Reference

Kalah movement and rules

Review the sowing direction, stores, extra turns, captures, and end conditions at any time.

Mancala reference

Sowing stones and scoring

Open it only when you need to check something.

Move record and board coordinates

Standard human-readable notation

Move record and coordinates Pit names Your C

Code for storage and integration QGA C

Your side uses A–F, while the opposite side uses a–f.

Visual reference

Catalog of stones and pits

Sow the stones from one pit to the next; where the last stone lands determines extra turns and captures.

3 key elements

Board elements

Kalah style

Seeds Take all stones from the chosen pit and distribute them one at a time.

Pit A small hollow where ordinary stones are placed.

Store The scoring pit that holds the stones you collect.

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.

Mancala

Learning

CMS managed tracks

Learning Rules

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

Mancala Basics

Beginner

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.

Next step

Choose after the tutorial

Once 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