Patolli

How to Play

Patolli · Aztec Race Game

1. Each player has 6 pieces (stones) which start off the board. The board is a cross of 52 squares, with 4 marked safe squares at the ends of each arm.
2. Cast the 5 sacred beans to move. Count how many land hole-side up. All holes down = 10 (the most sacred throw).
3. A throw of 1 lets you enter a new piece onto the board. Otherwise move an existing piece forward by the number shown.
4. Pieces travel counter-clockwise around the full cross and must exit off the board to score. First to get all 6 pieces off wins.
5. Safe squares (marked with ✦) protect your pieces — they cannot be captured there.
6. Capture: Landing exactly on an opponent's piece sends it back off the board — it must re-enter with a roll of 1.
7. If you roll but cannot move (no valid moves), your turn passes.