Mancala Contest

Get ready to play one of the oldest games in the world. To this day the game is very popular and many variations are used in indigenous countries. Mancala is a fun game of wit and counting. Take your time and strategies and you shall be the winner.

We will allow 40 players to compete in a bracket challenge, and standard 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place will be awarded. You must have a partner to participate. Please head to the picnic pavilion, there is no need to sign up.

Objective:

The objective is to capture more stones than your opponent. 

Supplies:

  1. Mancala board
  2. Place 4 stones in each of the 12 smaller pockets

Terminology:

Mancala: The two big pockets at either side of the board.

Pockets: The smaller compartments, A1-A6 is player A’s "pockets" and B1-B-6 is player B’s pockets. (Refer to Image 1)

Refer to the directions as if you are Player A

The large pocket-- called the Mancala &emdash;to the right is yours.

Playing:  One player starts the game by removing the stones in any one of his own pockets (any pocket from A1-A6) and placing one in each pocket, starting with the next pocket to the right.  Include your Mancala (Mancala A) as a space as you place the stones in the pockets.

If there are enough stones to go past your Mancala (Mancala A), continue placing them into your opponent’s pockets (pockets B1-B6).  However, skip their Mancala (Mancala B) when placing stones.

 

If your last stone ends up in your Mancala, you get to take another turn.  In illustration 1, Player A has emptied their #3 (A3) pocket and the last stone ended up in their Mancala, allowing him to take another turn.

If the last stone you place lands in an empty pocket on your side of the board, you get to take that stone -- plus all of your opponent's stones that are in the opposite pocket-- and place them in your own Mancala.  As shown in illustration 2, Player B (Your opponent) has moved the one stone from his pocket #2 (B2) into the empty pocket #3 (B3).  He would now take that stone and the stones that are in A4 and place all those stones in his Mancala. His turn would then end and the next player (You) goes.

 

Ending and Winning the Game:  The game ends when all six pockets on one side of the game board are empty.  The other player takes the remaining stones in his pockets and places them in his Mancala.  The player who has the most stones in his Mancala wins. 

Rules and Images provided by: http://www.pressmantoy.com/instructions/instruct_mancala.html

Time:

10:00am-11:00am

Location:

Picnic Pavilion

Posted 10/23/2009