Do you need a six to start in Ludo?
The wait for a six is the most famous frustration in Ludo. It is a real rule in Classic Ludo, but not every variant on Ludo.now makes you suffer for it.
Yes, in Classic Ludo
In Classic Ludo, a token can only leave your yard when you roll a six. Until then, it waits. The rule stings when the six will not come, but it carries a built-in reward: every six also gives you an extra roll, so entering a token never wastes your turn. See what happens when you roll a six.
Entry rolls for all 8 variants
| Variant | Roll needed to enter |
|---|---|
| Classic Ludo | Six |
| Quick Ludo | Any roll (one token starts on the board) |
| Team Ludo | Six |
| Pachisi | Any throw for your first piece; later pieces need a grace (a cowrie throw of 6, 10 or 25) |
| Parcheesi | Five (on one die, or both dice adding up to five) |
| Uckers | Six (on either of the two dice) |
| Mensch ärgere Dich nicht | Six |
| Fia | One or six |
What if the six never comes?
If all your tokens are in the yard and you do not roll a six, your turn passes. Rough patches happen, but the math is kinder than it feels: the chance of at least one six across three rolls is about 42 percent. When no legal move exists, the turn simply skips, as explained in what if you cannot move.
Prefer a faster start?
If waiting for sixes is your least favorite part of Ludo, two variants fix it. Quick Ludo lets any roll enter and starts you with a token already on the board. Fia enters on a one or a six, doubling your chances every turn.
Related questions
What happens when you roll a six?
A six is the best roll in Classic Ludo. It lets you move a token out of your yard, and it always earns you an extra roll. But be careful: three sixes in a row ends your turn.
What is Quick Ludo?
Quick Ludo is this site's fast variant, built for games of 5 to 10 minutes. Any roll can bring a token out of the yard, one token starts already on the board, and you only need to bring two tokens home to win.
What is Fia?
Fia is the Swedish member of the Ludo family, best known as 'Fia med knuff' - 'Fia with a push' - because you shove opponents' tokens back to the start. Tokens enter on a one or a six, there are no safe squares, and no square may hold two tokens.