Lagori Game Rules: How to Play Seven Stones (Pitthu)

The lagori game, also called pitthu, pithoo, satoliya or the seven stones game, is one of India's most loved outdoor games for children and adults alike. All you need is a soft ball and seven flat stones stacked into a small tower. One team knocks the tower down and then tries to rebuild it, while the other team chases them and tries to hit them with the ball. It is fast, noisy and full of teamwork, which is why lagori is still played in school grounds, colonies and village lanes across the country. Here are the lagori game rules in English, as most schools and neighbourhoods play them, plus the regional twists.

Quick rules

• Two teams of equal size: the seekers (hitting team) and the defenders (fielding team).
• Stack seven flat stones in a pile in the centre and mark a throwing line a few metres away.
• Seekers take turns throwing the ball to knock the pile down, usually with three tries each.
• If a defender catches a thrown ball on the full or after one bounce, that thrower is out.
• Once the pile falls, the seekers try to rebuild it while the defenders try to hit them with the ball below the shoulders.
• Defenders cannot run while holding the ball; they must pass it to teammates.
• Rebuild the full pile and shout "Lagori" to win a point. If every seeker is hit first, the teams swap roles.

What you need

• Seven flat stones of decreasing size, so they stack into a stable tower. Flat tiles, wooden discs or a ready-made pitthu set work well. Many shops sell a pitthu bag or kit with soft stacking discs and a ball.
• A soft ball, such as a tennis ball or rubber ball. Avoid hard cricket balls, since players are hit with it.
• An open ground, at least the size of a badminton court.
• Chalk or a stick to mark the throwing line and a circle around the stones.
• 6 to 18 players, split into two teams. Our team generator makes fair teams in seconds.

Setup

1. Draw a small circle, about 1 metre wide, in the middle of the ground and stack the seven stones inside it, largest at the bottom.
2. Mark a throwing line about 6 to 9 metres from the pile. Use a shorter distance for younger kids. Sources and schools differ on the exact distance, so pick what suits your players.
3. Toss a coin to decide which team throws first. That team becomes the seekers.
4. The defenders spread out around and behind the pile, with one player usually standing just behind the stones to catch or collect the ball.

How to play

Phase 1: knocking down the pile

1. Seekers line up behind the throwing line. One at a time, each seeker throws the ball at the pile, overarm or underarm.
2. Each seeker usually gets three tries. If no seeker on the team topples any stones after all their turns, the teams swap roles.
3. If a defender catches the thrown ball before it bounces, or after just one bounce, the thrower is out for that round. Some groups say the whole seeking team is out on a catch; agree before you start.
4. The pile counts as knocked down when at least one stone falls.

Phase 2: rebuilding and dodging

1. As soon as the stones fall, the seekers rush to rebuild the pile in the circle, stacking all seven stones in order.
2. The defenders grab the ball and try to hit any seeker with it. Hits should be below the shoulders, and many schools say below the waist, to keep the game safe.
3. A defender holding the ball cannot run or walk with it. They must throw from where they stand or pass it to a teammate who is closer.
4. A seeker who is hit by the ball is out for the rest of the round and steps off the field.
5. Seekers can distract, dodge and block the ball with their hands, and they take turns darting in to place stones while their teammates draw the defenders away.
6. If the pile collapses during the rebuild, the seekers simply keep stacking.

Ending a round

1. If the seekers rebuild all seven stones, one of them shouts "Lagori" (or "pitthu"), and the team scores a point. They stay as seekers and play again.
2. If every seeker is hit before the pile is rebuilt, the round ends with no point and the teams swap roles.

Scoring

How to win

Play to an agreed target, such as 5 or 10 points, or for a set time, often 20 to 30 minutes. The team with more successful rebuilds wins. Use our scoreboard to keep track.

Variations

• Regional names: lagori in Karnataka, pitthu or pithoo in north India, satoliya in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, and other local names elsewhere. The basic game is the same.
• Catch rule: some areas only count a catch on the full, not after a bounce.
• Kick ball: in some neighbourhoods defenders may also kick the ball toward a teammate, though throwing only is more common.
• Tournament style: organised competitions use a marked court with fixed distances, timed halves and referees. Rules vary between organisers.
• Little kids' version: no catches, unlimited tries and a big soft ball.

Tips and strategy

• Seekers: send your fastest stacker to the pile while others shout, wave and draw the ball away.
• Throw low and hard at the base of the pile, not the top stone.
• Defenders: pass quickly and close in from different sides instead of all chasing one seeker.
• Keep one defender near the pile to stop easy rebuilding.

House rules to agree first

• Throwing distance and number of tries per seeker.
• Whether a catch puts out one seeker or the whole team.
• Where hits count: below the shoulders or below the waist. Never aim at the head.
• How many points or how much time makes a game.

Lagori fits right in with other playground favourites like gilli danda, kho kho and kabaddi. See them all in our Indian traditional games guide.