Snakes & Ladders
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Resets every Monday (UTC).
About Snakes & Ladders
Snakes & Ladders is the old dice race across a numbered hundred-square board. Two tokens start off the board, and each turn the die decides how many squares you move. Land at the foot of a ladder and you climb up to a higher square. Land on a snake's head and you slide down its body. First token to reach square 100 wins.
There are no decisions to make, only luck and a bit of suspense, which makes it a relaxed pick for children, families and anyone who wants a break from thinking hard. A game runs about five to fifteen minutes. You can play against the computer, or switch to two players taking turns on the same device.
How to play Snakes & Ladders
- Roll the die on your turn and watch your blue token hop forward that many squares.
- If you stop at the bottom of a ladder, your token climbs to the square at the top.
- If you stop on a snake's head, your token slides down to the tail.
- Rolling a six gives you another turn, unless you landed on a snake or ladder.
- Reach square 100 with an exact roll. If your roll is too high, your token stays put and the turn passes.
Controls
| Keyboard and mouse | Click the board or press Space or Enter to roll the die on your turn. The mode button above the board switches between playing the computer and two players. |
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| Phone and tablet | Tap the screen to roll the die when it is your turn. Tap the mode button at the top to swap between the computer and a two-player game on the same phone. |
Scoring
Winning scores 1000 minus 8 points for each move taken by both players during the game, never less than 100, so shorter games score higher. If the computer wins, your score is simply the square you had reached. In a two-player game, the winner's score is the one that is recorded.
Tips and strategy
- Nothing you do changes the dice, so the real skill is pacing. Keep rolling quickly and enjoy the jumps instead of worrying about each outcome.
- Know the big snakes. The one at 99 drops you all the way to 41, and others at 91 and 87 can undo a long run, so be ready for a late setback.
- Squares 4, 13, 27, 33, 42, 50, 62 and 74 start ladders. Watching for these helps you see when a lucky roll is coming.
- Near the end you need an exact number to finish. Rolls that overshoot 100 are wasted, so being a few squares short is better than stuck one away.
- Use two-player mode for a fair match with a friend or family member, since the computer follows exactly the same rules as you and has no advantage.
Snakes & Ladders FAQ
▸Do I have to roll the exact number to win?
Yes. If your roll would take you past square 100, the token stays where it is and it becomes the other player's turn. You need a number that lands exactly on 100.
▸What does a six do?
A six earns you another roll right away. The bonus does not apply if the six lands you on a snake or a ladder, in which case the turn passes after the slide or climb.
▸Does the computer cheat?
No. It rolls the same die with the same chances as you, and uses the same board. The result of each roll is random for both sides.
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