Apple has long added the ability to play games to iMessage. There are many cooperative games like Sea Battle, Basketball, Darts, 8 Ball, and more. You can even play Cup Pong with your conversation partner. But in this article, I will talk about how to play a board game called Mancala.
If you have already tried all the traditional games and are looking for something new, then Mancala is worth spending some of your free time on it. Those who have played it in real life know that this game is interesting and its rules aren’t complicated. So it will be easy for you to figure it out.
But first, you should know how to install Mancala. So read on.
How to install Mancala on iMessage
If you want to install Mancala in iMessage, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Messages app on your iPhone and go to the conversation where you want to play this game.
- Then tap on the App Store icon.
- After that, tap on the Search icon and enter GamePigeon in the field.
- Go to the app’s page and tap Get.
- After that, turn back to the conversation and scroll the apps bar to the right.
- Locate the GamePigeon icon and tap on it.
- Now, select Mancala at the bottom of the list.
- Choose the game mode and difficulty.
- Finally, tap on the Send button.
Once you have completed these steps, you should wait until your conversation partner connects to the game. They should also have GamePigeon installed in iMessage to play with you.
What are the rules in Mancala?
Mancala’s gameplay isn’t complicated. You need to stick to these rules:
- Each player has a store (Mancala) on one side of the board.
- Players take turns choosing a pile from one of the holes. Moving counterclockwise, stones from the selected pile are deposited in the following holes until you run out of stones.
- If you drop the last stone into your store – you get a free turn.
- If you drop the last stone into an empty hole on your side of the board – you can capture stones from the hole on the opposite side.
- The game ends when all six holes on either side of the board are empty. If a player has any stones on their side of the board when the game ends – he will capture all of those stones.
The game’s goal is to fill your store with the most stones.
What are the GamePigeon Mancala tips and tricks?
You should think about every move and make sure you have at least one extra stone. To win at Mancala, follow these tips.
Make the right first move
Your first move determines whether or not you will dominate the game. The best first move in Mancala is to start the game on the third hole.
This start allows you to land in Mancala and, more importantly, to score a point. On subsequent moves, play from the second far right hole or the far right hole.
Set baits
One of Mancala’s best tricks is setting baits. From time to time allow your opponent to raid your stones. This strategy allows you to control their future actions and, more importantly, limit their moves.
However, it is advisable to weigh your options and costs against simultaneous advantages. This strategy is ideal when you have better control of the game.
Gather stones
Stones hoarding is the last and most important strategy in Mancala. The store is vital for two reasons. First, by hoarding, your opponent has access to fewer stones. Second, this strategy makes it easier to capture all the stones.
What is the difference between Captured and Avalanche modes in Mancala?
Capture mode differs in that if you throw the last stone into an empty hole on your side, that stone and all the stones in your opponent’s hole go into your Mancala. This is called a capture. It can significantly increase your chances of winning, especially if your opponent has quite a few stones in his pocket.
Avalanche mode is played similarly to Capture mode but has several key differences. The first difference is that you cannot capture rocks.
As in Capture mode, the player clicks on one of the holes to move the stones. The game then drops the stones one by one into adjacent holes counterclockwise.
The key difference in Avalanche mode is that your turn ends only when you put a stone into an empty hole. For example, if you touch the third hole in your turn, the stones will go into the fourth, fifth, and sixth holes on your side, your Mancala, your opponent’s holes, and so on. But your turn will continue if you throw the last stone into a hole with more stones. It doesn’t matter if you or your opponent had an empty hole. The turn continues anyway.
The longer the turn in Avalanche mode, the more stones you throw at Mancala. And the winning chances will be higher. The turn will continue until you drop the last stone into the Mancala or an empty hole. The game skips your opponent’s Mancala when you move from your opponent’s side to yours.
The game ends when one of the two rows is empty. The player with the most stones in his Mancala wins. When the game ends, any stones left in the other players’ pockets go directly into their Mancala. They also play a part in deciding the winner at the end of the game.
