How to Play Indian Dice
Indian Dice can be played by 2, 3 or 4 players. The playing time ranges from around 30 to 60 minutes.
The board game is played with 16 playing pieces: 4 black, 4 green, 4 red, and 4 yellow. 6 dice are used to throw numbers. Each dice is marked with the numbers: 1,2,3,4,5 and 6.
Each player gets 4 playing pieces. Every player starts the game by placing their 4 playing pieces on the center on the board, called Charkoni. Before the game can begin, the playing order of the players must be decided with a dice roll.
The highest number from the dice roll decides which player will start the game. When the starting player has been selected, the starting player places the playing pieces on the center position of the board, called Charkoni.
To move the playing pieces on the board, the players need to roll a number with their dice. The number from the dice roll displays the number of times the players can move their playing piece on the board.
To move out the remaining pieces from the center of the board (Charkoni), players need to get a so-called “grace”, from the dice roll. To get a “grace”, players need to throw their dice and get the number 6, 10 or 25.
How to Win
To win on Indian Dice, players need to complete a full round around the board, with all their 4 playing pieces, starting from the center of the board (Charkoni) and returning to the center of the board again (Charkoni).
To enter the center of the board (Charkoni) again, players need to throw an exact number with their dice. For example: 16 or 20.
Once a player finishes a round with their playing piece, the playing pieces are tilted to the side, to signal the other players that their playing piece has finished the round.
Layout of the Game Board
The game board is shaped like a cross, with 4 arms stretching up, down, left and right. Each arm consists of 3 adjacent columns with 8 squares.
3 squares on each arm represent castles. There are 68 squares on the game board. In the middle of the board is a large square, called the “Charkoni”.
Capturing Opponents
Players can capture their opponent’s playing piece and send it back to the center of the board, Charkoni. To capture an opponent’s playing piece, players need to position their playing piece on the same square as their opponent.
When players have sent back their opponent’s playing piece to the center of the board (Charkoni), their opponent can only move out their piece from the center, if they throw the number 25, 10 or 6, also known as “Grace”.
Not Moving Pieces
Players are free to not move their playing place, at any time during the game.
Castle Squares
Castle squares are marked on the playing board with an “X”. If players have a playing piece on a castle square, players’ opponents are unable to capture their playing piece. However, players are not able to finish on the castle square, if it is taken by 1 or more playing pieces by their opponent.
Tips on How to Win
- To avoid being captured and being sent back to the center of the board (Charkoni), players can stay in a castle square. Castle squares are located on the 3 crosses on each arm.
- Players can skip the requirement of throwing an exact number with the dice in order to put back their playing pieces on the center of the board again. This can be done by waiting until the number 25 is rolled with the dice.
- To help a teammate who is far behind in the game, players can finish their round a second time. Doing this will help their lagging-behind teammate to catch up in the game.
History of Indian Dice
Here are some interesting facts about Indian Dice, which might not know about:
- It’s a national game of India
- The Indian word is “Pachisi”
- Founded in India around the 4th century A.D.
- Largely popularized by the ancient Indian Sanskrit “Mahabharata” in the year 540 to 300 B.C.
- “Pachisi” means “twenty-five”, which refers to the number 25 in the game.
FAQ
🎲 Is Indian Dice Legal?
Yes. Indian Dice is legal to play in India.
🎲 Can I Play Indian Dice Online?
Yes. You can play Indian Dice online on various online casinos. You can find a list of such casinos in this guide.
🎲 Can I Play with Real Money?
Yes. You can play Indian Dice with real money, just like any other casino game.
🎲 What is the Best Way to Learn to Play Indian Dice?
The best way to learn to play Indian Dice is to start reading our instructions on this page and then start putting them into practice. Practise makes perfect.
🎲 Can Anyone Play Indian Dice?
Yes. Anyone can play Indian Dice. The game does not have too many rules and the outcome is mostly based on luck, just like Jhandi Munda and other similar games.