How to play Ludo
- Choose 2, 3 or 4 players. Each player has 4 tokens waiting in the yard of their colour. With two players, you sit in opposite corners.
- Players take turns clockwise round the board: Orange, Green, Purple, then Blue. Orange starts the first round, and the first player changes every round.
- On your turn, press Roll. To bring a token out of the yard you need a 6. It goes onto your start square, the coloured square next to your yard. While none of your tokens are out on the board, you get three tries to roll a 6.
- Move one of your tokens forward clockwise by the number you rolled. If more than one token can move, tap the one you want.
- After almost a full lap, your token turns into the home column of your own colour and travels up it to home in the middle. You need the exact number to reach home.
- Capture a rival by landing on the square where their token stands. It goes back to its yard and has to start again. If more than one rival token is on that square, they all go back.
- Star squares and coloured start squares are safe. Nobody can be captured there, so several tokens can share them.
- You get another roll when you roll a 6, capture a token or bring a token home.
- The first player to bring all four tokens home wins.
Controls
| Device | How to play |
|---|---|
| Phone or tablet | Tap Roll, then tap the glowing token you want to move |
| Mouse | Click Roll, then click a token |
| Keyboard | Press R to roll, then 1 to 4 to choose a token, or Tab to a token and press Enter |
When only one move is possible, the game makes it for you, so you only tap when there's a real choice. The panel beside the board shows how many tokens each player has home.
Computer levels
Computer players roll the same fair die as you and never know what the next roll will be. All they choose is which token to move.
| Level | How the computer plays |
|---|---|
| Easy | Moves any token it can, at random. |
| Medium | Looks for captures and danger, but often picks a weaker move. |
| Hard | Weighs every move: captures, safe squares, getting tokens out and rival tokens close behind. |
| Expert | Uses the same ideas with finer judgement, tuned by playing against itself thousands of times. |
Ludo is mostly luck, so even Expert loses plenty of games. Over many games, though, the better player comes out ahead.
Tips to win
- Bring tokens out early. With more tokens on the board you have more choices for every roll.
- Rest on safe squares. A star square is a good place to wait while rivals pass by.
- Mind the gap behind you. A rival token one to six squares behind yours can land on it next turn. Try not to stop there.
- Chase rivals. If a rival's token is just ahead of yours, a capture sends it all the way back to the yard.
- Get into your home column. Once a token turns into your own colour, nobody can capture it.
- Don't rush one token. Moving several tokens keeps your options open and makes you harder to stop.
About Ludo
Ludo is a simpler version of Pachisi, a race game from India that is many centuries old. The version called Ludo appeared in England in the 1890s, and its name is Latin for "I play". Today it's one of the most played family board games in the world, with many house rules. The rules on this page are the ones this game uses.
Questions
Is Ludo free to play?
Yes. It's free in your browser, with no download and no sign-up. There are never ads during a game.
How many people can play Ludo here?
From 2 to 4 players on the same device. Choose the number of players before you start. In vs Computer mode, you play against one, two or three computer players.
Do I need a 6 to start?
Yes. A token can only leave the yard on a 6, and a 6 also gives you another roll. While all your tokens are waiting in the yard, you get three tries per turn to roll it.
Which squares are safe?
The squares with a star and the coloured start squares beside each yard. Tokens there can't be captured. Your own home column is safe too.
Does the computer cheat?
No. The die uses your browser's secure random numbers, everyone rolls the same way, and the computer never knows a roll before it happens.
Updated 5 November 2026