Objective of the Game
The Royal Game of Ur is an ancient board game from Mesopotamia, played around 2600 BC. The objective of the game is to move all of one's pieces across the board and off the board before one's opponent.
Game Components
- A board with 20 squares arranged in a cross shape (3x4 in the main section with a 2-square section on top).
- Seven tokens per player, typically in two different colors.
- Three or four pyramid-shaped dice, functioning as tetrahedrons.
Setup
- Each player selects their set of colored pieces.
- Place the board between the players.
- The pieces start off the board.
Gameplay
- Players take turns rolling the tetrahedral dice, which have two marked sides. The sum of the marked sides determines the number of moves available for a piece.
- A player can introduce a piece onto the board only if the dice roll is at least a one.
- Pieces advance along a predetermined track:
- Start from the first row of the 3x4 section
- Move across this section to the smaller 2-square section on top
- Then proceed down the second row of the 3x4 section to the end
Rules
- Occupied Squares: If a player lands on a square occupied by an opposing piece, the opponent's piece is removed and must restart.
- Safe Squares: Certain squares (often the center of the three central squares) are "safe." Pieces at these positions cannot be captured.
- Leaving the Board: A piece can only leave the board if the exact dice roll is rolled.
- Turns: A player can pass their turn if no valid moves are possible (e.g., no piece can be moved off the board).
Winning
- The first player to move all their pieces across the board and off the board wins the game.
Strategies
- Risk Management: Decide when to attack opponent pieces or occupy safe spaces strategically.
- Keep Pieces Moving: Avoid letting too many pieces remain in the starting position.
- Move Options: Aim to keep as many movement options open as possible to respond to dice outcomes flexibly.
The Royal Game of Ur is a captivating blend of strategy and luck and is considered a precursor to many modern board games.
