What is Snakes & Ladders with bounce back?
In the standard game here you must land on the last square with an exact roll, and a roll that would take your token past it is lost: the token stays where it is. With bounce back, the roll is always played. The token counts forward to the last square and then counts back down the board with the squares left over.
On the standard board, a token on 97 that rolls a 5 moves three squares forward to 100 and two squares back, ending on 98. The square it bounces back to counts as a landing: if a ladder starts there, the token climbs it, and if a snake's head is there, the token slides down. On the standard board, snakes wait on 92, 95 and 99, so a bounce can be costly.
You still win only by landing on the last square with an exact roll. A 6 that bounces still earns another roll under the rules for sixes, and bounce back works on every board size.
Rule changes
| Rule | Standard Snakes & Ladders | Snakes & Ladders with bounce back |
|---|---|---|
| A roll past the last square | Standard Snakes & LaddersThe token does not move. | Snakes & Ladders with bounce backThe token moves to the last square and back by the squares left over. |
| Where the bounce ends | Standard Snakes & LaddersNot used. | Snakes & Ladders with bounce backThe square the token bounces back to counts as a landing: a ladder there is climbed and a snake there is slid down. |
| Winning | Standard Snakes & LaddersAn exact roll onto the last square. | Snakes & Ladders with bounce backThe same: only an exact roll wins. |
| A 6 that bounces | Standard Snakes & LaddersA 6 that cannot be played still earns another roll. | Snakes & Ladders with bounce backThe 6 is played as a bounce and still earns another roll. |
| Other options | Standard Snakes & LaddersThe board size and the rules for sixes can be changed in the setup. | Snakes & Ladders with bounce backBounce back works with every board and every rule for sixes. |
History
Rules for the end of the race differ from one set to another. In some variants a player must roll the exact number to reach the final square, and, depending on the variation, a roll that is too large either leaves the token in place or takes it off the final square and back again: for example, three spaces forward, then two back.
The standard game here uses the first of these rules. Bounce back adds the second, so that every roll moves the token and the last few squares become a gamble of their own.