Be the first to move all five of your pieces off the board. First player to bear off all five pieces wins. The special squares near the end create exciting finish-line drama.
The 30-square board is arranged in three rows of 10, numbered 1 to 30 along an S-shaped path. Each player has 5 pieces placed alternately in the first row (squares 1-10); Player 1 starts on the odd squares. Four throwing sticks (or equivalent dice) are used.
Protect valuable pieces by keeping friendly pieces adjacent. The House of Water (square 28) is dangerous - avoid landing there. Use the special squares strategically - don't waste turns on unavoidable landings.
Senet boards have been found in Egyptian tombs dating to 3100 BCE, including King Tut's. The game had religious significance and was associated with the journey to the afterlife.
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