Yut Nori at Seollal
At Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, families gather, share a meal, and very often end up throwing yut sticks across the floor. Yut Nori has been part of the holiday for centuries.
A New Year tradition
Yut Nori is played all year, but it belongs to the New Year season above all. Grandparents, parents and children play together in teams, and the shouts of “윷이야!” and “모야!” are part of the holiday sound.
All you need is four sticks and a board, which is why families have kept playing it for centuries.
Playing together when you’re apart
Not every family can be in one room for the holiday. In Yunnori the host creates an online room and shares a four-character code; relatives join from their own phones, wherever they are, for a game of two to four players.
One phone, the whole table
If everyone is together, pass one phone around: two to four players take turns on a single device.
Tips for first-timers
Playing with young children or relatives who have never played?
- Let them practice a round against the computer first.
- In an online room, try two pieces per player for a shorter game, or turn Back-Do off.
- Read the full rules together before you start.
The six throws: 도·개·걸·윷·모·빽도
| Throw | Flat sides up | Move | Extra throw | Chance | Traditional animal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 도 (Do) | 1 | 1 forward | — | 3/16 (18.75%) | Pig |
| 개 (Gae) | 2 | 2 forward | — | 6/16 (37.5%) | Dog |
| 걸 (Geol) | 3 | 3 forward | — | 4/16 (25%) | Sheep |
| 윷 (Yut) | 4 | 4 forward | Yes | 1/16 (6.25%) | Cow |
| 모 (Mo) | 0 | 5 forward | Yes | 1/16 (6.25%) | Horse |
| 빽도 (Back-Do) | 1 (the marked stick only) | 1 back | — | 1/16 (6.25%) | — |
Odds assume four sticks that each land flat side up half the time, with Back-Do on (the standard setting). With Back-Do off, the marked-stick result counts as Do, so Do becomes 4/16.
Frequently asked questions
Why do Koreans play Yut Nori at Seollal?
It is a centuries-old New Year custom: easy for all ages, played in teams, and loud enough to bring the whole family together.
Can we play Yut Nori online with family in another city or country?
Yes. In Yunnori one person creates an online room and shares its four-character code, and two to four players join from their own phones.
Can we play on one phone?
Yes. Pass-and-play lets two to four players take turns on a single phone.
Do we need real yut sticks?
No. Yunnori throws the four sticks for you with a swipe or a tap.