Mancala
Mancala (Kalah) is a board game for 2 to 4 players, about 10 minutes. Collect the most stones in your store and you win. Free. In-browser. No account.
Play over time
Mancala in 30 seconds
- SetupEach player has six pockets with four stones in each, and a store at their right-hand end.
- PlayLift every stone from one pocket and sow them anticlockwise. You sow through your own store but skip everyone else's.
- CaptureIf your last stone lands in an empty pocket of your own, take it and the matching pocket's stones into your store. If the matching pocket is empty, the last stone stays where it landed.
- WinningThe game ends as soon as any player's side is empty. Most stones in your store wins.
At a glance
| Item | This game |
|---|---|
| Players | 2–4 players |
| Play time | About 10 min |
| Type | Board |
| Ranked play | Yes |
| Practice against the CPU | Yes |
| Price | Free (no account needed) |
| Rights holder | A public-domain classic game |
| Last updated | 2026-09-14 |
How to play Mancala online with friends
- Tap "Play with friends"A party is created with a 6-character code. No account is needed.
- Send a link or QR codeShare it on LINE, or just read the code aloud.
- Everyone opens it in a browserOnce 2–4 players have joined, the host taps "Start".
Rule highlights
Setup, play, winning, and house rules
Setup
- Two players (up to four here). Each player owns the six pockets along their side and the store (the large pocket, also called the mancala or kalah) at their right-hand end. With two players you can choose seven pockets; with three or four, four pockets.
- Put four stones in every pocket (three by setting). The stores start empty.
- Turns pass anticlockwise. Your own side is always drawn along the bottom of the screen.
How to play
- Choose one of your pockets and pick up every stone in it. Empty pockets cannot be chosen.
- Sow the stones one at a time into the following pockets, moving anticlockwise.
- You drop a stone into your own store as you pass it, but you skip every other player's store. Stones in a store stay there.
- If your last stone lands in your own store, you take another turn.
- If your last stone lands in an empty pocket on your own side, you capture: that stone and all the stones in the matching pocket on the other side go into your store. If the matching pocket is empty, nothing is captured and the stone stays where it landed.
Winning
- The game ends the moment any player's pockets are all empty.
- Every stone still on the board goes into the store of the player whose side it is on.
- The player with the most stones in their store wins. Equal counts share a place. You may also give up, which puts you last.
House rules
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pockets each | How many pockets each player owns. With 2 players choose six or seven; with 3 or 4 players choose six or four. A number that does not fit the table falls back to six. | Six | Can be changed |
| Stones per pocket | How many stones start in each pocket. Fewer stones means a shorter game. | Four | Can be changed |
| Whose stones you captureWhose stones you captureIf your last stone lands in an empty pocket on your side, you capture the stones in the matching opponent pocket plus that last stone into your store. This setting decides whose matching pocket you take from. With Everyone, you take from every other player's matching pocket, so a single capture can be big and comebacks are more common. | Only applies with 3 or 4 players: whose matching pocket you empty when you land in an empty pocket of your own. With 2 players there is only one opponent, so every choice behaves the same. With 3 players nobody sits opposite, so "the player opposite" means the next player. | The next player | Can be changed |
| Swap who starts | Swap the starting player after each game. | On | Can be changed |
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FAQ
How many people can play?
Two to four. With three players the left-hand side of the board is left open.
Can I practise alone?
Yes. Choose Practise alone to play the computer. A computer seat works at any table size.
Can I play if I have never tried it?
Yes. The tutorial takes you from sowing to capturing in about 4 minutes.
Is this the same game as Mancala Basic?
Same equipment, different goal. Here you win by collecting the most stones; in Mancala Basic you win by emptying your own side. Mancala Basic is listed as its own game.
Is there a clock?
No. Take as long as you like. After three minutes of no moves the page gives you a nudge.
Can I play at school or work (unblocked)?
Yes. Mancala runs entirely in your browser, with nothing to download or install, so it works on most school and work networks that block app stores or game downloads. If your network blocks the whole site, ask an administrator to allow boardgamejoin.com.
Is there a 2 player mode?
Yes — Mancala works with 2 players, and up to 4 once more people join.
Can I play against the computer?
Yes. Press “Play vs CPU” on the Mancala page to start right away against a computer opponent — no waiting for other players.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. No app is needed — just open it in a browser. You can join the same party as people on a PC or tablet.
Can I play online with friends far away?
Yes. Start a party and send its invite link. Friends can join in their browsers without signing up.
Is there an app?
This is a free app that runs in your browser. No installation is needed.
Can we play without being online at the same time?
Yes. Choose “Turn-based (told each turn)” and you can make one move whenever you like. We tell you when it is your turn. A Party ends automatically, with no winner or loser, after 45 days without a move.
Rights holder and physical edition
This is a public-domain classic game. The rules follow the standard reference rules.
Related games
Same type (Board)
Same player count
Last updated 2026-09-14 · Run by Qdan, Inc.