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Snakes & Ladders
Snakes and Ladders is a race game for two to four players that began in ancient India as Moksha Patam, a tool for teaching morality. Players move tokens up a numbered grid by rolling a die, climbing ladders and sliding down snakes. The outcome depends entirely on the dice, making it a beloved game for young children.
Snakes & Ladders Rules
The board is a grid numbered 1 to 100 in a boustrophedon (back-and-forth) path. All players start off the board. On your turn you roll a single die and advance your token that many squares along the numbered route.
If you land at the bottom of a ladder, you climb straight up to its top square, jumping ahead. If you land on the head of a snake, you slide down to its tail, falling behind. You only move along a snake or ladder when you finish your move exactly on its starting square.
The first player to reach square 100 wins. Many versions require an exact roll to land on 100 — if your roll would overshoot, you stay put or bounce back, and your turn passes.
Snakes & Ladders Strategy & Tips
Accept that it's a luck game
Snakes and Ladders has no real decisions to make — the die decides everything. The fun is in the swings, not in outplaying anyone, so don't expect strategy to change your odds.
Know the big shortcuts
Some boards have a long ladder that vaults you most of the way to the finish. Landing on it can win the game outright, but you can't aim for it; it's the luck of the roll.
Watch the dreaded snakes near 100
A long snake just before the finish can send a near-winner almost back to start. It heightens the drama but, again, there's nothing you can do to avoid it.
Play it for the kids
Because no skill is involved, it's a great equalizer — a four-year-old can beat an adult. Use it to teach counting and taking turns rather than to practice tactics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there any strategy to Snakes and Ladders?
No. The game is determined entirely by die rolls, with no choices that affect the outcome. It's a pure luck game, which is why it's popular for very young children.
How many squares are on a Snakes and Ladders board?
The standard board has 100 squares arranged in a 10×10 grid, numbered 1 to 100 in a back-and-forth pattern.
Do you need an exact roll to win?
In most versions, yes — you must land exactly on square 100. If your roll would take you past it, you typically don't move, or you bounce back the extra spaces, until you hit 100 exactly.
Where did Snakes and Ladders come from?
It originated in ancient India as a game called Moksha Patam, used to teach lessons about virtue and vice — ladders represented good deeds and snakes represented sins.