How to Play Ludo: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Intro:
Introduce Ludo as a fun, accessible game that anyone can enjoy. Mention its popularity as a family favorite and its simple rules that make it ideal for players of all ages.

Step 1: Set Up the Board

• Ludo is typically played by 2 to 4 players. Each player picks a color (usually red, green, yellow, or blue) and takes the four tokens in their chosen color.
• Place each player’s tokens in the home area (the square section of the board matching their color) to start.

Step 2: Determine Who Goes First

• Each player rolls the die once. The player with the highest roll goes first, and the turn order proceeds clockwise.
• To bring a token onto the board, a player must roll a 6. This allows them to move one of their tokens from the home area to the starting square (the first space on their color’s path).
• If a player rolls a 6, they also get another roll, allowing the chance for extra moves.

Step 3: Moving Your Tokens

• Players roll the die on their turn and move one of their tokens forward by the rolled number of spaces along the path of their color.
• The objective is to move each token around the board and reach the finish area (the central square of the board).

Step 4: Knocking Out Opponents’ Tokens

• If a token lands on a square occupied by an opponent’s token, it “knocks out” the opponent’s token, sending it back to their home area.
• To bring their token back into play, the opponent must roll a 6 again.
• Safe Zones: Some squares (usually marked or located at the start of each color’s path) are considered safe zones, where tokens cannot be knocked out. Tokens resting on these squares are protected from other players.

Step 5: Winning the Game

• A player wins by being the first to move all four of their tokens into the finish area at the center of the board.
• To enter the finish area, a player must roll the exact number needed to move their token directly to the center.

Optional Rules or Variations

• Some players use double 6 rules (where rolling two consecutive 6s can lead to extra moves or restrictions).
• Other variations include allowing only one additional roll after rolling a 6, to prevent extended turns.