opponent’s coin if it is positioned in safe zones. The safe zones are colorful squares; each pocket has two safe zones—one with an arrow and the other with a star.

Moreover, you cannot kill a pile of two or three coins of the same color or those of the same partners with your single coin. To kill a pile of opponent’s coins, you need to form your own pile.

You cannot kill the coin that has entered home runs—the final rectangular-shaped destination.

Last but not least, you cannot enter the home run of finishing steps unless you have captured at least one of your opponent’s coins.

Rule #4. Rules for Cooperation between Teammates in Doubles

Following are the rules for Cooperation between teammates;

As per the rules of Ludo, a teammate cannot kill his partner’s coin.

Partners can protect each other’s coins by forming a pile or block.

A partner can support his teammate after making his four coins reach the finishing line—the home.

However, his support is activated after getting a six on die. His turn helps his teammate’s coins move ahead, thereby accelerating the movement of his coins.

Rule #5. Rules  of Fouls & Penalties in Ludo

In Ludo, there are a few faults that each player must avoid while playing it. These faults are:

  • It is a foul when a player while rolling the die, sends it out of the board. As per the rules of Ludo, a player has to roll the die within the confines of the board.
  • It is also a foul when a player gets three consecutive 6s.
  • It is a foul if a player fakes digits.

Note: For all above-mentioned faults there is only one penalty and that is the loss of turn.

Related Game: How to Play Twister | Game Rules & Instructions

Commonly Asked Questions

We may rightly assume that you might have many common questions in your mind. Here, we have tried to answer the most frequently asked questions about Ludo rules to settle your confusion.

1. Can a block or pile of the same coins or partners be killed by an opponent coin?

No, as per the rules of Ludo, a block/pile of the same color or that of the coins of two teammates cannot be killed by the coin of the opponent.

However, a block/pile can be killed by another block of opponent coins. In a nutshell, a single coin is killed by a single coin of the opponent, while a pile of coins can be killed by a pile of opponent coins.

2. Is Ludo a variant of pachisi?

Yes, it is a simpler variant of an old Indian game, pachisi.

3. How to play Ludo king?

The process of playing Ludo king is almost the same as has been mentioned above. The only difference between them is their forms—Ludo is in concrete form, but Ludo King is in software form.

So, you can purchase a Ludo board and play physically; but you can download Ludo King and play with friends who are online.

4. What are Ludo king rules?

The rules of Ludo and those of Ludo King are the same that we have mentioned above. Just go through these rules and enjoy the Ludo King.

In fact, you will become the master of Ludo King if you thoroughly understand the rules of Ludo.

Conclusion

Ludo, a simple but strategic board game, is full of hot and cold passions. It is thrilling as well as excruciating; it creates sweet moments and bitter confrontations during the course of the match.

In fact, it is a game that is partially strategic and partially luck-based. On the whole, it depends upon two key factors: first, the number of dots one gets when one rolls the die.

Secondly, the number of times one kills or captures an opponent’s coins.

Let’s play Ludo to test your own luck as well as your witty moves. Good Luck with Ludo!