How to Use Mancala Game Pieces

Mancala is a game from ancient times. The pieces were originally rocks, shells or seeds. Today Mancala game pieces are usually a marble-like glass rock. Pretty much anything that is small enough to fit into the cups of the board game can be used for Mancala game pieces.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mancala game board
• Mancala game pieces

1. Choose two players. While only two people can play this game at a time, others can watch nearby.

2. Sort the Mancala pieces. There are 48 pieces to distribute into the twelve cups on the board. Each player has six cups with four Mancala pieces in each to start the game. There is a larger cup on either side of the board. The large cup to the players right is his Mancala cup. Pieces deposited in here are a point for that player.

3. Start by having the first player take all the pieces from one of the cups on his side of the board. As the player goes around the board in a clockwise direction, he drops the pieces one by one into the cups. If a player drops his last stone into his large Mancala cup, he takes another turn. The player takes all the stones in his opponent's Mancala cup when the last stone he drops is into an empty cup on his own side.

Tips & Warnings

• Playing ends when one player has no more stones on his side. The other player puts all the remaining stones on his side into his Mancala cup. The player with the most stones wins.