How to Play Mancala (Kalah)
Mancala is a family of sowing games played all over the world. kawu uses Kalah, the version most people in North America know.
The board
Two rows of six pits, one row each, and a store at each end. Your store is on your right. Every pit starts with four seeds (you can choose 3 to 6 in the settings).
Sowing
On your turn, pick up all the seeds from one of your pits and drop them one at a time into the following pits, counter-clockwise: along your row, into your store, then along your opponent's row. Skip your opponent's store.
Extra turns
If your last seed lands in your store, you move again.
Captures
If your last seed lands in an empty pit on your side, and the pit directly opposite has seeds, you capture both: your seed and everything opposite go into your store. (If the opposite pit is empty, nothing is captured; that's the most common rule today.)
The end
The game ends as soon as one player's six pits are all empty. The other player moves all seeds left on their side into their own store. Whoever has more seeds in their store wins. Equal stores are a tie.
On kawu
Click one of your pits to sow it; the seeds drop one by one. Play the computer at three levels, a friend on the same device, or online with a room link. See Mancala strategy for tips.
Frequently asked questions
Do you put a seed in your opponent's store?
No. When sowing you skip your opponent's store, but you do drop a seed in your own.
What happens if your last seed lands in your store?
You take another turn straight away. Chaining these extra turns is the key to strong play.
How does capturing work in Mancala?
If your last seed lands in an empty pit on your side and the pit opposite has seeds, you take both your seed and all the seeds opposite into your store.
Last updated 2026-10-19