Snakes and Ladders

Have you played this board game before?

Snakes and Ladders
(Picture not owned by me.)

If you play this Indian board game before, congratulations! you are well-acquainted with how to play this game. But for those who haven't, here is how to play this game.


The number of players in the game are 2 to 4. Each player, before at the start of the game, must roll the dice first. The one with the highest number should be the first to put his chip on the board followed by the second highest and so on. Each player should roll the dice and with how much the number they get, they must move the chips. For example, if one player gets 5, the player must move his chip five steps away from the board square where their own chip was. Each player should have their own turn. The first one to reach 100, the top board square wins the game.


The twist in this game, however, by the name itself, is the snakes and ladders. If you roll your dice and luckily, you are in the square where the bottom of the ladder is, you would move your chip upwards to where the end of the ladder is. However, if you happen to be on the number where the head of the snake is, you have to move your chip downwards to where the tail of the snake is.


And as far as I remember, there are some board similar to this game. But unlike in the picture above, some board squares has some rewards like roll the dice 2 times etc or miss one turn. Yet, it has the same objective that is to reach the top board square.

Game of Snakes and Ladders, in India, 19th century
(from Wikipedia.org)

There are some benefits of this game. Aside that it is entertaining and makes children or even adults bond together, it also teaches some moral lessons as well. As depicted on some squares in the board, the game tries to emphasize the role of fate or karma. If one makes a good deed or virtues, then there is a reward. But if one make a bad deed or vices, then there is a consequence. It also teaches children how to add or subtract numbers. 


The game does tell that Life is a journey, all along. And this journey may be helped or hindered depending on one's virtues and vices. The virtues could help one to move upward, however, vices could pull one down. But whatever it is, there is only one specific objective, it is one to PROGRESS UP to the top board square.