Objective of the Game
The objective of Pachisi is to be the first player to move all of your pieces from the start area, around the board, and into the finish area. The player who accomplishes this first is the winner.
Setup
- Pachisi is typically played with 2 to 4 players.
- Each player receives four tokens of a specific color and places them in the start area of their respective color.
- The board is cross-shaped with a track for each player's pieces.
Gameplay
- Players take turns rolling two dice and moving their tokens forward according to the sum rolled. Alternatively, variations of the game use six cowrie shells or six dice to determine moves.
Rules
1. Starting Pieces: A player must roll a specific number (commonly a 5) to move a new piece onto the board from the start area.
2. Movement: Pieces are moved forward on the track by the number rolled on the dice.
3. Capturing: If a player's piece lands on a space occupied by an opponent's piece, that opponent's piece is sent back to its home area.
4. Safe Spaces: Some spaces on the board are marked as safe, where a piece cannot be captured by opponents.
5. Exact Roll Required: To move a piece into the finish area, an exact number must be rolled.
6. Extra Turn: Some variations allow the player to roll again if they roll doubles.
Strategy Tips
- Blocking: Placing two of your tokens on the same space can create a blockade that cannot be passed by opponents.
- Timing: Deciding when to move a token into potentially risky areas requires strategic timing.
- Protecting Tokens: Utilizing safe spaces to protect tokens from being captured is a viable strategy while maneuvering them around the board.
Ending the Game
- The first player to move all of their pieces into the finish area is the winner.
There are many variations of Pachisi around the world, each with slight rule differences, making it a versatile and engaging game.
