Mancala (Kalah) rules and how to play

Mancala modes

• Random match (ランダムマッチ): find an opponent online
• Room match (ルーム対戦): play a friend using a room ID (in a rematch, first and second player switch)
• AI match (AI対戦): four levels from Novice to Advanced (with hints and undo)

Basic rules of Mancala

• Each player has six pits and one store on their side. At the start, each pit holds 4 stones (48 in total).
• Choose one pit on your side and take all the stones in it. Sow them one at a time into the following pits, counterclockwise.
• You also sow into your own store, but you skip your opponent's store.
• If your last stone lands in your own store, you get another turn.
• If your last stone lands in an empty pit on your side and the pit opposite holds your opponent's stones, you capture them all.
• The game ends when all the pits on either side are empty. The remaining stones go to the store of the player whose side they are on, and the player with more stones in their store wins.

How to play on Asobi Lounge

• Hover over a pit (tap once on a phone) to see where the last stone will land and whether it gives you an extra turn or a capture.
• Click it (or tap again on a phone) to watch the stones being sown one at a time. Change the speed with Normal (標準) / Fast (速い).
• If you hold your phone upright, the board turns vertical; hold it sideways and it turns horizontal.
• Start a room match by sharing the room ID or with a friend invite.

Example: an extra turn on the first move

At the start each pit has 4 stones, so if you choose the fourth pit counting from your store, its 4 stones reach exactly to your store. Trying each of the six pits with this site's rules, this was the only pit that gives an extra turn in the starting position. You get to move again, which is an early gain.

How the CPU levels differ

• Lv.1 Novice: plays almost at random. For players who have just learned the rules.
• Lv.2 Beginner: picks the move that gains the most stones right now.
• Lv.3 Intermediate: reads a few moves ahead and aims for extra turns and captures.
• Lv.4 Advanced: reads deeper for about 1 second per move and can often read the endgame all the way to the finish.

Tips

• Choosing a pit with exactly the right number of stones to reach your store gives you an extra turn. After an extra turn, check whether another exact move is still available.
• Set up positions where you can capture your opponent's stones, while keeping the empty pits on your side safe from your opponent.
• A pit holding many stones is a target for capture. Watch your opponent's empty pit across from it.
• In the endgame, remember that when one side is empty, the remaining stones go to their owner, and adjust how many stones you leave.

Frequently asked questions

I heard mancala has many different rules.

There are many rules, depending on the region. This site uses the well-known Kalah rules (six pits with 4 stones each).

Who moves first?

First and second player are decided when the game starts, and the screen shows whose turn it is. In a room match rematch, first and second player switch.

Is Mancala free to play?

Yes, it costs nothing. Games against the CPU and solo modes work right away without signing in. Online play (random matches and private rooms) and saving stats or leaderboard scores require signing in with a Google account. To play with a friend, your friend also needs to create an account and register as your friend.

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