Mancala
Sow stones around the board, earn extra turns, capture the opposite pit, and finish with the fullest store.
Category
Strategy
Your progress
This device—
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Price
100% Free
How to Play
Mancala uses two rows of six pits and a scoring store at each end. South moves first. Choose a non-empty pit on your side, pick up every stone in it, then sow one stone at a time into the following pits. Your own store receives a stone; the opponent's store is skipped.
Landing the final stone in your own store earns another turn. Landing it in an empty pit on your side captures that stone and every stone in the directly opposite pit into your store. When either player's six pits are empty, the remaining stones move to the other store and the higher total wins.
The default game begins with four stones per pit. Play against the computer or choose local two-player mode on one device. Your strongest winning South-store total is saved locally in this browser.
Controls
- Choose Computer or 2 Players; Computer mode also offers Relaxed or Tactical AI
- Tap a highlighted pit on the active player's side to sow its stones
- Start Mancala or Space - begin the game
- Restart - return to the mode and start screen
Tips & Tricks
- 1Count to your store: a pit whose stone count lands exactly there gives you another turn
- 2Leave an empty pit on your side when you can land the last stone there and capture a loaded opposite pit
- 3Do not automatically choose the fullest pit; turn order and the final landing space matter more
- 4Before emptying one side, count the unsown stones because they all sweep into the other player's store
- 5Extra turns can be chained, letting you reshape several pits before the opponent moves
- 6Against the computer, deny obvious store landings and large captures even when another move gains one extra stone
Frequently Asked Questions
How many stones does a normal game start with?
Four stones in each of the twelve small pits, for 48 stones total.
When do I get another turn?
When the final stone from your move lands in your own scoring store.
How does capturing work?
If your final stone lands in an empty pit on your side and the opposite pit has stones, both sides move into your store.
When does the game end?
As soon as either row of six pits is empty. All remaining stones are then swept into the other store.
Can two people play on one device?
Yes. Select 2 Players before starting and alternate turns locally.
