Mancala Game – Pallanguli

Mancala is a family of traditional board games, and the rules can vary depending on the version. Here’s a simple guide for Kalah, one of the most popular variations:

Game Setup
1. Equipment:
• A mancala board with two rows of six small pits each.
• Two larger pits, called “stores” or “mancalas,” at each end of the board.
• 48 small stones, seeds, or beads (4 in each of the 12 small pits).
2. Players:
• 2 players sit opposite each other.

Objective
• Collect the most stones in your store by the end of the game.

How to Play
1. Starting the Game:
• Choose who goes first.
• Players take turns picking up all the stones from one of their pits and sowing them counterclockwise into subsequent pits, including their store but skipping their opponent’s store.
2. Rules for Moving:
• Drop one stone in each pit as you move around the board.
• If the last stone lands in your store, you get another turn.
• If the last stone lands in an empty pit on your side and the opposite pit on your opponent’s side has stones, you capture both the last stone and the stones from the opposite pit and place them in your store.
3. Ending the Turn:
• Your turn ends when the last stone lands anywhere other than your store or if you have no legal moves.

Game End
• The game ends when all six pits on one player’s side are empty.
• The opponent collects any remaining stones in their pits and adds them to their store.
• Count the stones in each store. The player with the most stones wins!

Strategy Tips
1. Aim to land your last stone in your store to get extra turns.
2. Plan ahead to capture stones from your opponent’s pits.
3. Try to control the board by leaving certain pits empty or full strategically.