Overview

Eile mit Weile (German for “Hurry with Patience”) is a classic Swiss cross-and-circle board game similar to Parcheesi and Ludo, but with its own distinct rules. The game is among the most popular traditional board games in Switzerland. Players race their pieces around the board from start to home, with the ability to capture opponents’ pieces along the way. The board features unique character themes – a pedestrian (yellow), coachman (green), bicyclist (blue), and motorist (red) – each with a separate track.

Components

• 1 game board (cross-shaped track with colored home areas and starting bases)
• 16 playing pieces (4 per player in 4 colors)
• 1 six-sided die

Setup

1. Each player selects a color and places their 4 pieces in the corresponding starting base area on the board.
2. Determine who goes first (typically the youngest player or by a die roll).
3. Play proceeds clockwise.

Turn Structure

On your turn:

1. Roll the die.
2. Move a piece according to the number rolled, or enter a piece onto the board if you rolled a 6.
3. If you rolled a 6, take another turn immediately (up to 3 consecutive 6s – see special rules).

Actions

Entering the Board

A player must roll a 6 to move a piece from the starting base onto the first space of the track. Once on the board, the piece begins its journey around the track.

Movement

Move one of your active pieces (already on the board) forward by the number shown on the die.

Capturing

If your piece lands on a space occupied by an opponent’s piece, the opponent’s piece is captured and sent back to its starting base. The captured piece must re-enter the board by rolling a 6.

Rolling a 6

When you roll a 6:

• You must enter a new piece onto the board if any remain in your starting base.
• If all pieces are already on the board, move any one piece forward 6 spaces.
• You get an additional roll after rolling a 6.
• Three consecutive 6s: If you roll 6 three times in a row, your turn ends immediately and the last piece moved returns to the starting base as a penalty.

Entering Home

To move a piece into the home column (the colored safe area leading to the center), you must roll the exact number needed. Pieces in the home column cannot be captured.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Winning

The first player to move all 4 of their pieces into the home area (center of the board) wins the game.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• You cannot skip entering a piece when you roll a 6 and have pieces in the starting base – entering takes priority.
• Pieces in the home column are safe from capture.
• You must roll the exact number to enter each home space – excess movement means you cannot move that piece.
• Landing on your own piece is not allowed; you must move a different piece or forfeit the move.
• The three-consecutive-6s penalty prevents abuse of the bonus turn mechanic.
• If you cannot make any legal move with your roll, your turn is skipped.
• The game is purely luck-based at its core, but deciding which piece to move offers some tactical choice.

Player Reference

Enter board: Roll a 6 to place a piece from base onto the track

Movement: Roll die, move one piece forward that many spaces

Capture: Land on opponent’s piece to send it back to base

Rolling 6: Enter a piece (mandatory if possible) + take another turn

Three 6s penalty: Turn ends, last moved piece returns to base

Home entry: Must roll exact number to enter home column

Win condition: First to move all 4 pieces home