Giant Ludo hire Scotland brings the good old-fashioned board game to life at full size — a 3m x 3m mat with a giant die and playing pieces that makes a real point of attraction at any event. Ludo is played with 2 to 4 players and usually takes about 20 minutes for someone to win.
What is included in the hire?
With giant Ludo hire Scotland, we include a giant playing mat, a die, playing pieces and pegs to hold the playing mat in position.
What is the object of the game?
The object of the game is to get all four of your counters “home” first!
Giant Ludo Hire Scotland: A Beginner’s Guide to the Rules
Four coloured armies race around a cross-shaped board, chasing each other home before anyone else gets there. Ludo (see its full history on Wikipedia) is one of the great family classics — quick to learn, endlessly replayable, and full of the kind of push-your-luck tension that makes a good dice game addictive. This guide covers the classic pairs version, played by four people in two teams of two, with a pair of dice.
| 4 Players | 2 Teams (pairs) | 2 Dice used | 4 Pieces per player |
| 6 Roll needed to enter play | 5 Dice total that also works | 20 Squares moved after a capture | 10 Squares moved on reaching home |
The Goal
Each player has 4 pieces waiting in their yard. The aim is to move all 4 pieces out of the yard, all the way around the board, and into your home square before your opponents manage the same. This mode is played in pairs — four players split into two teams — so a team wins together once all of its pieces are home. It’s exactly the kind of format that makes giant Ludo hire Scotland such a popular team-building activity.
Setting Up and Taking a Turn
All players start with their 4 pieces sitting in their yard, off the board. On your turn, roll both dice. However, you may move up to 2 different pieces in the same turn — one using each die — as long as you have pieces on the board to move.
Entering a Piece into Play
A piece can’t leave the yard whenever you like — you need the right roll:
- Rolling a 6 on either die lets you bring a piece into play.
- Rolling dice that add up to 5 (for example a 2 and a 3) also lets you bring a piece into play, even without a 6.
- If you roll two 6’s, you can bring two separate pieces into play in the same turn.
- You can’t enter a new piece if you already have 2 of your own pieces sitting on the start square.
Bringing a piece into play always takes priority over breaking up a blockade (see below) — if a roll would let you do either, you deal with entering a piece first.
Rolling Doubles
If you roll the same number on both dice, you get to go again — roll and move a second time as an extra turn.
Roll three doubles in a row, though, and it works against you: you send the last piece you moved straight back to the yard as a penalty. The one exception is a piece already in the home row, just before the finishing square — that piece is safe from the penalty even if it was the last one moved.
Barriers and Blockades
When two of your own pieces land on the same square, they form a blockade, and no piece — friend or opponent — can pass over that square while the blockade holds.
- Rolling a double forces you to break up your own blockade that turn. You also can’t rebuild the same blockade with the same two pieces again on that same turn.
- Two pieces of different colours are allowed to share a square (this mostly happens on the safe squares), and that doesn’t count as a blockade — other pieces can pass through freely, though they still can’t land on that exact square themselves.
Capturing Pieces
Land a piece of yours on a square already held by an opponent’s piece, and you capture it — sending it straight back to its owner’s yard to start over.
- After a capture, you must move 20 squares with any one of your pieces, if a legal way to do so exists.
- Opponents can’t capture pieces sitting on a safe square (the coloured squares scattered around the board).
- If the start square is shared by two pieces and at least one isn’t your colour, entering a new piece of your own lets you capture whichever of those pieces arrived there last.
- Yes — you’re allowed to capture your own partner’s pieces, even though you’re on the same team.
Reaching the Home Square
A piece that has travelled the full lap of the board can turn in toward the home square. However, this only works with the exact roll needed to land on it precisely; overshooting doesn’t count.
- Every time one of your pieces reaches home, you must move another piece of yours 10 squares, if that’s possible.
- Once all 4 of your own pieces are safely home, you’re free to play your partner’s pieces for the rest of the game, helping steer their remaining pieces in too.
A Few Strategy Tips for Beginners
- Get a second piece out early. Two pieces on the board gives you the option to form a blockade and gives you a spare piece to move whenever your other one is stuck.
- Use blockades to control chokepoints. A well-placed blockade near the start of the board can hold up an opponent’s whole army.
- Don’t bunch up your own pieces unnecessarily. Remember any double forces you to break your own blockade — don’t rely on one lasting forever.
- Watch the safe squares. Parking a piece there when you’re not ready to push forward protects it from capture while you wait for a better roll.
- Help your partner, not just yourself. Since captures apply to your partner’s pieces too, always double-check a move doesn’t set your own teammate back.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ludo
How many players do you need for Ludo?
Four people play this pairs version, split into two teams of two, using two dice between all players. Two to four individuals can play other Ludo variants rather than teams, but the core movement, entry, and capture rules stay the same.
What roll do you need to bring a piece into play in Ludo?
You need to roll a 6 on either die, or have your two dice add up to 5. If you roll both — a 6 and a total of 5 — you can bring two pieces into play in the same turn.
What happens if you roll a double in Ludo?
Rolling the same number on both dice earns you another turn straight away. But three doubles in a row is a penalty: your last-moved piece gets sent back to the yard, unless that piece was already safely in the home row.
Can you capture your own partner’s pieces in Ludo?
Yes. In the pairs version, landing on a square held by your partner’s piece captures it and sends it back to their yard, exactly as it would with an opponent’s piece.
What is a blockade in Ludo?
A blockade forms when two pieces of the same colour share a square. No piece can move past that square while the blockade stands. Rolling a double forces you to break your own blockade, and you can’t immediately reform it with the same two pieces that turn.
Can pieces be captured on the safe squares?
No. The coloured safe squares protect any piece sitting on them from capture, regardless of whose colour occupies the square.
Do you need an exact roll to reach home in Ludo?
Yes. A piece can only enter the home square with the precise number needed to land exactly on it — rolling higher than that doesn’t let the piece move in.
What happens when a piece reaches home?
Whenever one of your pieces reaches the home square, you get to move a different piece of yours 10 extra squares, if a legal move is available.
Giant Ludo Hire Scotland FAQs
Is Giant Ludo suitable for indoor and outdoor use?
Giant Ludo works indoors or outdoors on most surfaces. For outdoor Scottish events we recommend a covered backup area in case of weather.
What events is Giant Ludo hire popular for?
Giant Ludo is a great choice for wedding drinks receptions, garden parties, corporate events, and family celebrations. No experience is needed — guests get involved straight away.
What areas of Scotland do you cover for Giant Ludo hire?
We deliver across Central Scotland — Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Fife, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, Stirling and the Scottish Borders. Get in touch to confirm availability for your date and venue.
Can Giant Ludo be combined with DJ or other entertainment?
Yes — games and DJ services are frequently booked together. See our full giant games range or get in touch for a combined quote.