Mancala
Mancala is played on a board with two rows of six pits and a store at each end. On your turn, pick up all the stones from one of your pits and sow them one by one around the board. Land your last stone in your store to go again, or in an empty pit on your side to capture. When one side runs out of stones, the fullest store wins. Click one of your pits to sow its stones anticlockwise. A last stone in your store gives another turn; a last stone in an empty pit of your own captures.
How it works
- Choose a mode and a difficulty. You play the bottom row, and your store is on the right.
- Click one of your pits. Its stones are sown anticlockwise, one per pit, into your own store but never into your opponent's.
- A last stone in your store gives you another turn. A last stone in an empty pit on your side captures it together with the stones in the pit opposite. The game ends when one side is empty.
Modes and difficulty
Play against the computer, against a friend on the same screen, or watch two computers play. Easy thinks two moves ahead and sometimes plays at random, Medium looks five moves ahead, and Hard searches as deep as it can in under a second. The computer thinks in the background, so the page never freezes.
Stones and speed
Start with three to six stones in each pit; four is the classic. More stones make for longer games with bigger captures. Speed sets how quickly the stones are sown, and the counts beside every pit and store are always visible.
Frequently asked questions
What happens at the end of the game?
As soon as all six pits on one side are empty, the game ends. The other player puts all the stones left on their side into their own store. The player with the most stones in their store wins.
How does a capture work?
If your last stone lands in an empty pit on your own side, you take that stone and all the stones in the pit directly opposite and put them in your store.
Can I play with the keyboard?
Yes. Press 1 to 6 to play the pits of the player to move, counted from that player's left.
Is it free?
Yes. Mancala is free, runs in your browser and needs no sign-up.
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About Mancala - one of the oldest board games
Mancala is one of the oldest board game families in the world. Learn where it comes from, the rules of Kalah, and strategy tips for extra turns and captures. Then play Mancala free online.
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