A young child can enjoy ludo, because the die is exciting, the pieces are small and a piece sent home is funny. The full ludo rules are a lot to hold at once, though. This guide shows how to play ludo with a child in layers, one rule at a time, using a paper board you can draw in a few minutes.
One note first. Under Boardit's terms, nobody younger than 13 should use the site. So I am writing this as a paper-and-pencil activity. Ludo online is for people aged 13 and over, and a paper ludo board is the place for a younger child to start.
What do you need for a paper board?
A sheet of paper, a pen, a die, and four small objects per player. Coins or buttons work. Draw a loop of about 24 squares, which is plenty for a child. Give every player a start square, and put the finish at the centre. The real board has 52 squares and a 56-step journey, but a shorter loop keeps attention.
Layer one: just race
Give each child one piece and no other rules. Throw, move that many squares, and go to the centre. Nobody can be hurt in this version, and a child learns to count squares and take turns. Play it twice, then move on.
Layer two: add the six
Now pieces wait in base until a six is thrown. This is the rule that gives the game its feel. A six lets a piece out and gives a second throw. Many children enjoy the second throw, and they soon learn that a six is worth cheering for.
If the waiting is hard, try the three-tries house rule from the online game: up to three throws a turn to find a six. That shortens the opening without changing anything else.
Layer three: add the sending-home
When a piece lands exactly on a lone piece of another colour, that piece goes back to base. Introduce this gently. Say it is a bump, not a loss. If your child is sensitive about it, keep captures off for the first few games. The online lobby has the same choice, and without captures the game is a pure race.
Layer four: safe squares and pairs
Pick four squares on the paper loop and mark them with stars. A piece on a star cannot be bumped. Then explain that two pieces of the same colour on one square protect each other. A pair is a good idea to offer here, because it is the first moment in the game where a child can plan.
Layer five: the exact finish
This is the last rule, and the hardest. The piece must reach the centre with exactly the right number. If the throw is too big, it waits. Say "you need exactly two" and let them hunt for it. It teaches the idea that a small number can be exactly what you need.
How many pieces should you use?
Start with two pieces each. That is how Quick Ludo works online, with the same rules and about half the length. A game with two pieces on a paper board is short, and it is easy to offer a second one.
Where do older players go next?
Once a teenager knows the layers, the full game is waiting. Teenagers and adults who want ludo with friends online can find a free table at Boardit's Ludo, which I build for ages 13 and up. Until then, keep the paper board in a drawer. Next time, add one more layer.
Stop while it is still fun
End each session before anyone is tired. A short game that ends happily makes the next one easy to suggest.
Ahmed Moaz builds Boardit, a free browser game site.