How to Play Mancala: Setup, Sowing, Captures & Winning
This guide covers the classic Mancala mode printed in Hasbro/Cranium’s Mancala Mania rules.
Setup
Place the board between two players. The large cup to your right is your home cup, and the six small pits in front of you are your playing area. Put four stones in each of the 12 small pits.
Choose a pit
On your turn, pick up all the stones from any one pit on your side.
Sow counterclockwise
Starting with the next pit to the right, drop one stone into each pit as you move counterclockwise. Include your own home cup, but skip your opponent’s home cup.
Extra turn
If the final stone of your move lands in your own home cup, immediately take another turn.
Capture
If your final stone lands in an empty pit on your own side, move that last stone and all stones in the directly opposite pit into your home cup.
Game end
The printed Hasbro/Cranium rules end the game when one player empties all six pits. The player with the most stones in their home cup wins.
Related guides
Capture and extra-turn rules · Strategy · Hub