Indoor Games - Pachisi (Game of 25 Points)

About  

- Pachisi is one of the most famous and ancient board games of India.  

- It was regarded as the National Game of India for a long time.  

What You Need  

- 4 tokens per player, each in a distinct color.  

- 2–4 players can play.  

- Board: 5×5 grid with crossed squares at the middle of each side (starting points or “homes”) and one crossed square in the center (the final home/finish point).  

- Dice: 5 shells (chicholi) used as dice, each with one side black and the other white.  

Objective  

- Move all your tokens from their starting homes to the center square (finish point).  

- The first player to do so wins.  

Instructions  

1. Place tokens in the starting positions.  

2. Players throw shells to determine moves.  

3. Tokens move in an anti‑clockwise direction around the board.  

4. You may capture opponent tokens (similar to Ludo). Captured tokens return to their original home.  

5. The game continues until one player successfully moves all tokens to the center.  

Dice Positions  

- (1 white / 4 black) → 1 step  

- (2 white / 3 black) → 2 steps  

- (3 white / 2 black) → 3 steps  

- (4 white / 1 black) → 4 steps  

- (5 black / 0 white) → 5 steps  

- (5 white / 0 black) → 25 steps (Pachisi)  

   - A token can jump directly from its original home to the final home.  

Rules  

- At least 3 whites are needed to move a token out of its home (movement is one step less than normal).  

- Landing on a non‑crossed square occupied by an opponent’s token captures it, sending it back to its home. The attacker gets an extra throw.  

- Landing on a crossed square occupied by an opponent’s token does not allow capture.  

- If Pachisi (5 whites) is rolled:  

  - A token can jump directly to the final home from its original home.  

  - The player gets another throw.  

  - If no token is in the home, the roll has no value but the player still gets another throw.