Boards for this race game turned up in royal tombs in ancient Mesopotamia, and it still plays well more than four thousand years later. Royal Game of Ur unblocked uses a popular modern reading of the rules, so you can learn it in a couple of turns.
Christopher Müller included it in his free PaperGames set. Play a computer opponent at three skill levels, or share the screen with a friend.
How to play Royal Game of Ur
Each side has seven pieces and a 14-square path. Your first four squares and your last two are yours alone, while the eight-square middle row is shared by both players. Get all seven pieces to the end before your opponent does.
Press Roll dice to throw four two-sided dice. Count the marked faces to get a move from 0 to 4. Then pick a highlighted piece, either one already on the path or a new one from Start, and move it that far. You cannot land on your own piece.
Finish a move on top of a rival in the shared row and that rival returns to its Start. Rosette squares, marked with a flower-like diamond, give you another roll and protect the piece sitting there. A piece needs the exact number to step off the end.
Controls
| To… | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roll the dice | Tab to "Roll dice" and press Enter | Click "Roll dice" | Tap "Roll dice" |
| Move a piece | Tab or arrow keys to a highlighted piece or the Start slot, then Enter | Click a highlighted piece, or the highlighted Start slot to enter a new piece | Tap a highlighted piece or the highlighted Start slot |
| Choose color and opponent | — | Pick black or white and a level, then click "New game" | Pick black or white and a level, then tap "New game" |
| Undo or resign | — | Click "Undo" or "Resign" | Tap "Undo" or "Resign" |
Tips
- Hold the middle rosette. It sits in the shared row, and while you are on it, the other player cannot land there or capture you.
- Expect twos. A roll of 2 comes up more than any other number, so stopping exactly two squares ahead of an enemy piece is the riskiest choice.
- Spread your pieces. Having several pieces on the path gives you more choices for any roll.
- Stay behind rivals. Pieces only move forward, so an enemy in front of you in the shared row can never hit you. You, on the other hand, can hit it.
- Use rosettes to chain turns. Landing on one gives a free roll, which can set up a capture right after.
Royal Game of Ur questions
What happens if I roll a zero?
Nothing moves that turn. Play goes straight to your opponent.
Can I play two players on one device?
Yes. Choose the two-player option and take turns rolling and moving on the same screen.
Is my game saved if I close the tab?
Yes. The match in progress is kept between visits. There are also Undo and Resign buttons.
How does the hard computer play?
Each level is smarter than the last. The top level also weighs how likely each of its exposed pieces is to be hit on your next roll.
