Ludo - Winning Strategies

Ludo - Strategies to winning

Ludo is a board game that originated in India. It has been played since time immemorial.

However, it was played under the name "Paachisi". It was played by children, but there are several instances in noted history where kings were known to play that game.

A standard Ludo, is the now modified/abridged version of Paachisi. However principles remain the same - an opponent falling in the same space as that of another opponent would 'kill' - meaning impedes the progress of the other opponent by sending the his' token to where the game began, and thereby delays the chance of winning as well as finishing the game. The winner is the one who takes all the four tokens to the home zone. A dice is cast to move the tokens. A token cannot land on a space that already contains a piece of the same color. This rule is done away with most other time. However, following the rule reduces the tactical advantage to a great extent, and makes the game more interesting.

Although the game looks simple, winning the game needs some groundwork. Like most other games, it needs strategy and some reasonable skill. The question is how we evolve the strategy. 

At the outset, we need to understand the principles of winning the game. As always, a best evolved strategy is the one that is best aligned with the right principles.

 

• Never leave a chance to kill the opponent. Even if it is just at the place where it started. This is particularly required when you have multiple pieces active on the board.
• However, where there is a chance for you to trap the opponents piece on one hand and with the same cast on the dice allowing another piece to land straight in 'Home', it preferable to go with the latter option. It is all about the skilful discretion.
• The MOST important routine of the game which is the only conducive one to astrategy is this - ... take a pause, and read on...
  As much as possible, ensure that you piece is 'not' in the path of an opponents piece. You will have no practical control over the number that would be cast on the dice.
  Maintain yourslef at the tail of the opponents. You threaten instead of being threatened.
• Thats it for now !
  
  More to come following up on my blog.

Monopoly Deluxe Edition

Monopoly

 Monopoly is one of the world's most prestigious board games in history. Recently, I bought the Deluxe Edition of the Monopoly game. I has few stuff in addition to what is sold in the regular edition. In India, it is sold under the brand name "Funskool".

I just wanted to share my unboxing moments with you.

The Monopoly Deluxe Edition comes with a Banker's tray, Wooden Houses, Hotels, Wooden Dice, and 

Gold Colored tokens.

The Board. Quite a big one to be circled by 8 players.

Click on the pictures to see the bigger ones.

The Rule Book.

 As always, any game of monopoly starts from here.

Its a UK version, hence the currency would be in pounds.

Monopoly Tokens

It comes with ten tokens, made of pure Brass.

Cannon, Hat, Cap, Wheelbarrow, Iron, Shoe, Racing Car, Knight, Battleship, and a Dog.

The purple properties are the most expensive and the most profitable ones, like in any monopoly game.

The least expensive properties, in the World Edition, these are occupied by Gdynia and Tapei

The second corner on the board. 

'THE JAIL'

 

The third corner, Free Parking - Nothing on this.

'GO TO JAIL'

The fourth corner.

The houses are wooden, and have a nude wooden color. Not Bad ! Later I want to add some more wood polish to these houses. Could keep them for a hundred years..:)

 

I should add that the hotels did not get that 'really great feel' and 'look'

They were painted red.

Vine Street, known to be the most landed property in the game.

Chance and Community Chest Random cards.

The Bankers Tray, quite designed for a game like this. Does not come in the Non Deluxe editions.

Air India - Over the years

Air India - Over the years

Air India started as Tata Airlines. It became Air India after the world war two and later was nationalised. in the mean time christened Air India International and subsequently Air India. de Havillan Puss Moth was the earliest aircraft that entered the Tata Airlines fleet.

From 1954 on, Air India started taking the deliveries of L-1049 Super Constellation and in less than a decade entered the Jet Age with the induction of Boeing 707's into its fleet. Each aircraft is named after a Hindu Emperor or Place or Deity with a great historic importance. Its first B-707 was named 'Gauri Shankar'.

The 1960's were the golden years for Air India.

It was the first airline in the world that had an all-jet fleet.

Begninning in the 70's Air India started  taking the deliveries of the Boeing 747-200B aircrafts.

The first 747 was named 'Emperor Asoka'. It was the same time when the new livery was introduced - Palace in the Sky. The exterior of the windows painted symbolic of the Indo - Sacarenic Architecture.

The belly of the aircraft's fuselage had no paint while the other half of the aircraft was painted white. Two red parallel lines beginning from the nose on the top and bottom ran along the fuselage till the ending in the sleek livery on the tail. Most aircraft's noses were painted black.

By the late 80's, Air India became the largest operator of Airbus A310's. Also, in 1988, Air India took the delivery of B747-300 Combi aircraft, with a passenger cargo mixed configuration.

In 1994, Air India took the first delivery of the Boeing 747-400 flying non stop between NYC and New Delhi.

 Whilst the airline carried on the international flying business, domestic air services were handled by Indian Airlines, established in 1953 with a fully owned subsidiary named Alliance Air.

Indian airlines, until a couple of years before its merger with Air India had in continuous use its previous livery for one of the longest periods in the Aviation Industry. It grew as an inseparable brand for domestic travel in India. Indian Airlines meant 'Domestic Services' while Air India was synonymous with 'International'. Also, Indian Airlines
 had an extensive network connecting
 Indian cities with the gulf. 

 
The new livery of Indian Airlines was released by the Government of India sometime in 2007, rebranding Indian Airlines as Indian and the tail was painted  with a blue spoke partial wheel on an orange background(as you can see in the picture). Like Air India too, Indian Airlines until rebranding sported a bare metal belly. The new livery' blue wheel was also painted on the engine cowlings of the aircrafts.

On 26 February 2011, Indian ceased operating under its own brand and codes with the merger with Air India being complete.

Post merger

With the merger, a considerable number of changes were incorporated into the fleet, of both Air India and the erstwhile Indian Airlines. Inflight entertainment just got better with a TV screen attached to every seat. Earlier, Air India had very limited entertainment facilities, and Indian Airlines had none at all.

Before 2010 there was no VOD on any aircraft.

 




And the livery changed too. 
Here is a look at the new aircraft..enjoy !

Please post your comments below.

Chowmahalla Palace simply means four palaces, divided into the northern and southern courtyards.

Takht-e-Nishan - built in the Khilwat Mubarak building was the royal seat in the Asaf Jahi Dynasty and is the heart of this palace. The chandeliers are simply awesome. This royal hall might have been used for the ceremonies, meetings and stuff. Its fully made of marble. On either side of the hallway are two stair cases and various rooms that contain pictures of the members of the royal family. Most of those pictures mentioned are digital reprints. It is one disappointing element in this whole palace - we approach a photo and we find out its a reprint. However, some are originals too ! Almost all the royal photos have been taken by Raja Deen Dayal. He was the recognised court photographer of the VI th Nizam, Mahboob Ali Khan.

Climbing the stairway gives us the birds' eye view of the court hall, the mahal. With 19 chandeliers, the view gets even spectacular. On the top floor too, we can find some painted portraits of the family members all the way across the hall. And we have the furniture and crockery gallery. Nizams had an oriental eating style. The chaukis (tables) we just maginificent. I also found some crockery (almost many of them) imported from Europe. One company I found was Sphinx Ceramique Maestricht, based in Holland and another, Almaware, which is unknown too.

And climbing down the other staircase leads us to the royal dining hall. And then an exit door. From there we can see the Khilwat Clock (so called) located at the main gate(now closed). Its been running for over two centuries.

To the distance inside, there were more palaces and one of them showcased the saris of the Nizam era. Surprisingly, Nizam sarees did away with the concept of 'Pallu'. Google it know more.

Well, we also have the garage housing five Vintage Cars

• 1938 - Ford Tourer
• 1952 - Packard
• 200 Touring sedan
• 1947 - Buick Super Convertible coupé ( my personal favourite)
• 1912- Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

The Rolls Royce car made on 356 miles in the last one century. It was used only for ceremonial purposes.
Apart from these cars, we do have number of impressive horse drawn carriages from the Victorian era although much care hasn't been exercised in preserving them.

After all this, we make our way to where we have entered, to exit the palace.
On the way, its great to climb the Charminar, to ensure we are completely tired. :)
Great for a casual visit in Hyderabad.