Mathura Chaupad

The following instructions to play Chaupad as it is played in the Mathura region of North India has been provided by a Chaupad enthusiast from Haryana, Mr. Naresh Verma (nareshverma302@gmail.com). Naresh learnt this game from his Guruji Sri Parasnath ji. Thank you, Parasnath ji, thank you Naresh ji.

Sri Parasnath ji playing the game of Chaupad on the banks of Yamuna at Mathura

An idyllic scene of a Chaupad game on the banks of river Yamuna at Mathura.

Instructions to play Mathura Chaupad

1. Two players start with 8 Goties each, sitting opposite each other.
2. Red ,Yellow, Green and Black.Combination – Red and Green  & Yellow and Black
3. Three  dice with 1,2,5,6 marks on dice are used to play the game.
4. Game starts by placing Goties at chosen starting positions, all Four Red/yellow Goties on 24 and all Four green/blackGoties on 7.
5. There are no graces or extra turn, on capture, entering Charkoni, on Doublet or triplet or for any other reason.
6. Goties move anti-clockwise.
7. A throw can be split; each number on stick can move a different Goti, single, Superpawn or combination of both.
8. Capture is must before Goti enters HomeColumn, capture could be of any color of opponent.
9. In a single turn only same color Goties can be moved.
10. Players can make Superpawnup to two Goties, Superpawn cannot be captured by any single or other Superpawn.
11. Superpawn moves as single piece only on rolling Doublet. 
12. On rolling Triplet, Superpawn can move as single piece, for example 666, Superpawn  can move either 6 or 12 spaces and one of the Goti will move 6 
13. On rolling triplet, 666, if a player has three Goties on a square he can move them 12 spaces forward as a single Goti and move another Goti 6 spaces to complete the move. 
14. If a player cannot move his same color Goties for the total of all three dice, of a single throw, then player loses his turn. 
15. On rolling 651 player may move his Superpawn, of two Goties, 6 spaces
16. Same color pieces cannot land on same square 
17. Red will enter HomeColumn first, after all Red pieces had enteredHomeColumn, then Green pieces can enter HomeColumn.Green cannot enter Charkoni till the time all Red pieces have entered Charkoni, Green Goties cannot be with Red Goties on same square in HomeColumn.
18. Captured Goties must enter the game again, from Charkoni,
19. Player can take second or more rounds if required.
20. Superpawn can enter Charkoni as single piece
21. If all Rang Goties are in home column then player must get exact number to enter Charkoni
22. If all Badrang Goties are in Home column then player can use either one, combination of two or combination of three  dice.