What Happens When You Roll Three 6s in Ludo?
It depends on your rules. Each 6 normally gives you another roll, but a very common house rule says a third 6 in a row ends your turn. On PlayLudo there's no limit: every 6 rolls again.
Here are the different versions, the odds, and why families add the rule.
The Common Versions
| Version | What happens on the third 6 |
|---|---|
| No limit | You move and roll again, as for any 6 |
| Lose the third roll | You don't move for the third 6, and your turn ends |
| Lose the whole turn | The third 6 cancels everything you moved this turn |
Rule sheets differ from one Ludo set to another, and many families pick their own. Agree on the version before you start.
How Likely Is It?
| Chance | |
|---|---|
| A 6 on one roll | 1 in 6 (about 17%) |
| Two 6s in a row | 1 in 36 (about 3%) |
| Three 6s in a row | 1 in 216 (about 0.5%) |
Rare on any one turn, but a game has many turns. Over 30 turns, a player has about a 1 in 8 chance of rolling three 6s in a row at least once.
Why Families Use the Rule
- It stops runaway turns. Without a limit, one lucky streak can bring out pieces, cut two opponents and race to the middle, all before anyone else moves.
- It takes a little luck out of the game. The longer the streak, the bigger the swing, so capping it keeps games closer.
- It adds a moment of tension. Two 6s in a row and everyone holds their breath.
Without it, games are faster and more chaotic. Neither way is wrong.
How Rolling Again Works on PlayLudo
You roll again after:
- any 6, every time, with no limit;
- a 1, but only when your game lets a 1 take a piece out. Read can you take a piece out on a 1?;
- a cut, if the house rule "Cut = extra turn" is on;
- a piece reaching home, if "Home = extra turn" is on.
Instead of a three-6s limit, PlayLudo has the Three 1s penalty (optional): roll three 1s in a row and your piece closest to home goes back to the yard. It can only happen when a 1 rolls again. Find it, with every other rule, in our house rules guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "three 6s ends your turn" an official rule?
Some printed Ludo rules include it and many don't. It's best treated as a house rule your table agrees on.
On PlayLudo, can I keep rolling 6s forever?
Yes. Every 6 rolls again, however many come in a row.
What happens if I roll a 6 and can't move?
You still roll again.
What's the Three 1s penalty?
An optional PlayLudo rule: three 1s in a row send your piece closest to home back to the yard.
Roll and See
Set your house rules and play with friends on one device, or create a room online.