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Congkak

Congkak

(Public Domain) · 1400
215–0 min6+ yrs3.0/5 complexity6.1 BGG#24.181 BGG20KidsCouplesStrategy
short answer

How do you play Congkak?

Congkak (also known as Sungka and Chongka among others), is a multi-lap sowing game likely derived from Mancala in the 15th century. Most Congkak or Sungka boards have seven pits on each of two sides, with a storehouse on each end of the board for each player.

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Congkak box art
official art · (Public Domain)

Congkak (also known as Sungka and Chongka among others), is a multi-lap sowing game likely derived from Mancala in the 15th century.

Most Congkak or Sungka boards have seven pits on each of two sides, with a storehouse on each end of the board for each player. However, some boards have more or less pits. Each side of the board belongs to one player. Boards are usually made of wood and carved into different designs. The seeds are cowrie shells, though other items can be used.

The game is played similar to Mancala with some notable differences. The goal of the game is to obtain the most seeds. The game starts off with seven seeds in each pit. Players get seeds by placing seeds into their storehouse. Players take the first turn simultaneously. During a player's turn, a player picks up pieces on their side of the board and drops a seed in each pit clockwise, placing a seed in their storehouse, but skipping the opponent's storehouse. If a player drops the final seed in a pit with seeds, the player picks up the seeds in the pit and continues their turn, distributing the picked up seeds in another lap. If a player drops the final seed in an empty pit on their side of the board, they capture all the seeds in the corresponding pit on the opponent's side of the board (as well as the seed they placed in an empty pit). A player's turn ends when a seed lands in an empty pit regardless of which side it lands. Play proceeds until all the seeds on one side of the board are empty. If there are still seeds on a side of the board, the player who owns the side gets all those sides.

Games can also be played in rounds. At the end of a round, each player fills up each pit on their side with the seeds they had in their storehouse; each pit gets seven seeds as in setup. Leftover seeds remain in their storehouse. If there are not enough seeds to fill a pit, the pit gets burned and removed from play. Players cannot put seeds into the burned pit. The series of rounds can be finished when a player can no longer sufficiently fill one pit with seven seeds.

game anatomy
Complexity3.0 / 5
BGG rating6.1 / 10
Vibe
KidsCouplesStrategy
Play time
15–0 min
Players
2
Recommended age
6+ yrs
BGG rank
#24.181
from Trișache · verified

Frequently asked questions

Q1How much does Congkak cost?
No store is currently tracking Congkak. Check the Prices tab — you can set a price alert to be notified when it appears.
Q2Where can I buy Congkak cheapest?
Check the Prices tab — howtoplay.ro aggregates offers from 7+ Romanian board-game stores and tracks price history.
Q3How do you play Congkak?
Congkak is a abstract strategy game, for 2 players, taking ~15–0 minutes, featuring mancala. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Congkak — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q4How many players does Congkak support?
Congkak is played by 2 players.
Q5How long does a game of Congkak take?
A game of Congkak takes about 15–0 minutes. (The first game doesn't count. It never counts.)
Q6What age is Congkak for?
Congkak is recommended from age 6.
Q7How complex is Congkak?
Congkak has a BoardGameGeek complexity of 3.0 out of 5.
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