Snakes and Ladders

Snakes and Ladders traces back to ancient India, where it was called Moksha Patam, a game teaching karma and virtue. The British brought it to England in the 1890s and simplified it into the pure luck game we know today. A 2013 study in the journal Psychological Science showed that board games help preschool children develop number sense and counting skills. Each roll of the dice moves your token forward. Ladders boost you up the board. Snakes send you tumbling back. Start playing Snakes and Ladders right now in your browser.

1. Choose 2 to 4 players. You can play with friends on the same device or add CPU opponents that roll automatically.
2. Players start off the board at position 0. You must roll a 6 to move your token onto square 1 and enter the game.
3. On each turn, roll the single die. Move your token forward by the number shown, counting each square along the zig-zag path.
4. If you land on the bottom of a ladder, climb to the top. If you land on the head of a snake, slide down to its tail.
5. Rolling a 6 grants an extra turn. Roll three 6s in a row and you forfeit that turn.
6. Reach square 100 to win. You must roll the exact number needed. If you are on square 98 and roll a 3, you stay put.

• Each player needs a 6 to enter the board from the starting position.
• Move forward by the exact number rolled on the die.
• Landing on a ladder base moves your token to the ladder top automatically.
• Landing on a snake head sends your token down to the snake tail.
• Rolling a 6 gives you an additional roll. Three consecutive 6s cancel your turn.
• You must reach square 100 by exact count. Overshooting 100 means you do not move that turn.
• The first player to land exactly on square 100 wins the game.

• Since every move depends on a die roll, focus on enjoying the ride. The game teaches probability to young children through direct experience.
• Track which squares have ladders and snakes. Knowing that square 87 sends you all the way down to 24 helps children practice number recognition and subtraction.
• Use the three-sixes rule to introduce basic probability concepts. The chance of rolling three 6s in a row is 1 in 216, making it a rare but real event.
• When playing with young children, let them count the squares out loud. A 2013 study published in Psychological Science confirmed that playing linear board games improves children's numerical magnitude understanding.
• Play with 4 players for the most unpredictable games. More players means more snake encounters and more dramatic comebacks.

• Ludo: A dice-based racing game where you control four tokens and capture opponents. Adds strategy to the luck of the roll.
• Gyan Chaupar (Traditional): The original Indian version with virtue squares (ladders) and vice squares (snakes). It taught moral lessons through gameplay.
• Chutes and Ladders: The American version published by Milton Bradley in 1943. Uses playground slides instead of snakes but follows the same rules.

• Children learn counting and number recognition by moving tokens one square at a time.
• Games are short, usually finishing in 5 to 15 minutes.
• No skill barrier means players of all ages can compete on equal footing.
• The sudden swings from ladders and snakes create excitement and laughter every turn.
• It works as a first board game for young children before they move on to games with strategy.

Play Snakes and Ladders directly in your browser. No downloads. No registration. Choose 2 to 4 players and add CPU opponents if you want to play solo. The game features animated dice, a colorful 100-square board with visible snakes and ladders, and automatic snake and ladder detection. It runs on desktop, tablet, and phone.

Snakes and Ladders is a pure luck game that has entertained families for over a century. Every roll brings a new surprise. Every snake brings a groan. Every ladder brings a cheer. Pick your player count, roll the dice, and race to 100.

• Playing linear number board games promotes young children's numerical development - Psychological Science (2013)
• Snakes and Ladders - Britannica