Objective of the Game
The Snakes and Ladders game is a simple dice game where the goal is to be the first to reach the finish line on the board. Players move their pieces along a numbered path, climbing ladders and sliding down snakes.
Setup
- Number of Players: 2 to 4 players
- Materials: A board with squares numbered 1 to 100, with a number of ladders and snakes depicted on it, a die, playing pieces (one for each player)
Place the board in the center of the table in reachable position for all players. Each player selects a playing piece and places it on the starting square (square 1). The die is placed within everyone's reach.
Game Play
- Determine Turn Order: Each player rolls the die once. The player with the highest number starts, and then play proceeds in a clockwise direction.
- Taking Turns: The player whose turn it is rolls the die and advances their piece by the number rolled.
- Ladders: If a player's piece lands on a square which is the base of a ladder, the piece is moved up the ladder to the top.
- Snakes: If the player's piece lands on a square which is a snake's head, the piece moves down to the tail of the snake.
- Winning: The first player to reach the finish square (square 100) wins the game.
Special Rules and Strategies
- Exact Finish: Depending on the variation played, players might need to roll the exact number needed to land on 100. If they roll a number higher, they move forward to the 100th square and then move backwards the remaining steps.
- Strategic Expectation: While mostly a game of chance, players should be mindful of moves that could ascend them up a ladder or avoid a snake.
The game is ideal for younger players and families due to its simple rules and short playtime.
