Patolli - A pre-Columbian Aztec board game that looks really familiar.

[@craftit9715]

Great work.... I love your content.

[@ricardocanopliego7142]

am from México and patolli is a game that I really enjoy. In my town there is a group called "Casa de Lenguas Originarias Guillermo Bonfil Batalla" where they usually play patolli and other indigenous games. Also in the national school of anthropology and history (enah), a federation of indigenous games was created. I collaborated a little when I gave some workshops on board games In my neighborhood. A game that would be interesting to try is "poleana", there are many versions like the Mennonite, one and there are many stories about its origin, many people believe in the version that it was created in prison; more specifically in the Lecumberri prison which is very famous in the history of Mexico City.

[@DavidMMcCord]

Thanks for the kind words. I will look for information on the game poleana.If you know of any good resources for more information on indigenous games, I'd be very interested!

[@renetancies]

since you played it already and I haven’t I have some questions on what you guys there recommend playing? 1- The penalty spot is a single spot itself or a single spot surrounded by two normal spots? I’m not sure if counting from the middle there are 3 spots, penalty and 2 spots (totalling 52) or 4 sports, penalty and 3 spots (totalling 60 a bigger board). 2- Instead of starting giving a coin to the pot, play 5 times attempting to get a 1, if you fail you have 1 piece out anyway but pay a coin to the God (pot)? 3- The amount of coins each player starts is 6 or could be any? Which value is best? 4- Don’t the game end when the player got pay a coin and haven’t got any with them? In the video it says when you finish all 6 pieces… 5- If you roll a 0 also pay one coin to the pot? 6- If you finish the track with one piece earn a coin from the other player? Your piece continue available for the game or is removed? 7- If you can’t move a piece you need to pay a coin? 8- The four spots adjacent to entering in the middle square are also dangerous and you can be captured there? Thanks

[@DavidMMcCord]

@@renetancies Wow - long list. Let me see what I can provide as answers. 1. I'm not sure either. In my video, at 02:15 you see two ancient references of the game board's appearance. On the right, the penalty spaces are drawn as equal-sized to the other spaces. One the left, they are clearly just markings on the spaces. Take your pick - I see it both ways in books and online. I chose to go with the "it's a space" version. See my note at the end. 2. 3. 4. 5. See my note at the end. 6. For the first question, see my note at the end. For the second question, if you mean "your piece" that has complete the path, it is out of the game. 7. see my note at the end. 8. Yes, as described in the video at 05:49. NOTE: This is an ancient game, and the rules at any point in its history are vague at best. The modern rules are a combination of historical research, tradition, and speculation - who knows what the ancient rules really were As with any game, you can play by whatever rules you and your fellow players agree to! Thanks for your interest in old games, and for you support of my channel!

[@renetancies]

@@DavidMMcCord Hi thanks for the answer, I don’t know if you saw my comment but I already replied this. I love your channel, already seen a ton of videos

[@antoniozumpano826]

I do not see major difference between this game and the classical LUDO. I consider historical relevance. Fascinating!!!

[@flickingbollocks5542]

I wonder how many of these games were spread in pre-Colombian days. Stick dice, Parchesi and many mechanisms are seen throughout the World. It would be a good topic to research for your PhD.

[@srebrenkozhtomir]

In an article for Journal Of Board Game Studies called "Board to Page to Board: Native American Antecedents of Two Proprietary Board Games" Philip M. Winkelman puts forward the idea, with evidence, that Patolli evolved through numerous iterations into Monopoly. He even includes a chart showing the evolution of the game. Definitely worth a read.

[@DavidMMcCord]

Which issue of BG Studies was that? I think I missed it.

[@srebrenkozhtomir]

That is in issue 10 from 2016@@DavidMMcCord

[@Epimundo]

where can I read that publication? thanks!

[@MistaManlyGuy]

I love your stories It's also funny hearing about a god of games. But cool too. I'll take it 😂

[@seanforbes164]

Dear sir I was wondering about the punishment of triangles is that three sells white punishment white or is that two cells a large white with a punishment in the middle. Thanks

[@NewVentureGames]

The "punishment" is a separate cell. On some examples the triangle is quite small and would be hard to use as a typical cell, but on most it's large enough.

[@ChadQuick270W]

This really looks cool. I enjoy Pre-Columbian history and civilization so I need to find a copy.

[@IrvinMoreno-g4g]

Rumor has it.... it's etched on the floor of a social gathering space inside a ritual site found in tula. Home of the Toltecas.

[@IrvinMoreno-g4g]

Create your own is what I am trying to say. Probably come out better than a store bought. Just saying since you enjoy pre-Columbian civilization

[@flickingbollocks5542]

Do any other cultures have gods of games? Balthasar is Patron Saint of cards as they came from the East.

[@renetancies]

If you wanna use dice instead you can have nearly the same odds using 6 dices, according to the dice sum in this table: (split means roll one dice if its even then the even option if its odd then the odd option) 11 to 13 = 0 14 to 16 = 1 17 to 20 = 2 21 = split 1 or 4 23 to 25 = 3 26 to 28 = 4 29 to 31 = 10 32 = split 1 or 4 34 to 36 = 10 10 or less = split 2 or 3 This will give nearly the same odds as using the beans/corns, which are: 0 = 1/32 1 = 5/32 2 = 10/32 3 = 10/32 4 = 5/32 10 = 1/32

[@DavidMMcCord]

Coins would be much easier, I think.

[@renetancies]

@@DavidMMcCordyou could try but would need to toss a coin 5 times every roll, I think dices are easier.

[@DavidMMcCord]

@@renetancies I meant to toss five coins on each turn.

[@renetancies]

@@DavidMMcCord yeah but actually I managed to mark 5 beans with a knife and it worked perfectly

[@IrvinMoreno-g4g]

Mark it with paint. Or try black eyed peas

[@Bsnsobscuregames]

New video!

[@flickingbollocks5542]

😁👍