Mancala

How to Play Mancala

Mancala is one of the oldest known board games, with origins dating back thousands of years across Africa and Asia. PlayVersusAI uses the popular Kalah variant. The board has two rows of six pits, with a large store (mancala) at each end. Each pit starts with four seeds.

On your turn, pick up all seeds from one of your six pits and sow them counter-clockwise, one seed per pit. You drop seeds into your own store but skip the opponent's. If your last seed lands in your store, you get a bonus turn. If it lands in an empty pit on your side, you capture that seed plus all seeds in the opposite pit. The game ends when one side is empty; remaining seeds go to that player's opponent. Most seeds wins.

Strategy Tips

• Chain extra turns -- Landing your last seed in your store gives you another turn. Look for sequences that grant multiple turns in a row.
• Set up captures -- Keep some pits empty on your side so you can capture large opposing pits by landing your last seed in the empty pit.
• Count your seeds -- Before making a move, count exactly where your last seed will land. This prevents accidental gifts to the opponent.
• Protect large pits -- If you have a pit with many seeds, be aware the opponent may try to capture it. Distribute or protect it.
• Endgame awareness -- When one side is nearly empty, remaining seeds go to the other player. Sometimes feeding the opponent keeps the game going in your favor.