Awale i jocs Mancala - Oware and Mancala games
Types of moves
by Jordi Climent
Different Mancala games can be grouped according to the method of movement used, according to the type of captures, according to the number of seeds in each hole at the start of play, and according to the number of rows and holes.
In this section I explain that the Mancala games according to the method of movement can be grouped (as L. Russ indicates) in single lap games and in multiple lap games.
Single lap Mancala games
After all the seeds are lifted out of the hole chosen to begin the move, seeds are redistributed by placing one into each succeeding hole in the appropriate direction. Captures, if any, are made after the last seed is dropped. This type of move characterizes "single lap" games. A game that is classified into this group is the Oware.
Multiple lap Mancala games
The move of multiple lap begins like the move of single lap. As in single lap games, when the end of a player's row is reached and he still has seeds in hand he continues distributing them into his opponent's holes (and, if necessary, back into holes the holes in his own row). If the last seed is dropped into hole containing one or more seeds, the contents of this hole (including the seed just dropped) are lifted and a new lap begun. The move continues in laps until the last seed is drooped into an empty hole. Games that are classified into this group are the Bao and the Ayoayo.
Updated]
Indian-style laps
by Jordi Climent
Many of the Mancala games found in India and Sri Lanka are played with a type of move is called "Indian-style laps". Many Mancala games found in Africa also are played with this type of move. A move begins with the player picking up all the seeds from a hole on his side of the board and redistributing them (sowing), placing one seed into each hole in a specified direction from the chosen hole. When the end of a player's row is reached and he still has seeds in hand he continues distributing them into his opponent's holes (and, if necessary, back into the holes in his own row). Up to here, there are not differences.
The difference consists in the type of following move: after the last seed is placed in a hole, the player picks up the contents of the NEXT hole and a new laps begun. The move continues in laps until the hole with which a player is to "begin" a new lap (the next hole on the hole that the last seed falls) is empty. The Pallam Kuzhi game, the Pallanguli game and the Kisolo game are played with this style of move.
[veure la pàgina en català] [ver esta página en español]