How do you play Yut Nori?
Throw four yut sticks, move 1 to 5 spaces depending on how many land flat side up (Do, Gae, Geol, Yut, Mo), and win by getting all of your pieces around the board and off first. It is the traditional Korean family game played at Lunar New Year and Chuseok.
The board has 29 spots: 20 around the edge and 9 on two diagonal shortcuts through the middle. Pieces start at the bottom right corner and travel counterclockwise. Here you can play with 2 to 4 players, any mix of people and computer, using 2, 3 or 4 pieces each.
What do Do, Gae, Geol, Yut and Mo mean?
| Result | Flat sides up | Move | Chance in this game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do | 1 | 1 space | about 15% (12% with Back-do on) |
| Gae | 2 | 2 spaces | about 35% |
| Geol | 3 | 3 spaces | about 35% |
| Yut | all 4 | 4 spaces, throw again | about 13% |
| Mo | none | 5 spaces, throw again | about 3% |
| Back-do | only the marked stick | 1 space back | about 4% (when on) |
Each stick lands flat side up a little more often than not, so Gae and Geol are the most common and Mo is the rarest. With Back-do turned on, a throw where only the stick with the red dot lands flat counts as Back-do instead of Do.
How do the pieces move?
- Extra throws: Yut and Mo give you another throw. When several results pile up, you choose which result moves which piece, in any order.
- Capturing: land on an opponent and their piece goes back to the start, and you throw again.
- Stacking: land on your own piece and they travel together from then on. If they get caught, the whole stack goes back.
- Shortcuts: stop exactly on a corner or the center spot and your next move takes the diagonal. Passing over it keeps you on the outside.
- Getting home: a piece has to pass the starting corner to leave the board. Stop right on it and any throw next time takes it off.
- Back-do: the piece steps back one spot along the way it came. With no piece on the board, the Back-do is wasted.
Tips for winning Yut Nori
- Stop on the top right corner when you can. The diagonal from there is far shorter than going around.
- Watch the spots 2 and 3 ahead of an opponent. Gae and Geol come up most often, so that is where you get caught.
- Stack late. A stack moves fast but can be sent back all at once.
- Think about the order of your results. A small result that captures first earns an extra throw.
There is no money or betting of any kind, just a family board game. Your settings and record against the computer are saved in this browser.