Sho at Losar and family gatherings
3 min read
Why Sho is a favourite at Losar and family gatherings, how a group game usually runs, and tips for hosting your own Sho afternoon.
Ask people in Bhutan when they play Sho and many will smile and say: at Losar. The new year holidays bring families and friends together for days, and a game that needs only a pad, a cup, dice, shells and coins fits perfectly into those long afternoons.
A game for a crowd
Sho is played by two to four players, but there are usually far more people around the pad. Onlookers cheer the calls, groan at kills and give advice nobody asked for. Players take turns at the pad, and teams of two are common when there are four players.
Hosting your own Sho afternoon
- Lay the shells in a clear spiral so everyone can count moves easily.
- Agree on the house rules before the first throw: going past the end, the opening throw and alliances all vary from family to family.
- Let beginners play in a team with someone experienced.
- Keep it friendly. Sho is about the noise, the calls and the company.
Playing when you are far from home
Not everyone can be at the same pad. Online, you can invite friends and family with a code and play together from different towns or countries, with the same calls and the same slam of the cup.
Try it now against the computer, or find real players online.