Race seven pieces along a shared track in an ancient Mesopotamian dice game, against the computer or a friend.
The Royal Game of Ur dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, and archaeologists found its boards buried in royal tombs. Each player rolls dice and moves seven pieces along a twisting track, trying to get them all safely to the end before the other side does. This version follows the rules as modern researchers have reconstructed them.
Dice make every turn a little uncertain, but you always choose which piece to move. That choice is where good players pull ahead.
The track
Each side has its own Start tray with seven pieces, and every piece must travel 14 squares. The opening four squares and the final two are yours alone, and nobody else can land there. In between is a row of eight squares that both players use. That middle lane is where all the fighting happens.
Five squares are marked with a rosette, drawn as a diamond. Landing on one gives you another roll at once, and a piece sitting on a rosette cannot be captured.
How a turn works
Press Roll dice and four two-sided dice are thrown. Count the marked faces to get your move, anywhere from 0 to 4. A 2 comes up most often, and a 0 means you skip your turn.
Next, pick a piece to advance by that many squares. It can be one already on the track or a fresh one entering from Start. Pieces with a legal move are highlighted for you. You are not allowed to finish on a square already holding one of your own pieces.
Land on an opponent’s piece in the shared lane and it goes back to their Start tray to begin the trip again. Pieces only exit the board with the exact roll needed. If the number is too high, you have to move something else or lose the turn.
Winning moves
No square matters more than the rosette at the center of the shared row. A piece parked there is safe, blocks your opponent from using it and gives you a strong base to strike from.
Count the threats behind you. Any enemy piece trailing yours by up to three squares is a threat next turn, and two squares is the most likely distance, since 2 is the most common roll.
Small rolls, especially a 1, are often best spent bringing a new piece onto your private squares. You do not need to hurry pieces out of that safe zone either. Waiting there lets them jump on enemy pieces that pass by in front.
Near the end, spread your pieces at different distances from the exit. That way more of your possible rolls can be used. On the Hard level, the computer works out the odds that each open piece gets struck, so careless spacing gets punished.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roll the dice | Tab to "Roll dice" and press Enter | Click "Roll dice" | Tap "Roll dice" |
| Move a piece | Tab or arrow keys to a highlighted piece or the Start slot, then Enter | Click a highlighted piece, or the highlighted Start slot to enter a new piece | Tap a highlighted piece or the highlighted Start slot |
| Choose color and opponent | — | Pick black or white and a level, then click "New game" | Pick black or white and a level, then tap "New game" |
| Undo or resign | — | Click "Undo" or "Resign" | Tap "Undo" or "Resign" |
Royal Game of Ur FAQ
Can I play the Royal Game of Ur on a phone or Chromebook?
Yes. The buttons and pieces respond to clicks, taps and the keyboard. On a Chromebook you can Tab to Roll dice, then use Tab or the arrow keys to reach a highlighted piece and press Enter. Phones and tablets work with plain taps in any orientation.
Is it one player or two?
Both are possible. You can face a computer opponent with three difficulty levels, or play a friend by passing one device back and forth. Before starting, you pick black or white and choose the opponent.
Does the game save if I leave?
Yes. A game in progress is kept between visits, so you can close the page and continue later. Undo and Resign buttons are also there if you want to take back a move or give up a lost game.
How do I win?
Be the first to bring all seven of your pieces off the far end of the track. Each piece needs an exact roll to leave the board, so the end of the race often comes down to which rolls you have room to use.
