Snakes and Ladders · Rules & strategy
The board
The board has 100 squares. The bottom row runs left to right, the next row right to left, and so on up to 100 in the top corner. Our board has eight ladders and eight snakes in an original layout designed for this site. Two to four players each place a coloured pawn on the start pad below the board.
Rolling and moving
On your turn, roll the die and your pawn moves that many squares automatically. No special number is needed to start. Pawns may share a square and never capture each other. To keep turns even and easy for children, a six does not give an extra roll on this site.
Ladders and snakes
If your pawn stops exactly on the bottom of a ladder, it climbs to the top square. If it stops on a snake’s head, it slides down to the square at the tail. Passing over a ladder or snake does nothing — only the square you stop on counts.
Reaching square 100
When creating a room you choose how the race ends. Bounce back (default): any extra steps beyond 100 are counted backwards — from 97, a roll of 5 goes to 100 and back to 98. Exact roll: a roll that would pass 100 leaves you where you are. Reach or pass: touching or passing 100 wins at once — the quickest version.
Winning and placings
The first player to reach square 100 wins and the game ends immediately. Everyone else is ranked by the square they are on; players on the same square share a place. On this board one player alone needs about 30–40 rolls to finish, and in a two-player race the winner usually arrives after about 25–30 rolls each.
Pure luck — and that’s the fun
There are no decisions in Snakes and Ladders, so grandparents and four-year-olds compete on exactly equal terms. One ladder can carry the last-placed player into the lead, and one snake can humble the leader, so nobody knows the winner until the very end.
Playing with children
Count the squares aloud as the pawn hops — it is a gentle way to practise counting and number order. When someone slides down a snake, a cheerful “never mind, climb again!” is part of the game’s charm and a small lesson in bouncing back.
Choosing a finish rule
Short on time? Pick reach or pass. Want a tense finale? Choose bounce back or exact roll — with bounce back, the snakes just below 100 can turn the game around at the last moment.
FAQ
Does rolling a six give another turn?
Not on this site. House rules vary — some families give an extra roll on a six — but single rolls keep turns even and the game easy for young players.
What happens if I roll past 100?
With the default bounce-back rule you move back by the extra steps, and if you land on a snake’s head you slide. You can choose “exact roll” or “reach or pass” when creating a room.
Can I play without signing in?
Yes — games against the AI and pass-and-play on one device need no account. Online matches and rankings require signing in with a GameNow account.
How do we play as a family or group?
Open “Invite a friend”, choose 2, 3 or 4 players and share the link; the game starts when everyone has joined, or the host can start once two are in. You can also pass one phone or tablet around with “Pass and play”.
Is there a time limit?
Online, each roll has 20 seconds. If time runs out the die is rolled for you, so the game never stalls. Miss two turns in a row and you are marked away, after which you get only 5 seconds.