Pieces move in the direction indicated by the numbers on the board or otherwise an anti-clockwise direction around the track given by the number thrown. Counters begin their circuit on the appropriately coloured place on the circuit adjacent to their beginning area.
When a 5 is thrown it is compulsory for a piece to be moved from the starting corner area to the first space, if possible - and this is the only way to move a piece onto the track. Each turn, a single die is thrown to determine movement. Players take turns in a clockwise order highest throw of the die starts. At each corner, separate to the main circuit are large coloured circles (or squares) where the pieces are placed at the start of the game.Įach player chooses one of the colours and places the 4 pieces of that colour in the corresponding corner area.
The middle of the cross is the 'home' area and is usually divided into 4 home triangles, one of each colour. Sometimes, certain spaces on the track are distinguished by a different colour or marking. The middle spaces form the home column for each colour and cannot be landed upon by other colours. A Parchís board has a pattern on it in the shape of a cross, each arm being divided into three adjacent columns of eight spaces (squares or circles or other shapes).
