Yutnori Rules at a Glance
Four yut sticks and four pieces are all you need for this traditional Korean game. We wrote it up so a first-timer can learn it in five minutes.
1. Goal and setup
Two sides each have 4 pieces. Starting from the start point (Chammeok-i), move around the board once — the first side to bring all 4 pieces home wins.
On your turn, throw the four yut sticks and move pieces by the result. Pieces not yet on the board wait on the bench.
2. Do, Gae, Geol, Yut, Mo and Back-do
Each stick has a round side (back) and a flat side (belly). After the throw, the result depends on how many flat sides face up.
| Result | Sticks | Move | Chance here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do | 1 flat side | 1 space (pig) | about 15% |
| Gae | 2 flat sides | 2 spaces (dog) | about 35% |
| Geol | 3 flat sides | 3 spaces (sheep) | about 35% |
| Yut | 4 flat sides | 4 spaces (cow) + throw again | about 8% |
| Mo | 0 flat sides (all round side up) | 5 spaces (horse) + throw again | about 4% |
| Back-do | only the marked stick shows flat | 1 space backward | about 3% |
The odds imitate how real yut sticks tend to land. Gae and Geol come up most; Yut and Mo are rare.
When you get a Yut or a Mo, throw again. Results you pile up can be used in any order, on any pieces you like.
3. The board and shortcuts
The board has 20 spaces around the edge and 9 on the inner diagonals, 29 spaces in all. Pieces start at the bottom-right start point (Chammeok-i) and travel counterclockwise.
The four corners and the center are special. If you stop exactly on a corner or the center, your next move takes the diagonal shortcut.
- Stop on the first corner → go through the center toward the opposite corner
- Stop on the second corner → go through the center straight toward the start point (the fastest route)
- Stop on the center → take the diagonal toward the start point
If you only pass a corner, you don't take the shortcut — you keep going around the edge.
4. Moving pieces
- Pick one piece for each result and move it that far. With several results, choose the order and pieces freely.
- Back-do moves a piece on the board back 1 space. If you have no piece on the board, the Back-do can't be used and is lost.
- If a piece on the space right after the start (space 1) gets a Back-do, it returns to the start point (Chammeok-i).
- A result that no piece can use is dropped automatically; with no result left to use, the turn passes.
5. Capturing and stacking
Capturing
If your piece stops on a space with an opposing piece, you capture it. The captured piece goes back to the bench and starts over. A capture earns another throw.
Stacking
If your piece stops on a space with another piece of yours, they stack. A stack moves as one, which is fast — but if it's captured, every piece in it goes back to the bench.
6. Going home and winning
A piece goes home once it passes the start point (Chammeok-i) after circling the board. Stopping exactly on the start point isn't home yet — the next move, with any result, takes it home.
Bring all 4 pieces home first to win!
7. This game's special rules
Traditional rules stay as they are, with a few small twists so every round feels different.
Golden tile Stop on one to trigger an event
Each game has 2 random golden tiles (never on corners, the center or the start point). If you stop exactly on one, a roulette spins and picks one of the effects below. Effects that can't apply at that moment never come up.
| 🎲 Throw Again | Throw the yut once more |
| 🚀 Dash | That piece rushes 3 more spaces |
| 🛡️ Shield | Can't be captured once, and bounces an arriving enemy piece back 1 space |
| 🌀 Teleport | Jump to the nearest shortcut entrance ahead |
| 💥 Headwind | The opponent's lead piece goes back 2 spaces |
| 🔄 Swap Places | Trade places with the nearest opposing piece |
| 🎫 Free Travel | Move to any space on the board you like |
| 🪤 Trap | That piece goes back 2 spaces (ouch!) |
| 🎰 Mystery | A random one of the effects above |
Captures and stacking still happen on the space an effect moves you to. A piece pushed back past the start point returns to the bench.
🔥 Momentum
- Momentum grows by 1 with every throw and resets to 0 when a Yut or Mo comes up.
- At 10, your next throw is a guaranteed Yut or Mo!
🎡 Rule of the day
When a game starts, a roulette picks one rule that applies only to that game (you can turn it off).
| 📜 Classic | No twists — traditional Yutnori |
| 🎉 Yut Festival | Yut and Mo come up twice as often |
| 🟨 Golden Board | Golden tiles go from 2 to 4 |
| ⚔️ Hunter Day | A capture gives 2 extra throws instead of 1 |
| 🐢 Slowpoke | Back-do comes up 3 times as often |
| 🤝 Buddies | Stacked pieces get double effects on golden tiles |
| 🛡️ Guardian Day | One piece per side starts with a shield |
| 🌪️ Chaos | Golden tiles move every 4 turns |
8. FAQ
What if Yut and Mo come up back to back?
Each one earns another throw. Stack up all the results and use them in any order. In this game you can move a piece with the stacked results first even while extra throws remain.
What if I get a Back-do with no piece on the board?
It can't be used and is lost. But if you also have a forward result in the same turn, you can place a piece first and then use the Back-do.
Do I take a shortcut just by passing a corner?
No. You have to stop exactly on a corner or the center to enter a shortcut.
Can I play alone or with a friend?
Yes. No install or login is needed. Play against the AI Luna on Easy, Normal or Hard, or take turns with a friend on one device.