Saanp Seedhi is the first board game most of us learnt, usually on the back of a Ludo board. There is no strategy at all, and that is the fun: a nana and a five-year-old have exactly the same chance, and a snake on 98 can humble anyone.
Here are the full Snakes and Ladders rules as Mandli plays them, the house rules you might know, and how to play it online with friends while everyone talks on voice. The board, the dice and the counting all run on the phone, so nobody argues about who moved how many squares.
Kya chahiye: Just phones. The app rolls the dice and moves the goti for you.
Rules: kaise khelte hain
The board
A 10x10 board numbered 1 to 100. Mandli's board has 10 snakes and 9 ladders. A few to watch for: the ladder from 28 to 84 is the big one, and the snakes on 87, 93, 95 and 98 guard the top rows.
Rolling and moving
Everyone starts off the board. On your turn tap "Paasa phenko" and your goti moves that many squares. You have 12 seconds; if you don't tap, the app rolls for you so the game never waits.
Snakes and ladders
- Land on the foot of a ladder and you climb to its top.
- Land on a snake's mouth and you slide down to its tail.
Only the square you finish on counts. Passing over a snake or ladder does nothing.
Sixes
A 6 gives you another roll. But three 6s in a row cancel the whole turn: your goti goes back to where it was before the first 6, and the next player goes.
Exact 100 to win
You must land on 100 exactly. If the roll would take you past 100, your goti stays where it is and you wait for a better number next turn. The first player on 100 wins.
Sharing squares
Any number of gotis can stand on the same square. Nobody can cut or push anyone back in Saanp Seedhi, only the snakes can.
Points kaise milte hain
First to 100 gets 20 points. If the host switches on Sab khelo, the game goes on for 2nd place (10 points) and 3rd place (5 points). Whoever climbed the most ladders in the round gets a 3 point bonus, and if there is a tie everyone tied gets it. Points are only for fun and carry across games in the room. There is no betting, no coins and no money in Mandli.
Jeetne ke tips
- There is no skill in the roll, so make the game about the commentary. Voice chat is where the real fun is.
- Play with Sab khelo on in a big family group, so the game doesn't end the moment one person wins.
- Use pehla 6 se shuru for a slower, more dramatic start with small kids.
- Keep a running score across a few rounds; points carry across games in the same room.
- Squares 90 to 99 are where the real drama is. Count the snakes out loud before you roll.
Ghar wale rules aur variants
Many families need a 6 to enter the board. Mandli has this as a host option, off by default. With it on, a 6 puts you on square 1 and you roll again.
Some people count forward to 100 and then back with the extra steps. Mandli does not do this: if the roll overshoots, your goti simply stays put.
Some homes start with a 1 or a 6. Mandli only has the pehla 6 option, or no start rule at all.
Saanp Seedhi online kaise khelein
Make a room in Mandli, send the link on WhatsApp or show the QR code, and pick Saanp Seedhi. Anyone without the app can join from the browser link. Up to 6 players sit on the board, and anyone else in the room watches and waits for the next game. The host can switch on Pehla 6 se shuru and Sab khelo, and can pause the game. In Saath mode you are all in the same room, talking out loud. In Door mode, for family spread across cities, the voice chat sits inside the game with mic and speaker buttons, and nothing is recorded. If someone's net drops, their seat is held and they can come back.
Sawaal jawaab
What are the rules of Snakes and Ladders?
Roll the dice and move your goti. Climb when you land on a ladder's foot, slide down when you land on a snake's mouth. A 6 gives another roll, three 6s cancel the turn, and you must land on 100 exactly to win.
Do you need a 6 to start in Saanp Seedhi?
It depends on the house. In Mandli you don't by default, but the host can switch on Pehla 6 se shuru so everyone needs a 6 to enter.
What happens if you roll more than you need to reach 100?
In Mandli your goti stays where it is. You need the exact number to land on 100.
How many people can play Snakes and Ladders online?
In Mandli, 2 to 6 play on one board, and more friends can be in the same room watching and joining the next game.
Can I play Snakes and Ladders with family on a video call?
Yes. Everyone joins the same Mandli room from the link and the voice chat is built in, so you don't even need a separate call. It is free and has no ads.