Common Mancala (Kalah) mistakes

Mancala is a family of games. These mistakes come from mixing Kalah with other versions. See our Mancala rules page for the full Kalah ruleset used here.

Rules mistakes

• Starting from the opponent’s side. You choose only from your own six pits.
• Sowing into the opponent’s store. Always skip it, but include your own.
• Missing the extra turn. If your last stone lands in your store, you play again.
• Capturing on the wrong side. The last stone must land in an empty pit on your own side.
• Capturing opposite an empty pit. In this ruleset the opposite pit must hold stones. If it is empty, nothing is captured.
• Playing on after one side empties. The game ends at once and the other player sweeps their stones into their own store.
• Mixing with Oware. Oware and other mancala games have different sowing, capture and ending rules.

Play mistakes

• Leaving a big pit opposite an empty pit. The opponent can set up a capture.
• Emptying your side too early. The opponent then sweeps the stones on their side.
• Not counting. Check distance to your store before each move.
• Ignoring the opponent’s extra turns. Their chain can give them a large lead.

Match play

Alternate the starting player from game to game and count games won, not stones. A 24–24 result is a draw.