Congklak
Sow shells lap after lap and fill your store.
How to play Congklak
Congklak is a mancala game from Indonesia, also known as Congkak in Malaysia and Dakon in Java. The board is often carved like a boat. It has two rows of seven holes with seven cowrie shells each, and a big store at each end. The bottom row is yours, and your store is on your left.
Goal
Collect more shells in your store than your opponent.
Turn by turn
- Pick one of your holes with shells. Tap it or press the keys 1 to 7.
- The shells are sown one by one, clockwise: to the left along your row, into your store, then along the top row. You skip your opponent's store.
- Keep going: if your last shell lands in a hole that already had shells, pick them all up and keep sowing from there.
- Extra turn: if your last shell lands in your store, play again.
- Capture: if your last shell lands in an empty hole on your side, and your shells have already passed your store this turn, you take that shell and all the shells in the hole across.
- If your last shell lands in any other empty hole, your turn ends.
Traditionally both players start at the same time. Here the first move is simplified to normal alternate turns. A player with no shells on their side passes.
End of the game
The round ends when all holes are empty. The player with more shells in their store wins. With the Rounds option set to several rounds, each player refills their holes with seven shells from their store. Holes they can't fill stay closed for that round. The game ends when a player can't fill a single hole, or after seven rounds.
Strategy tips
- Look for exact store landings. A hole whose shell count matches its distance to your store gives you a free turn. Play the one nearest your store first.
- Follow the laps. Long moves keep going from hole to hole. Count where each lap ends before you commit.
- Capture after the first lap. Captures only count once your shells have passed your store, so long moves that come back round are the dangerous ones.
- Watch the hole across. An empty hole of yours facing a big pile is a capture chance. An empty hole of theirs facing your big pile is a risk.
- Think about next round. In the several-rounds game every 7 shells refill one hole, so a big store gives you more holes next time.
Congklak FAQ
Is Congklak the same as Congkak?
Yes. Congklak is the Indonesian name and Congkak the Malaysian one. Rules vary a little by region; this page uses common Indonesian rules.
Why didn't I capture when I landed in my empty hole?
A capture only happens after your shells have passed your own store during that turn, and only if the hole across has shells.
Do both players start at once?
In the traditional game both players make their first move at the same time. Here turns simply alternate from the start, with Player 1 first.
How strong is the computer?
Easy often plays at random. Medium looks a couple of moves ahead. Hard simulates every lap and searches deeper for extra turns and captures.
