Back to top
Chapter 1 / Introduction
Beginner tutorial
Learn Kalah sowing, stores, extra turns, captures, and the end of the game.
Mancala
Beginner
Mancala Basics
Practice the basic controls right here
Choose a step in the inline tutorial below to review the flow.
Mancala
CMS managed tracks
Learning
Rules and Sowing Guide
Learn the 2-by-6 pit layout, the stores, sowing, extra turns, and captures.
2Modules
10Items
Mancala Basics
Beginner
/ 4min
Sow the stones from a pit one by one, aiming to collect more in your own store.
- Article Collect More Stones in Your Store
- Pattern Sow stones from the pits
- Move sequence Collect Stones in the Store
- Pattern Chain Turns on Store Landings
- Pattern Capture by Landing in an Empty Pit
Practical tutorial
Beginner
/ 7min
Read extra turns, captures, and empty pits, and build your sequence with stone counts.
- Article Use the Final Stone to Earn Extra Turns and Captures
- Article Extra Turn from the Last Stone into the Store
- Article Capture from an Empty Pit on Your Side
- Article Work Backward Through an Empty-Pit Endgame
- Article Learn the variant differences in Mancala
Mancala
Beginner
Mancala Basics
Practice the basic controls right here
Choose a step in the inline tutorial below to review the flow.
Turn flow and captures
Open it only when you need to check something.
Mancala reference
Sowing stones and scoring
Move record and board coordinates
Standard human-readable notation
C
Your side uses A–F, while the opposite side uses a–f.
Pit
Choose stones Choose a pit on your side and pick up all the stones in it.Sow
One stone in each following pit Distribute one stone at a time in the direction specified by the adopted rules, such as counterclockwise.Store
Scoring pit Stones placed in your store count as points.Extra turn
Last stone in your store When the last stone lands in your store, you move again.Capture
Capture the opposite pit from an empty pit When the conditions are met, capture all the stones in the opposite pit.
Choose a pit on your side
Sow stones one at a time
The store holds your score
Aim for an extra turn
The player with more stones at the end wins
Sow stones
- Take all the stones from the chosen pit and distribute them one at a time starting with the next pit.
- Exceptions depend on the adopted rules, such as skipping the opponent's store.
Scoring and game end
- Stones placed in your store count as points.
- When every pit on one side is empty, the game ends. Collect the remaining stones and compare scores.
Next step
Choose after the tutorialOnce you are comfortable moving pieces, review anything that was unclear or practice your decisions with a short problem.
Learn: Your first three minutes
Briefly review the objective of Mancala and the first action to take.
Web tutorial
Learning: Rules quick reference
Review how to move, capture, and win on one screen whenever you are uncertain.
CMS guide
Training: Short problems
After reviewing the basics, reinforce your decision-making with short problems.
Practice before a match
Mastery: Maxims and competitive philosophy
Read about strategy, whole-board vision, decisions, and competitive philosophy unique to Mancala in a practical guide.
Reading