How to Play Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and Ladders comes from ancient India, where the ladders were virtues and the snakes vices. Today it's the first board game most children learn.
The board
A grid of 100 squares, numbered from the bottom left, winding back and forth up to 100 at the top. Ladders join a lower square to a higher one; snakes join a snake's head to its tail lower down.
Playing
- Everyone starts off the board. On your turn, roll the die and move your token that many squares forward.
- Land on the foot of a ladder and climb straight to the top. Land on a snake's head and slide down to its tail.
- Roll a six and take another turn.
- You must land on 100 exactly. If your roll would take you past it, you stay put.
The first player to reach 100 wins.
Playing on kawu
- Two, three or four players: you and one to three computer players.
- Press Roll (or R). The last move is described under the die, and the square you landed on is highlighted.
Next, read about the odds and the board. For a race game with real decisions, try Ludo.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I roll more than I need to finish?
You stay where you are and the turn passes. You need to land on 100 exactly. Some families play that you bounce back; kawu uses the stay rule.
Do I get another turn on a six?
Yes. Roll a six, move, then roll again. Three sixes in a row don't send you back on kawu.
Is there any skill?
None at all: you roll and move. That's what makes it a fair game for all ages. The strategy page explains the odds, if you're curious.
Last updated 2026-10-20