Comments on: Name of a board/strategy game?

Question: Name of a board/strategy game?

Dr. Zira — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:03:31 -0800

Help me remember the name of a board/strategy game...

The gameboard is a wooden box, hinged to fold in half for storage. The game is played with polished stones, similar to the flat, round stones you can buy in bulk at craft stores as decorative filler for clear vases. The game board unfolds into a rectangle with two reserviors at each end of the board that serves as the "home base" for each player's group of stones. The game board has two aisles of round recessed pockets between the reservoirs.
My memory is sketchy on the rules, but the game is played something like this: Each player takes a turn with a handful of stones (I don't remember how many you start out with) and goes around the board placing one stone in each pocket until the player is out of stones. On the last pocket, if there are stones in that pocket, you collect all of the stones and repeat the process until you end up in an empty pocket. I think the winner is the person who successfully clears the board on the last turn, but again, I'm fuzzy on the rules...
Thanks!

By: ALongDecember

ALongDecember — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:04:38 -0800

Mancala?

By: squidlarkin

squidlarkin — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:05:09 -0800

Mancala.

By: agropyron

agropyron — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:06:30 -0800

Mancala.

By: scody

scody — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:06:47 -0800

Damn.

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:10:12 -0800

Yes! Thank you!

By: Nelson

Nelson — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:59:59 -0800

Awari.

By: mdeatherage

mdeatherage — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 14:32:09 -0800

If you have Mac OS X 10.3 or later, this is how you want to play Mancala, IMHO.

By: Lotto

Lotto — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 14:38:39 -0800

Mancala! (I know, I know, I'm just happy to be able to answer a question).

By: jonah

jonah — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 16:23:40 -0800

And don't forget Mancala Snails

By: graventy

graventy — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 17:25:09 -0800

Hey, excellent description of mancala, by the way. Very detailed, easy for people in the know to figure out.

By: Dr. Zira

Dr. Zira — Sat, 19 Feb 2005 19:00:44 -0800

Thanks all for the links to the online versions...great for practicing strategy and getting the skills honed. I'm definitely going to buy a set, because the tactile experience of moving the stones is soothing, almost zenlike and adds a whole other dimension to the game.
I must confess I had no idea this game was so old, nor did I have a clue about the culture behind it. I'm definitely hooked!