How to Play Senet

Co-authored by Jessie Davidson

Senet or (senat) may be the oldest board game in the world. The oldest hieroglyphics displaying a senet game date back to 3100 BC. Senet is a two-game player where each player has 5 pieces. The object of senet is to be the first player to get all your pieces off the board.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Learning the Basics

1
Move through the board. In Senet, you play on a board consisting of 30 squares, referred to as houses. The houses are arranged in 3 rows, with 10 houses in each row. The object of the game is to move through the board, eventually getting all your pieces off the board.
- To move, you move your pieces down the first row. The way you move down this row is with the hieroglyphs on your side, you move left. Once you reach the end of the first row, you turn a corner and proceed the opposite way down the second row.
- Once you reach the end of the second row, you once again turn a corner. You then proceed the opposite way down the third row. Once you reach the end of the third row, you move your piece off the board.
- The number of squares you move at a time is based on how you throw the senet sticks.
2
Use senet sticks. Senet does not use dice like a traditional board game. Instead, senet uses what are called senet sticks. These are usually popsicle sticks with one side painted black and the other painted in a different, brighter color. When it's your turn, you'll throw the sticks in the air. How many sticks land with the black side facing up determines your move.
- If you have three black sides and one color side, you can move one house and toss again.
- If you have two color sides and two black sides, you move two houses and then lose your turn.
- If you have three color sides and one black side, you move three houses and lose your turn.
- Four color sides means you move four houses and toss again.
- Four black sides means you move 5 houses and toss again.
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3
Play with 5 game pieces. Senet is a two-player game. Each player gets 5 game pieces at the beginning of senet. You must move all these pieces off the board to win. Pieces are usually rocks but you can also use pennies or other coins. Any small, movable object can be used on a senet board.^{[1]
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4
Read the basic rules. There are some basic rules when it comes to playing Senet. You should familiarize yourself with these rules before beginning the game.
- Only one piece can be placed in each house at a time.
- At the beginning of the game, you must place your pieces on the first row. Player 1 will place his or her pieces on the first, third, fifth, seventh, and ninth houses. Player 2 will place his or her pieces on the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth houses.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Familiarizing Yourself with Further Rules

1
Capture and protect houses. As only one piece can occupy a house at a time, you will sometimes be in a situation where a house is blocked by another player. There are ways to capture blocked houses when playing Senet. There are also ways to protect your pieces.
- If you land your move on a house occupied by another player, you can capture the piece. The other player's piece will be moved back to the house your piece was on at the beginning of your turn.
- However, if two or more of another player's pieces are next to each other, that house is protected. It cannot be captured and you will not be able to complete your turn.
2
Follow the special rules for houses with pictures. On a senet board, there are six houses with special pictures on them. If you land on one of these houses, there are special rules you have to follow.
- The House of Happiness or Pretty House is marked by what looks like three upside down stick figures. All of your pieces need to pass through this house to win. You must land on the house exactly. If, for example, the House of Happiness is located on square 26 and you're on square 25, if you do not roll in such a way that you'll move exactly one house you have to stay in place until your next turn.^{[2]
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- The House of Water is marked by three zigzagged lines. If you land on the House of Water, you have to move straight back to the House of Rebirth. The House of Rebirth is marked by three sideways stick figures. Your piece remains on the House of Rebirth until you choose to remove it again.
- The House of Three Truths is marked by a drawing of three birds. If you land on this house, you can throw your sticks again. If you have three color sides up, you can automatically remove this piece from the board.
- The House of Re-Atoum is marked by two dancing stick figures. If you have landed here, throw your sticks again. If you have two colored sticks facing up, you can remove your piece from the board.
- The last house on the board is marked by a leaf-like drawing. When you reach this house, you must toss your sticks again. You cannot remove your piece until you toss your sticks and only one colored stick is facing upwards.
3
Win the game. The object of senet is to move all your pieces off the board. The first player to do so wins.
- You can take this game with you when you are babysitting.
- It will be fun and exciting for the kid.
- Parents will be happy that you are proactive and well-prepared for your work.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I move side to side? And do I bump other people?

Community Answer

You can only move side to side when you are at the end of a row. And you don't necessarily 'bump' other people, but you can capture them. In chess, you can physically 'bump' a piece off a square if it is captured, and I suppose you could do that with Senet, but that's not technically how it's done.
Question

Where can I find the supplies to make a Senet board game?

Community Answer

A stationery store or office supplies store or maybe a crafts store. You just need paper, colored pencils, a black fine-tipped marker, and craft sticks.
Question

What do the sticks even do?

Community Answer

They are tossed in the air. They spin sometimes, and they'll land on one side.