How to Play Mancala (Kalaha): Rules & Gameplay

A quick run-down of the Mancala rules for beginner players

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Last Updated: March 17, 2023

Mancala is a family of board games played around the world, sometimes called "sowing" games, or "count-and-capture" games. Kalaha is a form of the popular board game Mancala family, and it's probably the game you're thinking about when you say "Mancala." So, are you ready to get started? Read on to learn all the basics about this easy and fun game.

1

Understand the object of the game.

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You want to do this before one of the players clears their side of all the playing pieces. The row of six cups in front and closest to each player are theirs.^{[1]
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2

Start by placing four stones in each small cup.

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This means there should be four stones in each cup. Each player starts off with a total of 24 stones or beads.

3

Find your Mancala.

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Also called a "store," it is where captured pieces are placed.^{[2]
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4

Choose which player is going to go first.

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So, feel free to flip a coin or choose a person at random.

5

Start play in a counterclockwise direction.

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^{[3]
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Research source} Keep in mind that players can only grab stones that are on their side.

6

Put stones only in your own Mancala.

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If you have enough stones to reach your opponent's Mancala, skip it.

7

Take turns picking up stones in any cup and placing them.

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8

Capture pieces when you can.

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If the last stone you drop is in an empty cup on your side, capture that piece along with any pieces in the hole directly opposite.

===End the game when one player's 6 cups are all empty.

^{[4]
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Research source} Players compare the number of stones in their Mancala. The player with the most stones wins.

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Question

Can you still play if you have lost pieces?

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Yes, just find the appropriate substitute. For example, go outside and find small pebbles or stones.

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Can there be three pebbles in only one of the cups?

Hannah

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It isn't a good idea to start off with only three pebbles in only one of the cups, as that provides a little bit of disadvantage to either player. Some alternatives if you lost a piece is to find a small substitute or instead make all of the cups have three, taking away one pebble from all of the holes that have four in them.

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What happens to the pebbles that are left on the other side?

Cloudcrunch

Community Answer

All of them go to the player who did not make the last move.

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Tips

The first move you may want to choose is the sixth cup from your mancala to get a start with one playing piece in your own mancala and gaining an extra turn.

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