Step-by-Step Tutorial
Mancala (Kalah) is played on a wooden board with two rows of six small pits and a large store (mancala) at each end.
Each player owns the six pits on their side and the store to their right. South's store is on the right; North's store is on the left.
The game begins with 4 seeds in every pit (48 seeds total). Both stores start empty. South moves first.
On your turn, pick up all seeds from one of your pits and sow them one-by-one into the following pits in a counter-clockwise direction.
Seeds are dropped into your own pits, your own store, and your opponent's pits — but you always skip your opponent's store.
In this example, South picked up 4 seeds from pit 3 (the fourth pit from the left) and distributed one seed into pits 4, 5, the South store, and North's pit 1 (index 7).
If the last seed you sow lands in an empty pit on your own side, you capture that seed plus all seeds in the opposite pit (directly across the board). Both groups go into your store.
Opposite pits are mirrored: South pit 0 is opposite North pit 5 (index 12), South pit 1 opposite North pit 4 (index 11), and so on.
Here, South's last seed landed in their empty pit 0. The opposite pit (North pit 5, index 12) had 6 seeds. South captures all 7 seeds (1 + 6) into their store.
If the last seed you sow lands in your own store, you get a free turn — you move again immediately.
This is a key strategic element. You can chain multiple free turns in a row if you plan your moves carefully.
Here, South picked up 2 seeds from pit 4 and dropped them into pit 5 and the South store. The last seed landed in the store, so South gets to move again!
The game ends when all six pits on one player's side are empty. The player who still has seeds remaining collects all of them into their own store.
This means the game can end on any turn — plan ahead to avoid leaving seeds for your opponent to sweep up!
Here, South's side is completely empty. North still has seeds in their pits, so North collects all remaining seeds into their store before final scoring.
After the game ends and all remaining seeds are collected, the player with more seeds in their store wins.
There are 48 seeds total, so you need 25 or more to win. If both players have exactly 24, the game is a draw.
Here, South has 26 seeds and North has 22 seeds. South wins!
Strategy tips:
- Look for moves that land your last seed in your store for a free turn.
- Set up captures by emptying your pits when the opposite pit is full.
- Count seeds to avoid giving your opponent a big collection at game end.
Ready to play Mancala?