PATOLLI RULES

FILE #007 • GAME MANUAL

Objective

Move all 6 pieces around the X-shaped board (52 squares total) and off the board. Win by either: (1) exiting all pieces first, OR (2) bankrupting your opponent by winning all their treasure.

Bean Dice

Five black beans are thrown. Count how many land with the marked side facing up:

  • 0 marked up = 10
  • 1 marked up = 1
  • 2 marked up = 2
  • 3 marked up = 3
  • 4 marked up = 4
  • 5 marked up = 5

Entry Rule

To enter a piece from off-board onto the starting square, you must roll exactly 1. This represents the challenge of beginning the sacred journey around the Calendar Round.

The 52-Square Path

The X-shaped board contains 52 squares, representing the Xiuhmolpilli (Binding of the Years)— the 52-year Calendar Round in Aztec cosmology. Pieces move clockwise around the diagonal arms.

Capturing & Treasure

Landing on an opponent's piece captures it:

  • Captured piece returns to off-board (must re-enter with a 1)
  • Captor wins 1 treasure item from opponent's stakes
  • Losing all treasure means bankruptcy and defeat

Corner Tribute Squares

Four corner squares (at positions 0, 13, 26, 39) are tribute zones. Landing here requires paying 1 treasure to the pot. This represents offerings to the gods at the cardinal directions.

Stakes (Gambling)

Each player begins with 6 treasure items. These represent:

  • Blankets (tilmatli)
  • Maguey plants
  • Precious stones (chalchihuites)
  • Gold ornaments
  • Agricultural produce
  • In extreme cases: personal freedom (slavery)

Danger Zone

The central squares near the intersection of the X-arms are a high-risk, high-reward zone. Captures here are more likely, but pieces also progress faster through the circuit.

Win Conditions

The game ends when:

  1. A player exits all 6 pieces off the board, OR
  2. A player bankrupts their opponent (reduces stakes to 0)