Mancala is among the ancient board games in the world, which have been played for centuries in Africa, the Middle East, and some parts of Asia. Mancala is a great game because it is simple to learn and difficult to master due to its complex gameplay. This guide will walk you through how to play Mancala step by step

What Is Mancala?

Mancala is a strategy table game that involves the use of a wooden or plastic board along with smaller pits and large pits that can hold pits, which are known as stores or mancalas. The play has to do with gathering stones (or seeds) and using them strategically to score more than your opponent.

Game Setup

A standard Mancala board has:

• There are 12 small pits with six on each side of the players.
• 2 big pits (stores), each on either end.
• There are 12 small pits, each having four stones at the beginning, 48 in total. The six pits on each side and the store are under the control of each player.
• Objective of the Game

The objective of the Mancala is to accumulate more stones in your store than your opponent does at the end of the game.

How to Play Mancala

Starting the Game
One of the players starts to pick up the stones on one side and then picks all of the pits on them.

Sowing the Stones
The player will drop one stone into each pit, including his/her own store, and will be moving counterclockwise.

Bypass the shop of your rival.

Free Turn Rule
When your final stone is laid in your own shop, you lose an additional toss.

Capture Rule
When you drop your last stone in an empty pit on your side, and the other has stones the reverse way, you get all the stones of the two pits and put them into your store.

Opponent’s Turn
After your move (except when you had a free turn) is made, your opponent plays his move according to the same rules.

Ending the Game

The game is concluded when the pits belonging to one of the players are empty. The rest of the stones are pushed directly into the store of the other player. The player having the highest number of stones in his store wins.

The simplest strategies of beginners.

• Make the additional turns by landing your last stone in your store.
• Watch captures the stones belonging to your opponent.
• Determine how many stones there are in advance, and then select a pit.
• Protect yourself against easy losses by your opponent.
• Why Mancala Is Worth Playing

Mancala enhances critical thinking, planning, and problem-solving. It applies to all ages, it takes only a short time to set up, and it does not depend on luck; this makes it an ideal strategy game for both casual and competitive players.

Final Thoughts

It is easy to learn how to play Mancala, but it is not easy to achieve perfection. Mancala has no boundaries in terms of strategy, whether it is played with family, friends, or online. You will find that once you learn the rules of any game, it will be a new challenge.