How to Play Ludo: Rules, Safe Squares and Winning Tips
Ludo is one of the easiest board games to learn, which is why so many people first meet it as children. It is also a better game than it looks. The dice limit what you can do, but you choose which token to move, and over a whole game those choices decide who wins.
The aim of the game
Two to four players each control four tokens of one colour. All four start in that player's corner base. You win by being the first to bring all four tokens around the board and up your own coloured column into the home triangle in the centre.
The basic rules
- Getting out. A token can only leave its base when you roll a six. It moves to your coloured start square.
- Moving. On each turn you roll one die and move one token forward by that number, travelling clockwise around the track.
- Rolling a six. You get another roll. Many house rules say that three sixes in a row costs you the turn.
- Capturing. If your token lands exactly on an opponent's token, theirs goes back to its base and has to start again.
- Going home. After nearly a full lap, each token turns into its own home column, where opponents cannot touch it. Most versions need an exact roll to finish.
Safe squares and house rules
Ludo has more local variations than almost any other board game. These are the ones that come up most often, so check which apply before you start:
- Safe squares. Many boards mark stars or globes where a token cannot be captured.
- Blocks. In some versions, two of your tokens on one square form a block that rivals cannot pass.
- Capture bonus. Some rule sets give you an extra roll after a capture.
How to win more often
Most casual players lose in a predictable way: they race one token round the board because it feels like progress, and they keep the others in base until it is too late. Here is what works better.
Spread your tokens
Getting all four tokens out early gives you a choice on every roll. With a single token on the board, you have to take whatever the die gives you, even if it lands you in danger. With three on the board, you can almost always find a safe move.
Think in sixes
A token can be hit by anyone within six squares behind it, and also by a longer move after a six. Before you move, look at what is behind your destination square. Stopping seven squares ahead of a rival is much safer than stopping three ahead.
Know when to attack
Capturing a token that has nearly finished a lap costs your opponent far more than capturing one that has only just left base. Sometimes it is worth holding a token back near an opponent's home column entrance, waiting for them to come past.
Do not hurry the last token
Once a token is in the home column it is safe, so use your rolls elsewhere. If you only need an exact number to finish, spend your other rolls on the tokens still at risk.
Common questions
Can two tokens share a square? Yes, if they are yours. In versions with blocks, this also protects them.
What if I cannot move? If you roll a number that no token can legally use, your turn simply passes.
How long does a game take? Usually 20 to 45 minutes with four people. Online games are often quicker, since nobody has to count squares by hand.
