Ludo Game Rules

How to Play Ludo Board Game

In this complete guide Playiro teach beginners how to play Ludo like a pro. You’ll learn the rules, movement strategies, and smart tactics to outpace your opponents and win.

Preparations

• Ludo is played with 2 to 4 players.
• Each player selects a color (Red, Blue, Green, or Yellow) and takes four tokens of that color.
• The board has a circular path with a home column for each color and a shared center area.
• Players take turns rolling a six-sided die to determine movement.

Gameplay

It is important to know how the game flows in Ludo. Here’s how it a round of the game works:

Starting the Game

• Players take turns rolling the die.
• A player must roll a 6 to move a token from their base onto the starting square.

Moving Tokens

• On each turn, players roll the die and move a token forward by the rolled number.

Rolling a 6

If a player rolls a 6, they can:

1. Move a new token from the base onto the board.
2. Move an existing token forward.
3. Roll again — but rolling three consecutive 6s sends the player's last moved token back to the base.

Capturing Opponents

• If a player lands on an opponent's token, they send it back to its base.
• The captured opponent must roll a 6 to re-enter the board.

Safe Zones

• Some squares are safe zones where tokens cannot be captured.
• These squares are usually marked on the board.

How to Win the Game

• Players must move all four tokens around the board and into their home column.
• Tokens must land in the home column by an exact roll.
• The first player to get all four tokens into the home area wins the game.

Strategies and Tips

Winning in Ludo isn’t just about rolling lucky numbers — it’s about making smart decisions at every turn. By balancing offense and defense, you can maximize your chances of victory.

Basic Strategies

• Prioritize unlocking tokens – Rolling a 6 allows you to bring new pieces into play. The more tokens you have on the board, the more strategic options you gain.
• Spread out your pieces – Keeping all tokens close together makes them vulnerable. Distribute them across the board to increase flexibility and minimize risk.
• Block opponents – Place tokens strategically to slow down or trap opponents, forcing them to take a longer route.
• Use home rows wisely – Once a token is close to home, focus on getting it to safety instead of taking unnecessary risks.

Advanced Strategies

• Force opponents into risky situations – Position your tokens so opponents must pass you, increasing their chances of being captured.
• Use safe zones effectively – When ahead, take advantage of safe spots to avoid getting sent back.
• Time your movements – Avoid moving into open spaces if an opponent’s active token is nearby.
• Control the pace of the game – Play defensively when leading; take calculated risks when behind.

Overview – Simple Ludo Game Rules