Congkak

Congkak is a mancala game with Malay origin which is commonly played in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand and also some part of Sumatra and Borneo. Its name is believed to be derived from the word 'congak', which means "mental calculation" in old Malay. The word congkak or congklak also means cowrie shells, which were used in the game. It is the oldest mancala game found in an abandoned castle of Roman Egypt back in the 4th Century AD, and was introduced to Southeast Asia by the Indian or Arabian traders in the 15th century. Back then, congkak was exclusively for royals only. However, this game quickly became famous among the commoners as well, not only among the Malays, but also the Indian Peranakans. The current Malaysian Ringgit 10 sen coin has a Congkak board on the reverse in recognition of the long history of congkak in Malaysia.

The game is easy to play, with only a few equipments needed.

Objective of the game : To get rid of all the seeds (marbles) by removing them across the enemy's pits while placing  each of your seed or marbles into your own house or pit. The player with the most seeds in his or her house or the first to empty his row of holes is declared as the winner.

Equipments :
1. Congkak board

Congkak boards are often made of teak or mahogany wood are often elaborately carved
into various shapes such as naga or birds.
The Congkak board has fourteen holes in two sets of seven (some have ten holes in two sets of five, some have eighteen holes in two sets of nine), plus an additional bigger store-hole for
 each player.

 2. Marbles (seeds)

 A total of 98 pieces are used in the two sets of seven board version.
In Southeast Asia, cowrie shells and tamarind seeds are the most common.
Seven seeds are placed in each hole except for the players' store.

How to Play :

1. The congkak board consists of two rows of 7 holes called the 'houses' and 2 bigger holes called the 'storehouse'.  
2. Each house is filled with 7 seeds while the storehouses are left empty before the game starts.  
3. Both players begin simultaneously by scooping up all the shells in any house on their side. Each drops a seed into the next 'house' and continue clockwise depositing one seed into every house thereafter. A player drops a shell into his storehouse each time he passes it but does not deposit any into his opponent's 'storehouse'.

4. How the game continues, depends on where the last shell of each scoop is deposited.

• IF THE SHELL DROPS INTO THE PLAYER'S OWN 'STOREHOUSE': The player scoops up the shells from any of his 'houses' and distributes them in the cups ('houses') round the board but not in his opponents's 'storehouse'.
• IF THE SHELL DROPS INTO A 'HOUSE' (on either side of the board) CONTAINING SHELLS: The player scoops up all the shells in that 'house' and continues distributing them as described above.
• IF THE SHELL DROPS INTO THE PLAYER'S 'HOUSE' WHICH IS WITHOUT SHELLS: The player is entitled to collect the shells in his opponent's 'house' directly opposite his own. These shells collected from his opponent's house together with his last shell are deposited in his own 'storehouse'. If the opponent's 'house' opposite his own is empty, he deposits only his last shell in his own 'storehouse'. He forfeits his turn and stops playing. It is the opponent's turn now to distribute the shells.
• IF THE SHELL DROPS INTO AN EMPTY 'HOUSE' BELONGING TO THE OPPONENT: The player forfeits his turn and stops playing. He also forfeits his shell and leaves it in the opponent's 'house'. It is the opponent's turn now to distribute the shells.

5. The first round ends when a player has no more shells on his side.

6. Play resumes in the second round with players redistributing shells from their own 'storehouse' to their own 'houses'. Beginning from left to right, seven shells are placed in each 'house'. If a player does not have sufficient shells to fill his own 'houses', the remaining cups are left empty and are considered 'burnt'. The leftover shells are deposited into his own 'storehouse.' The opponent deposits excess shells he has won into his own 'storehouse'.

7. The loser gets to start the second round. Play is continued as before but players will bypass 'burnt houses' for instance no shells are to be dropped into these houses. If a shell is accidentally dropped into a 'burnt house', it is confiscated and stored in the opponent's 'storehouse'.

8. Play continues until one player loses all his 'houses' or concedes defeat.