Kalah Mancala

THE PLAYBOOK · QTHCC

How to play Kalah Mancala

A round of Kalah Mancala at QTHCC begins with understanding the objective. When either row of six pits is empty, remaining seeds go to their owner’s store. The larger store wins. The learning focus here is understand the boundary, supported by the rule notes below.

Understand the boundary

Check the edition notes and play mode. A local game, a computer opponent and remote multiplayer are different features.

Your goal

When either row of six pits is empty, remaining seeds go to their owner’s store. The larger store wins.

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.

A useful example

If your last seed reaches your store, you move again. If your row becomes empty, both stores are settled immediately.

Watch out for this

The stores are scoring areas, not pits you can choose. These are Kalah rules, not every Mancala variant.

Common questions