Senet
Free online ancient board game · Play the computer · No sign-up
Senet in a nutshell
Senet is a two-player race game from ancient Egypt, played on a board of 30 squares. You throw sticks to see how far to move, swap places with lone enemy pieces, and try to steer clear of the water square. The first player to move all their pieces off the board wins.
- Set out the pieces. Place the 10 pieces on the first 10 squares, alternating colours. The path snakes along the three rows of ten.
- Throw the sticks. Throw four flat sticks. Count how many land light side up: 1 to 4 moves that many squares, and none up moves 5.
- Move a piece forward. Move any one of your pieces forward by your throw. A throw of 1, 4 or 5 earns another throw.
- Swap with a lone piece. Land on a single enemy piece and you swap places with it. Two or more enemy pieces side by side are safe.
At a glance
- Players
- 2 players 5 pieces each
- Length
- 15 to 30 minutes per game
- Equipment
- 30-square board plus 4 throwing sticks
- Learn it in
- 10 minutes a game of luck and choices
Senet questions
Do we know the real rules of Senet?
No. No rulebook survives from ancient Egypt. The rules played today are modern reconstructions, worked out by historians from boards, pictures and texts, and different versions exist.
What do the special squares mean?
Several squares near the end of the board are decorated on ancient boards. In modern rules, square 15 is a safe starting point for pieces sent back, square 26 is a lucky square that must be reached exactly, and square 27, the water, sends a piece back.
What can I use instead of throwing sticks?
Any four two-sided objects will do, such as lollipop sticks marked on one side, or coins. Some people use a die and treat a 6 as no move.
What if I cannot move any piece?
If none of your pieces can move by the number thrown, you lose that turn. In some reconstructions you must move a piece backwards instead.
How many pieces does each player have?
Most modern versions use 5 pieces each, though some use 7. Ancient boards have been found with varying numbers of pieces.
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