Kalah*
Kalah, commonly known as a version of Mancala, is a classic strategy board game, part of a broader family of Mancala games. Invented in 1940 by William Champion Jr., Kalah gained popularity after Champion started selling it in 1944 and later patented its rules in the 1950s.
Gameplay Overview
- Board Setup: Played on a board with two rows of six pits, each row has a larger pit, the Kalah, at the end.
- Seed Distribution: Starts with four seeds in each pit. Players distribute seeds counterclockwise from a selected pit into subsequent pits, including their own Kalah but not the opponent's.
- Strategic Moves: Deciding which pit to start from is key, as the placement of the last seed can affect subsequent moves.
Special Features
- Capturing Mechanism: If the last seed lands in an empty pit on your side, capture the seeds directly opposite.
- Multiple Turns: Landing the last seed in your Kalah earns another turn.
- Game End and Winning: The game ends when a player empties their pits. The player with the most seeds in their Kalah wins.
Conclusion
Kalah offers a blend of simplicity and strategic depth, making it a captivating game for all ages. Its straightforward rules coupled with tactical nuances provide endless replayability. Whether you're a beginner starting with three seeds per pit or an expert handling six, Kalah is a timeless game that challenges your planning and foresight skills.
- 2 Players
- 10 Minutes
- 5+ years old
- Easy to learn
We like Kalah so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2024
- Position 6 in The best board game classics🏛 of all time
- Position 29 in The Best Games from Noris Spiele 🇩🇪🏢
- Position 20 in The best games set on the continent of Africa 🌍
- Position 33 in The best travel board, card & dice games for on the road 🧳
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