Sugoroku

A backgammon flavored game from China. Originally called "Shuanglu" it later gained popularity in Japan under the name "Sugoroku." A Shuanglu set contains mainly a gameboard, 15 white and 15 black pieces and two dice. The gameboard is carved with 12 identical vertical lines, while the dice have six faces carved with the numbers from one to six. First the dice are thrown to determine the steps a player will advance. The player who moves their 15 pieces into the realm of the last six lines earlier is the winner. Since the chance to advance or retreat makes the result unpredictable, the game is highly attractive for gambling. Sugoroku comes in 2 varieties: Ban-Sugoroku, which is this game, and Mawari-Sugoroku.