Object of the Game:
The Royal Game of Ur is a race. The object is to move all 7 of your game pieces around the board and off the track before your opponent.
Set Up:
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Place the game board between two players, with the long side facing each player.
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Each player receives 7 game pieces: one player uses light pieces, the other uses dark.
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Decide who goes first.
Dice:
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The game uses four tetrahedral dice, each with two white ends.
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Roll all four dice and count the number of white ends facing up (0–4).
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If you roll 0, you lose your turn.
Moving Pieces:
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On your turn, you may move a piece already on the board or bring a new piece onto the board.
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Move the piece the number of squares shown on the dice.
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Only one piece may occupy a square at a time (except for safe rosette squares).
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If you cannot make a legal move, you lose your turn.
Board Path:
The board has three main areas:
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Your safe zone – the six squares closest to you. Opponents cannot capture your pieces here.
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The combat zone – the eight central squares where you can capture your opponent’s pieces.
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Opponent’s safe zone – the six squares closest to your opponent. You cannot move your pieces into this zone.
Your pieces follow the path around the board and then exit once they reach the end. You must roll the exact number to move a piece off the board.
Capturing:
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Landing on a square occupied by an opponent’s piece knocks that piece back to the start.
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Exception: Pieces on rosette squares cannot be captured.
Rosette Squares:
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There are five rosette squares on the board: two on each player’s side and one in the center.
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Landing on a rosette grants you an extra turn.
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Pieces on rosettes are safe from capture, making them strategic locations to control.
Strategy Tips:
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Some dice rolls are more likely than others:
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Rolling a 1 or 3 is 4× more likely than 0 or 4.
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Rolling a 2 is 6× more likely than 0 or 4.
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Use this knowledge to plan moves and avoid placing pieces where they are likely to be captured.
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Balance moving existing pieces with bringing new pieces onto the board.
Winning the Game:
The first player to successfully move all 7 pieces off the board wins.
Historical Note:
These rules are based on modern scholarly reconstructions of the Royal Game of Ur using ancient cuneiform tablets, including work by British Museum curator Irving Finkel. Players today can enjoy a game that closely reflects one of the world’s oldest known board games.
Print or Download Rules: