🐍Snakes and Ladders🐍

Snakes and Ladders Rules

Objective

Be the first player to reach the last square (usually square 100) on the board.

Setup

• The board has numbered squares from 1 to 100.

• There are ladders that help you climb up the board and snakes that make you slide down.

How to Play

• Players take turns rolling a die and move their token forward the number shown.

• If you land at the bottom of a ladder, you climb up to the top of it.

• If you land on the head of a snake, you slide down to its tail.

• You must roll the exact number to land on the last square to win. If you roll higher, you don’t move.

Winning

• The first player to reach the last square wins the game.

Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders Rules (Detailed)

1. Game Setup

• The game board consists of numbered squares, usually from 1 to 100, arranged in a 10x10 grid.

• The numbering zigzags — first row left to right (1-10), second row right to left (11-20), and so on.

• The board contains ladders and snakes placed on specific squares:

  • Ladders help players move up the board by climbing from a lower-numbered square to a higher-numbered square.

  • Snakes send players down the board, from a higher-numbered square to a lower-numbered square.

2. Number of Players

• Usually 2 to 4 players.

• Each player has a distinct token or marker to represent their position on the board.

3. Starting the Game

• All players place their tokens off the board at the starting position (before square 1).

• Players roll a die (usually a six-sided die) to determine who goes first; highest roll begins.

• Players take turns rolling the die in a clockwise order.

4. Movement Rules

• On your turn, roll the die and move your token forward the number of squares shown.

• If the token lands on the bottom of a ladder, the player immediately climbs up to the square at the ladder’s top.

• If the token lands on the head of a snake, the player immediately slides down to the square at the snake’s tail.

• If the token lands on any other square, the player stays there until their next turn.

5. Exact Roll to Win

• To win, a player must roll the exact number needed to land on the final square (usually 100).

• If the roll exceeds the number required, the token does not move, and the turn ends.

  • For example, if the token is on square 97 and the player rolls a 5, the token cannot move because 97 + 5 = 102, which is beyond 100.

6. Additional Rules

• Multiple Ladders or Snakes: Some boards may have ladders or snakes that lead to another ladder or snake square, so a single move could involve climbing or sliding multiple times.

• Optional Rule - Bonus Turns: Some versions allow an extra turn if the player rolls a 6.

• Optional Rule - Penalties: Some house rules add penalties if players land on specific squares, such as losing a turn.

7. Winning the Game

• The first player to exactly reach the last square (100) is the winner.

• The game can continue to determine second, third place, etc.

8. Game Strategy (Optional)

• Although Snakes and Ladders is primarily luck-based, players can:

  • Encourage fair play.

  • Use it as an educational tool for counting and number recognition.

  • Enjoy it as a light social game with family and friends.