Ludi
Fast, aggressive, and highly strategic. Ludi is the Jamaican evolution of the ancient game Pachisi. Slam the dice, build your walls, and knock your opponents back to the yard.
History: The Journey of Ludi
Ludi's lineage tracks back to ancient India, originating as a game called Pachisi (or Parcheesi) as early as the 6th century.
In the 19th century, Indian indentured laborers brought the game to Jamaica during the British colonial era. There, it evolved significantly.
Jamaicans adapted the rules, accelerated the pace by using two dice instead of one, and transformed the board into a piece of local art. Traditional Jamaican Ludi boards are large (often 24" x 24"), hand-painted on solid wood, and heavily varnished to withstand players slamming the dice down.
Today, Ludi is a staple of community street corners, local bars, and backyard family cookouts. The physical action of slamming the dice and shouting "Knock!" is as essential to the game as the strategy itself.
How to Play
Starting & Entering Play
All pieces start in your "Yard". To move a piece onto the active track (the Gate), you must roll a 6 on at least one die. If you roll a 6, you get a bonus roll!
Movement Mechanics
With two dice, you can split your moves. If you roll a 4 and a 5, you can move one piece 9 spaces, or move two different pieces 4 and 5 spaces. (If you roll three 6s in a row, you bust and lose your turn!)
The "Lock" (Crucial Strategy)
When two or more of your pieces land on the exact same square, they form a Lock (or "Wall"). No opponent can pass or capture a locked space. They are completely blocked until you decide to break the lock.
Capturing ("Knocking")
If you land exactly on a space occupied by a single opponent piece, you "knock" it off the board. It goes all the way back to their yard and needs another 6 to escape.