Sowing
Take all stones from one of your pits and sow them one by one counterclockwise.
Kalah · classic two-player mancala
Play Kalah online right now
Kalah is the easiest mancala variant to start with: a 6×2 board, 4 stones in each pit, and two stores for scoring. The rules take a minute, but winning depends on counting bonus turns and captures. Play Kalah online in Toguz Arena without downloads: train against the computer or save the game in your profile.
6×2 board
4 stones per pit
Build extra turns by landing the last stone in your store.
Direct board2D / 3D★★★★★
Settings saved in your profile
Computer practice, 2D/3D boards, and profile save
Kalah articles
About the game
What is Kalah?
Kalah was invented by William Julius Champion Jr. in 1940. He shaped it as a modern teaching mancala: short games, clear scoring in two stores, and a simple extra-turn rule.
The starting position has two rows of 6 pits, 4 stones in each pit, and 48 stones total. The goal is to collect more stones in your store than your opponent. A usual game takes about 5-15 minutes.
Kalah is often called just "mancala", but mancala is a whole family of sowing games. Kalah is a strong first step because the rules are clear while the tactics quickly teach forward counting.
Key rules
Kalah rules in 60 seconds
Store
You sow into your own store, but skip the opponent's store.
Bonus turn
If the last stone lands in your store, you move again.
Capture
If the last stone lands in your empty pit, capture that stone and all stones opposite it.
Win
When one side is empty, remaining stones go to their owner. More than 24 stones wins.
What opens after sign-up
A table tuned for Kalah
Your first session opens Kalah directly, without manual setup.
Profile preference
After login, Kalah stays saved as your selected game so you can return in one click.
Train bonus turns
Practice against the computer and learn chains where the last stone reaches your store.
2D and 3D boards
Switch board view during a game without losing the position.
Best first mancala
Kalah is simpler than most variants, so it fits beginners, families, and players who want to start online fast.
Start path
Start playing Kalah in two steps
Create an account or log in
Registration saves your selected game, profile, and board settings.
Board view: 2D / 3D
Open the table
Start computer practice or move to a match once bonus turns and captures feel natural.
Kalah default
Start a Kalah game now
Create an account and Toguz Arena opens your selected mancala with saved settings.
Move hintsRematch tableBoard styles
FAQ
Questions before you start
Is Kalah the same as mancala?
Mancala is a family of sowing games. Kalah is one specific variant with a 6×2 board, two stores, bonus turns, and captures from an empty own pit.
How long does a Kalah game take?
Usually 5-15 minutes. Early games can take longer while players learn bonus-turn counting and captures.
Can I play without downloading anything?
Yes. Kalah opens in the browser; an account saves the game, profile, and board settings.
Can I play Kalah with friends?
Yes. In Toguz Arena you can move toward a match with another player, while computer practice is useful for learning first.