Lots of games have been created to entertain and provide various kinds of knowledge. Various types of games have also been created, one of which is a board game or game board.
This game is a game that is played on a board with several parts such as boxes, circles, or other shapes that are used as a place to play. Games played on this board have been around for a long time, including the snakes and ladders (board) game.
Snakes and ladders is a game that is played by 2 people or more by using dice and there are snakes and ladders in the game. The winning player will be determined if the player's pawn has reached the last number.
History of the Snakes and Ladders Game
This board game called Snakes and Ladders originates from India. Many historians say that this game was created by Saint Gyandev in the 13th century AD. He was a saint, poet, philosopher, and yogi who was born in 1275 AD, then he died in 1926 at the age of 21.
At that time snakes and ladders were created as a medium for children's learning about the law of karma in Hinduism. This snake and ladder board is divided into small boxes totaling 100 squares in the modern version while in the original version there are 72 squares and played by 2 or more people.
There are several boxes depicted with a number of ladders and snakes then connecting with other boxes and assisted with dice and pieces to play. The interesting facts contained in this game are also numerous and contain a moral message for every child who plays.
The box where the ladder starts represents virtue, while the box with the snake's head represents evil. Even though at this time the popularity of the snake and ladder game has decreased somewhat, this game is still around today.
Steps to Play Snakes and Ladders
There are several steps to playing snakes and ladders before playing it. Here are 7 steps in playing snakes and ladders including:
1. Understand the Purpose of the Game
The goal of this one game is to be the player who makes it to the last box by moving from one box to another.
Almost all boards have alternating grooves. As in the first line, of course you move from left to right, then up to the next line you move from the opposite direction. You have to follow the numbers on the game board to find out how many steps you will walk.
For example, if you roll the dice and get the number 5, then you are in box number 6, then you have to move the pawn to box number 11.
2. Determine Who Plays First
Before the game starts, each player must roll the dice to see who gets the highest number.
Whoever gets the highest number will be the first player. After the first player has had his turn, then the player sitting to his left will have his turn to play. The order of turns to play moves from left to right.
3. Shake the Dice Then Move
To take your turn, you have to roll the dice again and see what number you get. Take your pawn or pawn and advance according to the number that appears on the dice.
For example, if you get the number 2, then you have to move the two pawns in box number 2.
On the next turn, if you get number 4, then move your pawn forward 4 squares and stop at box number 6.
4. Climb Over the Stairs
The ladders available in the ladder snake allow you to climb to a higher row of boxes and reach the last box more quickly.
If you stop at the box that shows the bottom of the stairs, then you may move up to the box which is the end of the stairs.
5. Get off when you stop at the Snake Box
Some versions of the game use snakes, while others use parachutes. Snakes or parachutes will make you have to go backwards because you will go down to the lowest row possible.
If you stop at the box with the snake's head or the top of the parachute, then you have to lower the pawn to the end of the snake's body or the end of the parachute.
6. Go Back When You Get Number 6
If you roll the dice and then get a 6, then you can have another walking turn.
First, you move the pawn six squares, then roll the dice again, if you stop at the snake or ladder box, then you must follow these rules. Then you can roll the dice again, as long as you get a 6 on the dice, then you can keep moving.
7. Stop at the Last Box to Become a Winner
The first player to reach the last square or (the tile at the end of the highest row) wins. The squares are usually numbered 100, but there is a twist to this game.
If you roll the dice and then get a number that is too large to stop right at the last box, then you can only touch the last box and have to go backwards, according to the remaining steps.
Unique Facts about the History of Snakes and Ladders
This board game called Snakes and Ladders also has several unique historical facts that are no less interesting. Here are some unique facts about the history of snakes and ladders including:
1. Originally from India
Who would have thought that this game originated in India? This game in India is known as Mokshapat or Moksha Patamu. It is not known for certain that the snake ladder was played at the beginning of the 2nd century BC (BC).
2. Created by Saint Gyandev
Although there is still much debate, some historians say that the ladder snake was created by Saint Gyandev in the 13th century AD, said the Teh Times of India page. He was a saint, poet, philosopher and yogi who was born in 1275 AD, however, he died in 1296 when he was still 21 years old.
3. Has a philosophical value behind it
Of course, there is a hidden meaning behind the game, it is used to give moral instructions to children. The box where the ladder starts represents virtue, while the box with the snake's head represents evil.
4. In the original version there were 72 boxes
There are several differences between the original and modern versions of the ladder snake. In the original version, the number of boxes is only 72, while in the modern idnplay88 version there are 100 boxes. Also, in the original version there are fewer snakes compared to the ladders in the game.
5. Entrance to England in the 19th Century
So how did the board game Snakes and Ladders become so popular around the world in the first place? Because this game was brought to England by colonialists in India in the 19th century. Well, there the ladder snakes underwent several modifications, such as making the number of snakes and ladders the same. Then in 1943, snakes and ladders game was first introduced to the United States.
6. There is Meaning in Every Box
Did you know that every box in the game of snakes and ladders has its own meaning? In the original game, these squares stand for kindness. As in the boxes (12) faith, (51) reliability, (57) generosity, (76) knowledge, and (78) asceticism.
Whereas the crime boxes are represented by boxes of (41) disobedience, (44) arrogance, (49) vulgarity, (52) theft, (58) lying, (62) drunkenness, (69) debt, (73) murder, (84 ) anger, (92) greed, (95) pride, and (99) lust.
7. Inspired SpongeBob SquarePants Episodes
And more interestingly, snakes and ladders have become an inspiration in various kinds of pop culture. One of them is Spongebob Squarepants, where snakes and ladders are the inspiration for the game eels and escalators.
In this board game, there are a number of boxes with four eels and three 3-dimensional escalators. The concept of the game is that players must reach the finish point before their opponents. Players can start by rolling the dice, then move with the number of numbers printed on the dice.
This game appeared in Spongebob Squarepants in the episode "Sailor Mouth". Apart from that, snakes and ladders game also appeared in Dora the Explorer and Sesame Street.
Rules for Playing Snakes and Ladders
In the game of snakes and ladders there are also some rules that you have to do. Here are 13 rules in playing snakes and ladders including:
- All players start the game from box number 1 and end at box number 100.
- There are several snakes and ladders in certain squares on the game board.
- 1 dice and some pieces. The number of pieces used must match the number of players. Usually the pieces also use a different color for each player, there are no specific rules for the type of pieces that must be used.
- The length of snakes and ladders varies, snakes can move player pieces back several squares, while ladders can move player pieces forward several squares.
- Some of the snakes and ladders are short, and only a few snakes and ladders are long. On some game boards there is a snake in square number 99 which will move the player's pieces farther down.
- To determine who will get the first turn, usually each player will roll the dice, the one who gets the highest score gets the first turn.
- All players start from box number 1.
- When it's his turn, the player rolls the dice and can advance his piece several squares according to the number the result of the dice roll.
- If the player gets the number 6 from the dice roll, then the player gets another turn to roll the dice and advance the pieces according to the number obtained from the last roll.
- There may be more than 1 piece in a box.
- If the player's pawn ends at the square containing the foot of the ladder, then the pawn has the right to advance to the box indicated by the top of the ladder.
- If the player's piece ends in a box containing a snake's tail, then the piece must go down to the square marked by the snake's head.
- The winner of this snake and ladder game is the player who manages to reach box number 100.
Benefits of Playing Snakes and Ladders
There are so many benefits that we can take from a game. For a child, playing games that are fun will certainly have a positive impact on the child's development, attitude, mentality, and personality values of the child.
Snakes and ladders game also has many benefits in terms of education that you can get from this game. Below are some of the benefits of playing snakes and ladders including:
- A child can add new vocabulary through pictures on the snake and ladder board practicing describing pictures.
- Train children to learn simple math.
- Train children to learn to read.
- Children will also be trained in learning to understand command sentences or requests.
- Of course a child will play a role when carrying out orders or requests according to the questions written in each of the snakes and ladders boxes.
Closing
Maybe that's enough discussion about how to play snakes and ladders, history, unique historical facts, steps to play snakes and ladders, rules and benefits.
If there are mistakes in words or sentences, I apologize. If anyone wants to ask just go ahead. Thanks for reading!