Overview
Learn how to enter pieces, move around the board, capture opponents and reach home in Ludo.
Objective
Be the first player to move all four of your pieces from your starting area around the track and into home.
What You Need
Ludo board, 4 pieces per player and one die
Setup
Each player chooses a colour and places four pieces in the matching starting area. Choose who rolls first.
How to Play
Players roll the die and move according to the board’s rules. In common versions, a specific roll—often a 6—is needed to bring a new piece from the starting area onto the track.
Key Rules
Landing on an opponent’s piece usually sends that piece back to its starting area unless it is on a protected square. A roll of 6 commonly gives another roll, though house rules vary.
Useful Terms
- Yard: The starting area where pieces wait to enter play.
- Track: The shared route around the board.
- Home column: The final coloured path leading to home.
- Capture: Landing on an opposing piece and returning it to its start under common rules.
Rules in More Detail
Ludo has many house-rule differences. Before starting, confirm the roll needed to enter a piece, whether a 6 gives another roll, which squares are safe, whether blockades are allowed, and whether an exact roll is required to finish. Following the markings and rules supplied with your board avoids most disputes.
Winning the Game
Move all four pieces around the track and into the final home area. The first player to get all four home wins.
Worked Example
If your piece is five spaces from home and you roll 5, move it into home if the rules require an exact roll and the route is clear.
Strategy Tips
- Bring more than one piece into play so you have choices.
- Use captures when they also improve your position.
- Protect pieces on safe spaces when your board provides them.
- Plan exact rolls needed for the home stretch.
Beginner Notes
Keeping more than one piece active gives you choices after each roll. A single piece far ahead can be fast, but it may also become an easy capture target.
Common Mistakes
- Using house rules without agreeing on them first.
- Moving the wrong number of spaces.
- Forgetting whether an exact roll is required to finish.
Variations & House Rules
Ludo rules differ between sets, particularly for entering play, bonus rolls, safe spaces and blockades. Follow the board’s printed rules where available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a 6 to start a piece?
Commonly yes, but some versions use a different rule.
What happens when I land on an opponent?
The opponent is usually returned to its starting area.
Do I need an exact roll to reach home?
Many versions do.
Score Card
Open the CS17 fillable Ludo Game Sheet to enter player names and game results on screen, then print it or save it as a PDF.