How to Play Kalah Mancala

THE PLAYBOOK · ZBZHETONG

How to play Kalah Mancala

Take a moment with Kalah Mancala before moving to another game. When either row of six pits is empty, remaining seeds go to their owner’s store. The larger store wins. Check the relevant rule before repeating a move. Check the rule that explains your first action. Check the relevant rule before repeating a move.

Build a steady rhythm

Take enough time to read a new position. If a game has a timer, learn its controls first rather than searching for them during the round. Use the example to check your reasoning.

Your goal

When either row of six pits is empty, remaining seeds go to their owner’s store. The larger store wins. Keep that objective in view throughout the round. Follow this game’s rules rather than another version’s.

Step by step

1. Player 1 uses the bottom six pits; Player 2 uses the top six.
2. Choose a non-empty pit on your side and sow its seeds one at a time.
3. Include your own store but skip the opponent’s store. Ending in your store grants another turn.
4. Ending in an empty pit on your own side captures that seed and the opposite seeds, when the opposite pit is non-empty.

Controls

Use the on-screen controls with a mouse or touch. Use the control method described here for this activity. Make sure you are interacting with the game rather than the surrounding page.

A useful example

If your last seed reaches your store, you move again. If your row becomes empty, both stores are settled immediately. Apply the same reasoning to the position in your own round. Check the stated objective.

Watch out for this

The stores are scoring areas, not pits you can choose. These are Kalah rules, not every Mancala variant. A different version of the game may use a different rule. Read one step at a time and try it on the playing area. Match the instruction to the control you use.

Common questions