Yesterday I played a quick game of Senet with my daughter. If you have never heard of Senet before, I’m not surprised. Senet is an Ancient Egyptian game. King Tut had a set in his tomb.
Earlier this year I did a series of classes on ancient boardgames, and had made a quick Senet board on a piece of magnet paper. So after playing a game with my daughter, I thought I would finish the set.
So I trimmed an old box down to the right size and taped it together. Then covered it with label paper. I took some disposible chopsticks, and cut them in half with my multi-tool to make 4. I colored one side of each.
Playing Senet is relatively easy. The board starts with pieces along the top row, alternating color.
The team with a piece on space 10 goes first. To move you throw the painted sticks. If one black side is facing up move 1 space and throw again.
If there are two or three black sides up move that number of space, and let the next player go.
Of you have 4 black facing up, move 4 and throw again.
Of you get 0 black facing up, move 5 and throw again.
If for any reason you cannot move any piece forward the correct number of spaces, you MUST move one piece back that number of spaces.
The casting sticks may be replaced with a 6 sided dice. Remember though, 1,4,5 allow rerolls after moving. I always add that a roll of 6 is a missed turn.
If your piece lands on an opponent’s piece, they are moved back to the space you just left. This is called capturing.
If there are 2 pieces of the same team next to each other, neither one may be captured.
If there are 3 piece in a row of the same team, they my not be passed or captured. This is called blocking. Blocking cannot happen around a corner.
Space 15 ( which has an ahnk, or other symbol) is called “rebirth”. This space is a safe space and pieces on it cannot be captured.
Space 26 is called “Happiness” on my board it is marked by a falcon. Happiness must be landed on directly. It cannot be jumped over.
Space 27 is called “The Water” and is marked by three zig-zaggy lines on my board. If you land on the Water you are washed back to “Rebirth” (15)
Space 28 is called “The Three Truths.” On my board it is marked with three dots. If you land on the three truths, throw again. You cannot be captured on this space.
Space 29 is called “Ra” and allows you to throw again.
To win you must move all your pieces off the board by moving it exactly 1 space off the board.
That is the game. Just remember, if you cannot move forward, you MUST move back. If for some reason none of your pieces can move forward or backward, you lose that turn.
Have fun playing
Baldwin Games 
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