Mancala (Kalah)
Mancala is a two-player strategy game involving stone collection and distribution. The goal is to capture more stones than your opponent.
Board Layout
The board consists of:
•
12 pits: 6 on each side, belonging to each player
•
2 stores: One large store at each end, belonging to each player
•
Each pit starts with 4 stones (48 stones total)
Player 1's pits are on the bottom row and their store is on the right. Player 2's pits are on the top row and their store is on the left.
How to Play
Sowing
On your turn, pick up all the stones from one of your pits and distribute (sow) them one at a time counterclockwise into each successive pit and your own store:
1.
Choose one of your pits that contains stones
2.
Pick up all stones from that pit
3.
Drop one stone into each pit and your own store, moving counterclockwise
4.
Skip your opponent's store (never drop stones into it)
Extra Turn
If the last stone you drop lands in your own store, you get another turn.
Capturing
If the last stone you drop lands in an empty pit on your side of the board, you capture that stone along with all the stones in the pit directly opposite (on your opponent's side). All captured stones go into your store.
End of Game
The game ends when one player has no stones left in any of their pits. The other player collects all remaining stones from their pits and adds them to their store.
Winning
The player with the most stones in their store wins. If both players have 24 stones, the game is a draw.