Patolli
ANCIENT AZTEC + MESOAMERICAN RACE GAME (Nahuatl 'patolli' = 'small beans'), documented from ~200 BC (Teotihuacan) through AZTEC EMPIRE (played by nobles + commoners; even MOCTEZUMA II played). Board is a CROSS/SWASTIKA-SHAPED PATH of ~52-60 SQUARES painted on woven mat. 2-4 players race JADE/CORAL/BEAN COUNTERS around cross using 5 SPLIT-BEAN DICE (each shows 0 or 1 point). Featured HEAVY GAMBLING — players wagered slaves, houses, wives, own freedom. BANNED by SPANISH FRIARS after conquest 1521 due to gambling + suspected pagan-ritual associations.
Quick facts
Category
Mind Sports
Type
Individual
Players
2–4
Duration
~60 min
Where played
both
Field / court
Woven mat (petate) with painted cross-shaped board
Country of origin
🇲🇽 Mexico
Estimated origin
Documented from Teotihuacan (~200 BC-750 AD); played throughout Mesoamerican cultures including Toltec, Maya, Aztec; peak documentation 15th-16th c. Aztec Empire (played by MOCTEZUMA II); described by Spanish chroniclers BERNAL DÍAZ + FRAY DIEGO DURÁN + FRAY BERNARDINO DE SAHAGÚN; BANNED by Spanish Catholic authorities after 1521 conquest due to gambling + ritual significance; extinct as popular game though revived by MODERN REPLICAS + MUSEUM EXHIBITS.
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
How it works
Objective
MOVE ALL YOUR COUNTERS ALONG CROSS-SHAPED TRACK BACK to STARTING POINT.
Rules
Basic rules
SETUP: each player chooses a COLOR + starting position on ONE ARM of the CROSS (2 players opposite; 4 players one per arm)
Signature cross-arm starting positions.
5-BEAN DICE ROLL: each bean shows 0 or 1 point; total = 0-5 pieces to move; ROLL OF 0 = TURN LOST (or special penalty)
Signature 5-bean 0-5 point roll.
COUNTER MOVEMENT: player moves ONE counter forward the exact # of squares rolled; MUST ENTER + BOARD via specific starting-square rules
Signature 1-counter-per-turn move.
LANDING RULES: landing on OPPONENT'S counter CAPTURES it (returned to start of theirs); landing on FRIENDLY square = STACK/safe
Signature capture-on-landing rule.
COMPLETION: counter must travel FULL CIRCUIT of CROSS + RETURN to STARTING SQUARE = 1 point scored
Signature circuit-and-return scoring.
WIN: first to move ALL 6-12 counters back to start (varies by house rules)
Signature all-counters-home win.
GAMBLING: ancient version featured heavy WAGERING — items placed in POT, winner takes all
Signature high-stakes wagering.
Scoring
1 counter home = 1 pt; first to bring all counters home wins pot.
Win condition · All personal counters returned to starting square.
Playing area
Called
Woven mat (petate) with painted cross-shaped board
Dimensions
Cross-shaped path of 52-60 squares; central point + 4 arms of ~14 squares each
Equipment
PATOLLI MAT: woven cotton/agave (petate) with painted CROSS/SWASTIKA-SHAPED BOARD (~52-60 squares)
Signature cross-shaped patolli mat.
COUNTERS: 6-12 counters per player of JADE, CORAL, OBSIDIAN, or COLORED BEANS
Signature jade/coral/obsidian counters.
5 DICE: 5 SPLIT BLACK BEANS (frijoles) with 1 side natural + 1 side marked with white dot — shows 0 or 1 point each roll
Signature 5-bean binary dice.
GAMBLING STAKES: JADE, GOLD, TURQUOISE, CACAO BEANS, CLOTHING, or SLAVES + FREEDOM in ancient times
Signature high-stakes gambling wagers.
Terminology
- Patolli
- Nahuatl 'small beans' — refers to bean-dice.
- Petate
- Woven mat on which board is painted.
- Xochimilco
- Site of major patolli finds.
Where it is played
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Patolli— Wikipedia
- Aztec Games (Ancient History Encyclopedia)— World History Encyclopedia