Mancala Rules - How to Play Kalah
Kalah has no hidden information: the last seed’s landing decides the position.
The Kalah board
Each player owns six pits and a store. The game begins with four seeds in every one of twelve pits, 48 in total. This site uses Kalah, not every variant called Mancala.
Sowing a move
Choose a non-empty pit on your side, lift every seed, and place one seed at a time counter-clockwise. Sow into your own store but always skip the opponent’s store.
Extra turns and captures
A last seed in your store grants another turn. A last seed in an empty pit on your side captures itself and every seed in the directly opposite opponent pit, but only when that opposite pit is non-empty.
Ending and scoring
When either row of six pits is empty, the game ends. Remaining seeds on both sides sweep into their owners’ stores; the higher store wins and equal stores draw.
Mancala FAQ
- Can I sow into the opponent’s store?
- No. You pass over it without dropping a seed.
- When do I get another turn?
- When your last seed lands in your own store.
- How does a capture work?
- Your last seed lands in an empty own pit and the opposite opponent pit contains seeds.
- Can the game draw?
- Yes, if the final stores are tied.
Practice the rules
Play one game focused on store landings, then one on the endgame sweep.