Snakes and Ladders
The classic race to 100 for two to four players: roll the die, climb the ladders and dodge the snakes.
At a glance
- Play 2, 3 or 4 players — you against the computer, or friends taking turns on one phone, tablet or computer.
- Land on the foot of a ladder to climb it; land on a snake’s head and slide down to its tail. First to square 100 wins.
- Choose a board: Classic, Easy climb for younger players, the longer Snake pit, or a Random board that is new every game.
- Set your house rules: bounce back, stay put or still win when you roll past 100, another roll on a six, and a six to start.
- Each board shows how many rolls a game takes on average, worked out exactly from the board and your rules.
- The game comes from ancient India, where it was called Moksha Patam; ladders stood for virtues and snakes for vices. Free, no sign-up.
Step by step
How to play Snakes and Ladders
- 1
Roll the die
Tap the die or press Space. Your token moves forward that many squares, starting from off the board.
- 2
Climb ladders
If you finish on the foot of a ladder, climb straight up to its top.
- 3
Watch out for snakes
If you finish on a snake’s head, slide down to its tail.
- 4
Roll a six
A six gives you another roll (you can turn this rule off).
- 5
Reach 100
The first player to reach square 100 wins. Choose what happens if you roll past it.
Features
Everything you need, nothing you don’t
You against the computer
Play Red against one, two or three computer players who roll by themselves.
Pass and play
Two to four friends share one device and take turns.
Four boards
Classic, Easy climb, Snake pit, or a fresh random board every game.
Your house rules
Bounce back off 100, need the exact roll, or win with any roll; extra roll on a six; a six to start.
Animated moves
Tokens step square by square, climb ladders and slither down snakes, with sounds you can switch off.
Pick up later
The game in progress is saved on your device.
The boards
| Board | Ladders | Snakes | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 7 | 8 | Everyday games — more snakes than ladders, as on old Indian boards |
| Easy climb | 10 | 5 | Young children and quick games |
| Snake pit | 6 | 10 | A long, nail-biting race |
| Random | 8 | 9 | Something new every game |
House rules for square 100
- Bounce back (the default): roll too high and you count up to 100 and back again — on 97, a 5 takes you to 98.
- Stay put: you need the exact number; if the roll is too high, you don’t move.
- Still wins: any roll that reaches 100 wins, which makes games shorter.
- A study in The Mathematical Gazette (1993) worked out game lengths this way, treating the board as a Markov chain — the same maths shows the average on each board here.
About Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and Ladders began in India as part of a family of dice board games that also includes Pachisi, the ancestor of Ludo. Known as Moksha Patam, it was a lesson in morals: ladders were virtues such as generosity and humility, snakes were vices such as anger and theft, and reaching the top meant liberation (moksha). The Jain version is called Gyan Chaupar.
The game reached England in the 1890s — the earliest known English version was registered in 1892 — and later the United States, where it is sold as Chutes and Ladders. In Hindi it is called Saanp Seedhi, in Telugu Vaikunthapali and in Tamil Parama Padam. The phrase “back to square one” is thought to come from it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I play Snakes and Ladders with the computer?
Can I play with friends?
What happens if you roll more than you need to reach 100?
Do you need a six to start?
How long does a game take?
Is my game saved?
Keep going
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