Awari Instructions

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Awari is a popular member of the Mancala family of board games. There are many variants to the rules of this game, which is for two players. This version is between a player and the computer.

Awari uses a board with 14 cups and 36 stones as shown below. The top row of six beige cups belongs to the computer and the bottom row of six pale blue cups belongs to the player.

Initially, the six cups in two rows each contain 3 stones.

The darker beige cup at the left is used to store stones captured by the computer. Similarly the darker blue cup at the right is used to store the player's captured stones.

The board contains two radio buttons which allow the player to select who shall have the first turn, the player or the computer. The game starts when the player clicks on the Start button. If the computer is to have the first turn, it makes its move immediately the Start button is pressed. The player takes his turn and then initiates each subsequent computer move by clicking on the Computer's Turn button.

A turn consists of one or two moves. To make a move, you must select one of your cups by clicking on it. The stones from the selected cup are automatically 'sown' in an anti-clockwise direction, one stone being sown in each cup, starting immediately next to the selected cup. The cups used for captured stones are also included when sowing stones. If the number of stones permits, the sowing continues into your opponent's row.

If the last stone sown is in the cup used for your captured stones, you may take a second turn. If the last stone sown is in an empty cup and the cup opposite contains one or more stones, you will capture all the stones in the opposite cup and also your last stone sown.

When captures (if any) are complete, it will then be the opponent's turn to sow stones.

The game ends when a player has no stones left to sow.

The winner is the player who has captured the larger number of stones. (If at any time a cup contains more than 7 stones, their number is displayed in the cup concerned.)

The initial order of play may be altered for any subsequent game.

Click here to return to the game.

For other information about the Manacala family of games click here.

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