History of Parchís: From Indian Pachisi to Spanish Homes

Parchís developed from pachisi, an Indian game played since at least the 16th century. The British brought it to Europe in the 19th century, and Spanish adaptations using dice and colours gradually gave it the familiar form of Parchís.

Pachisi, the game of emperors

In India, it was played on a cross-shaped board, using cowrie shells instead of dice. It is said that the Emperor Akbar had a giant board on the ground of his palace in Fatehpur Sikri, using people as playing pieces. It is a frequently repeated story; whether it is entirely true is another matter, but it says a lot about the game's fame.

Why is it called that?

Pachisi comes from the Hindi word for "twenty-five", the highest score that could be thrown with the shells. From there, adapted to the ear, came "Parchís".

Journey to Europe

In the 19th century, it was marketed in England as Ludo, and other countries released their own versions. In Spain, Parchís triumphed with its safe squares, barriers, and the famous "eat one and move twenty".

A family game

Like card games, Parchís is a game learned at home and played across generations. It mixes luck and decisions, is highly competitive, and causes more than a few arguments. If you enjoy that tabletop atmosphere, try a game of Chinchón [a matching game similar to Gin Rummy] with the family.