Chaining free turns in Mancala
Strong Mancala players chain free turns together, playing the pits nearest the store first. Practise a four-move chain. Planning ahead · lesson 1 of 2.
The lesson in words
Several pits here can give a free turn. The order matters: sowing from a pit far from your store adds seeds to the pits nearer it and spoils their count.
Rule of thumb: play the free turn closest to your store first.
Pit 6 (1 seed) and pit 5 (2 seeds) both reach the store.
Try it: Start the chain with the right free turn.
Pit 5 still has exactly 2 seeds.
Try it: Take the next free turn.
Count again: pit 3 has 4 seeds, and it’s 4 steps from your store.
Try it: Take a third free turn.
No free turn left, but pit 5 is now empty, and the pit opposite has seeds.
Try it: Finish with a capture.
Play the free turn closest to your store first, so it doesn’t spoil the others.