MANCALA - How to Play the Classic Game of Pits and Stones

Published: 26 July 2024
on channel: Play-In Games

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Today we're diving into one of the oldest known games, tracing back thousands of years. From Africa to your friends' hippie parents' coffee table, let's play Mancala!

Hi, I'm Chris Cannucciari and welcome to Play-in Games. Please subscribe, comment, and like!

Object:
The object of Mancala is to capture more objects in your end pocket or store than your opponent does. Your store is on your right side. Mancala comes from the Arabic word "naqalah," meaning to move or transfer, which makes perfect sense as this is a game all about moving and transferring game pieces.

What You Need:
A Mancala board with two rows of six pits or pockets, plus two larger pockets called stores at each end of the board. You'll also need 48 stones, with four stones starting in each of the 12 smaller pits. Don't have stones? No problem! You can use coffee beans, dry pasta, colorful googly eyes, or even gummy bears.

Setup:
Place four stones (or whatever you're using) in each of the 12 small pits. At the start of the game, the stores will be empty.

Basic Rules:
The goal is to have more pieces in your store at the end of the game than your opponent. Each player controls only the six pits on their side of the board, as well as their store. Players take turns picking up all the stones from one of their own pits and placing them one by one in subsequent pits in a counterclockwise direction. If you pass your own store, place a stone there. If your last stone lands in your store, you get another turn. If your last stone lands in an empty pit on your side and the opposite pit on your opponent's side contains stones, you capture all the stones from the opposite pit and the last stone you placed.

End of Game:
The game ends when one player has emptied all six pits on their side of the board. The player with stones still on their side can move all of them into their own store. The winner is the player with the most stones in their store.

Strategy:
Plan ahead and try to play your moves a few steps in advance. Maximize extra turns by landing your stones in your store. Control the board by paying attention to the distribution of stones and capture wisely to gain significant advantages.

Final Thoughts:
Mancala is a timeless game that's easy to play and requires no special equipment. Archeologists have found Mancala boards made from carved wood, clay pots, and even simple holes dug into the ground. You can even make a nearly free Mancala board from an egg carton and dried pasta. So, there's really no reason not to play Mancala. Give it a try!

Did I get something wrong, or do you play differently? Let me know what you think. Please like, comment, and share to help this channel grow. Also, help support this channel with a digital donation.

Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
00:10 Object
00:26 Set Up
01:10 Gameplay
01:30 Bonus Moves
01:45 Other Rules
02:10 Strategy
02:47 Final Thoughts
02:59 DIY Mancala
03:23 Mancala Man

You are great! See you next time on Play-in Games.

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By Christopher Cannucciari
www.cannucciari.com
www.dynmcrange.com

All Rights: Dynamic Range

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