The traditional Mancala game for Filipinos is Sungka. The Sungka is a popular mind game in the Philippines that involves stones, shells, or gems that the players put on different wholes. It’s a fun and creative game that taps into one’s competitiveness and creativity.
Mancala belongs to a family of board games that’s popular in different parts of the world. And the Filipinos’ well-loved Sungka game is a popular version of the Mancala. The name of the game was derived from the Arabic word ‘naqala’, which means ‘moved.’
What is the Sungka Game?
Sungka is a popular Filipino game first described by Jesuit priest Father Jose Sanchez in 1962. It was featured in the Bisaya language dictionary referred to as Kunggit. He wrote that the game involves pieces of seashells placed on a boat-like wooden board with holes. In this Filipino game, there are two large holes at the left and right parts of the board.
The first hole belongs to your opponent and the other one is yours. You’ll also find 12 small holes in two rows. During the game, you’ll need to place the shells or stones on each of these holes. As you play, keep in mind the positioning of the holes. The lower part belongs to you, and your opponent controls the upper board.
How to play Sungka?
To start, you need to decide on which hole you want to start. Now, pick the shells or stones from this hole. Then, you need to distribute the shells or stones in a clockwise direction. As part of the rule, you need to drop a single shell on every hole including the holes of your opponent except for the opponent’s head. Keep an eye on the hole where you will release the last shell from your hand.
This dictates if you can continue to take a turn. Remember, you may continue your turn starting from any hole if you stopped at your head. The player’s turn ends when the last piece of shell falls into an empty hole.
Sungka strategies + Playing Tips
Sungka is a Filipino board game that can be played by one or two or more players. This can be tricky for new players so it’s best to study the board’s layout and check the rules first. When playing, choose a move that will allow you to take another turn. You can start from the rightmost or the second-rightmost hole of the board.
This will prevent your opponent to take the same opening move. It’s important to plan your next move and observe how your opponent plays. Just like chess and other board games, your move should depend on your opponent’s move. Make a move that will prevent your opponent from capturing your pieces. You can also avoid excessive buildup which could allow you to take compound turns.
Can I play online?
Sungka is traditionally played at homes and family gatherings. But with the popularity of smartphones and the internet, it’s now possible to enjoy this across devices. You can now find websites that feature this game, or you can download an app that lets you play against the computer or with other players.
Once you open this game, your objective remains the same: to control the holes and capture the other players’ pieces. Sungka or Mancala online apps also feature leaderboards that let you collect points and dominate the leaderboard.
FAQ
If you have other questions about its rules or gameplay, you can refer to the section below:
Can I play Sungka for real money?
Yes. Besides being fun and entertaining, you can also play Sungka and win real money and prizes. You can join locally hosted games or find game sites that host it in real money.
Can I play the Sungka online?
Yes. This popular board game is now available in some gambling websites. Also, there are Sungka online apps for iOS and Android that you can download for free. You’ll also find gaming sites that let you enjoy this in multiplayer mode.
How Sungka is called in other countries?
Sungka in the Philippines is also available in different versions with different names in other countries. In Indonesia, they call this Mancala game ‘congklak.’ It is also known as ‘congkak’ in Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore. In Thailand, it has a local name of mak khom. Whichever version you play, you can expect the same set of rules.
Can you play Sungka online for free?
Yes. Thanks to its growing popularity, you can play this game online for free. You can download Sungka games online and install this to your device. Make sure your Android APK or iOS mobile devices are compatible with your chosen Sungka game app. Also, you can play this game for free directly through your browser.