How to Play Kalah Mancala

THE PLAYBOOK · YUBOJIAGU

How to play Kalah Mancala

Start Kalah Mancala by looking at the playing area and its controls. When either row of six pits is empty, remaining seeds go to their owner’s store. The larger store wins. Look at what changes after your first action. Read the objective before making your first input. Use the example below to understand a decision.

Review a difficult moment

When a decision goes wrong, compare it with the common mistake described below. Start again only when you intend to leave the current 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. An attractive position is not enough unless the goal is met. Notice how the game responds to your input.

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. Read the example below alongside these instructions.

A useful example

If your last seed reaches your store, you move again. If your row becomes empty, both stores are settled immediately. Focus on why the action is allowed, not only its outcome. Read the matching step again.

Watch out for this

The stores are scoring areas, not pits you can choose. These are Kalah rules, not every Mancala variant. Check the rule before repeating the action. Locate the buttons and input area before beginning a long round. Use the on-screen labels to avoid an accidental restart.

Common questions