Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: How to Play Mancala () Frequently Asked Questions Is Mancala the oldest game in the world?Īrcheologists have found evidence to support the theory that dates Mancala back to East Africa 700AD. How to Keep Score in MancalaĪt the end of the game, the player with the most stones collected in their mancala wins the game! How to Play Mancala – Video Tutorial If you are the player with pieces remaining on your side of the board, you can move them all to your mancala. When all six pockets on one side of the board are empty, the game ends. If you drop the last stone in an empty pocket on your side of the board, you collect that stone and any stones in the pocket directly across. You can take another turn immediately if the last stone you drop is in your mancala. Do not place stones in your opponent’s mancala. Next, moving counterclockwise from the pocket selected, deposit one stone in each space until you have moved all four stones. Then, they can begin by collecting all four stones in any one of the pockets on their side of the board.

Mancala Game Rulesĭecide which player will go first. Players own the mancala on the right-hand side of their row. The two larger pockets on either end of the board are called mancalas. Players will each control the six pockets on the side of the board closest to them. Place four stones into each of the twelve small pockets on the board. The board consists of two rows of six pockets each. What You’ll Need to Play MancalaĮverything you need to play is included in this boxed set.īegin set up by placing the wooden board horizontally between both players. The term Mancala is derived from the Arabic word, manqalah, meaning to move.Īccording to Merriam-Webster’s definition, Mancala now refers to any variety of similarly played games that involve the distribution of pebbles or stones between two players into holes or pockets.ĭuring its early development centuries ago, Mancala was possibly played using seeds or rocks and by digging small holes in the ground instead of using a hand-made board. The Mancala game is thought to have derived from the Egyptians centuries ago and is historically found most commonly in areas of Southern Asia and Africa. Why We Love It: This “count and capture” game allows players to develop strategic thinking, but it is also portable and easy to play anywhere. Main Objective: The main objective is to capture the most stones from your opponent by the end of the game. The ancient two-player strategy game, Mancala, requires both players to move glass or plastic beads around a wooden tray to collect the most.

This Mancala rules guide will cover the following: Read on to learn the Mancala game rules and how to play. The strategy involved in playing Mancala is often compared to that required to play Chess successfully. The Mancala game rules may appear simple, but there are many variations. One of the oldest known board games to date, Mancala, is a strategy two-player game that requires the movement of stones or beads around a board made from wood or clay.

Mancala game instructions pdf