Question 1

What are the bean dice, and how do they work?

Accepted Answer

Patolli is traditionally played with five beans, each marked on one side. This version simulates that toss: the beans land some marked-side-up and some down, and the count of marked faces sets how far you move — following the same scoring table used in reconstructions of the historical game.

Question 2

Why does a roll sometimes grant another turn?

Accepted Answer

Rolling all five beans the same way — all marked or all unmarked — is a special result. Alongside its move value, it also grants an extra roll before the turn passes to the opponent.

Question 3

How does landing on an opponent work?

Accepted Answer

If you land exactly on a space occupied by an opponent's marker, that marker is sent back to their home area and has to re-enter the track from the start. Landing on your own marker is harmless — it just shares the space.

Question 4

Are any spaces safe from capture?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each player's entry point onto the shared track is marked safe — a marker sitting there can't be captured.

Question 5

How do I win?

Accepted Answer

Each of your four markers has to travel exactly once around the shared track back to a finishing count. The first player to bring all four markers home wins.

Patolli

Sitting notes

Quick rules