Ludo Rules: How to Play, Rolling a Six and Capturing
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Ludo is a classic race game for two to four players, each with four pawns and a single die. You bring pawns out of your yard, move them around the board, send rivals back by landing on them and steer your pawns up your own coloured home column. The first player to get all four pawns home wins.
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Board, colours and pawns
The board has four colours: red, green, yellow and blue. Each player has a yard in one corner holding 4 pawns. Pawns travel around a 52-square track, then turn into a 5-square home column in their own colour and finish in the centre. Each colour has a starting square on the track.
Ludo is played by 2, 3 or 4 players; on Zipi bots can fill empty colours.
Bringing pawns out: the six rule
All pawns start in the yard. To move one onto your starting square you must roll a 6. With a 6 you may either bring out a new pawn or move a pawn already on the track six squares.
- Rolling a 6 gives you another roll.
- If no pawn can use the roll, play passes to the next player (after a 6 you still roll again).
Zipi variant: some house rules give three attempts to roll a 6 while all your pawns are in the yard. On Zipi you get a single roll per turn.
Turns and movement
Players take turns rolling the die and move one pawn exactly that many squares. A roll cannot be split; a 5 moves one pawn five squares. You decide which pawn to move: bring a new one out, run from danger or close in on a rival.
Your own pawns may share a square, and there are no blocks or barriers: pawns pass over each other freely.
Capturing and safe squares
If your pawn lands exactly on a square occupied by a rival pawn, you capture it and it returns to its yard, needing another 6 to come out. If several rival pawns are on that square, all of them go back. Passing over a pawn does not capture it.
Safe squares: with this option on, the four starting squares and the star squares (eight squares ahead of each start) are safe, and pawns there cannot be captured. Pawns in a home column are also safe, since only their own colour can enter it.
Reaching home and winning
After going round the board a pawn enters its home column and is home when it reaches the centre. By default you need an exact roll to get there: if the roll is too high, that pawn cannot move. The first player with all four pawns home wins.
Rule options on Zipi
Before starting you can tailor the rules:
| Option | Default | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Safe squares (stars) | On | Pawns on start and star squares cannot be captured |
| Three 6s: turn lost | On | A third 6 in a row is not played and the turn passes |
| Bonus roll on capture | Off | Capturing a rival earns another roll |
| Exact roll to finish | On | When off, a higher roll also takes a pawn home |
Some house rules also send a pawn back to the yard after a third 6; on Zipi you only lose the turn.
Common mistakes
- Too many pawns exposed: lots of pawns on the track gives rivals plenty of targets.
- Parking just ahead of a rival's start: an opponent who rolls a 6 can come out and hunt you down quickly.
- Risking an almost-finished pawn: losing a pawn that has nearly lapped the board is the biggest setback in the game.
- Forgetting the exact-roll rule: pawns near the centre cannot move on high rolls, so keep other options available.
Ludo strategy tips
- Rest on safe squares: a pawn on a star cannot be captured.
- Count rivals behind you: a rival one to six squares back has a good chance to hit you; move away or play another pawn.
- Take captures: knocking out a rival who is far ahead costs them a whole lap.
- Keep two or three pawns in play: more choices mean a useful move even on a bad roll.
- Get advanced pawns home: once in the home column, a pawn is completely safe.
- Use sixes wisely: sometimes a new pawn is best, sometimes rescuing a threatened one is worth more.
Play Ludo online on Zipi
Ludo opens in your browser on Zipi. Against the computer you progress level by level: you start against one easy bot, the number of rivals grows to three as you win, then bots move up to Medium and Hard. Two to four people can also play on one device. Online, Play with a friend creates a five-letter room code and invite link and Find a world opponent matches you with someone random. The room creator picks the number of players and bots fill empty seats; each turn lasts 20 seconds and there is no chat.
FAQ
How do you get a pawn out in Ludo?
You need to roll a 6 to move a pawn from your yard onto your starting square, and rolling a 6 also gives you another roll.
How do you capture in Ludo?
Land exactly on a square occupied by a rival pawn and it goes back to its yard. Pawns on safe squares cannot be captured.
Which squares are safe?
On Zipi, with safe squares switched on, the four starting squares and the star squares eight steps ahead of each start are safe.
What happens if I roll three sixes in a row?
With this rule on, the third 6 is not played and your turn ends. Moves made with the first two sixes still stand.
Do you need an exact roll to finish?
By default yes. If you switch the rule off in the setup, a higher roll also takes a pawn home.
Can two of my pawns share a square?
Yes. On Zipi your pawns can share a square and there are no blocks on the track.
How many people can play Ludo?
Two, three or four. On Zipi bots can fill any empty colours.
