Mancala

About Mancala

Mancala is a free seed-sowing board game you play in your browser, with nothing to download. You and your opponent take turns scooping up the seeds from one of your six pits and sowing them one by one around the board; whoever has more seeds in their store at the end wins.

Play the Kalah rules most people know as mancala, or the West African Oware rules, against three computer players (gentle Minnow, steady Heron, sharp Osprey) or a friend on the same device. Press a pit to see where its seeds will land, and try the Daily board, the same for everyone.

At a glance

Genre

Mancala (seed-sowing board game)

Price

Free, no ads

Plays on

Phone, tablet or computer, in the browser

Download

None

Account

Optional

Age

All ages

Modes

vs computer (3 levels), 2 players on one device, Daily board, challenge links

Players

1 or 2

Rules

Kalah (default) or Oware

How to play

• The board. Each player has six pits and a store (the big pit) at their right-hand end. Every pit starts with four seeds.
• Your turn. Pick one of your pits with seeds. Sow its seeds one at a time counter-clockwise: along your side, into your own store, then along your opponent's side. Skip your opponent's store.
• Extra turn. If your last seed lands in your own store, you move again.
• Capture. If your last seed lands in an empty pit on your side and the pit across has seeds, both go into your store.
• The end. When either side's six pits are empty, each player adds the seeds left on their side to their store. More seeds wins; equal is a draw.
• Oware (optional). No stores to sow into; capture an opponent's pit when your last seed makes it 2 or 3. First to 25 seeds wins.

Questions

How do you play mancala?

Pick one of your six pits and sow its seeds one by one, counter-clockwise, including into your own store. Last seed in your store: go again. Last seed in an empty pit on your side: capture the seeds across. When one side is empty, the most seeds in a store wins.

How does capturing work in mancala?

In Kalah, if your last seed lands in an empty pit on your side and the pit across holds seeds, you take them all into your store. In Oware you capture on your opponent's side when your last seed makes a pit 2 or 3.

Who wins in mancala?

When one player's six pits are empty, each player adds the seeds on their side to their store, and the bigger store wins. With 48 seeds, 25 is a sure win; 24 each is a draw.

Can I play mancala against the computer?

Yes. Etheria's Mancala has three computer players: Minnow is gentle and good for beginners and children, Heron plays a steady game, and Osprey looks many moves ahead. A hint button shows the best move whenever you want it. Two people can also play on one device, passing it back and forth.

Is this mancala game free and OK for kids?

Free, with no ads and no download, and for all ages. Sowing is good counting practice, and the gentle computer player and landing preview help children learn.