<p>Sounds like you've got a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bao_%28mancala_game%29" rel="noreferrer">Bao board</a>. </p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/UwBGw.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p>Bao, an East African Mancala, is the only known Mancala to make use of square pits as well as round ones. These are called <em>nyumba</em> (house), one for each player, and marks your starting position. There are also some extra rules for the <em>nyumba</em> in the main variation <em>Bao la kiswahili</em>. The Wikipedia article I've linked to has detailed instructions for both simplified (<em>Bao la kujifunza</em>) and <em>Bao la kiswahili</em>. </p>

<p>You can also use the same board, and ignore the shape of the special pits, to play other four-rank Mancala variants. One example would be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omweso" rel="noreferrer">Omweso</a>. Enjoy the cool board!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-04T17:51:10.323Z
That's it!  My board is just like the hinged one on the wikipedia page.  Thanks :)
David Oneill
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-02-03T22:11:14.550Z
2012-02-03T22:11:14.550Z
ire_and_curses
<p>I recently received a Mancala set hand-made from Africa.  It has an unusual set up, and I was hoping someone knew the rules for playing on this set up.</p>

<p>The board is an arrangement of circle and square pits in a board.  There are 4 rows and 8 columns arranged as follows (o = circle pit, x = square pit)</p>

<pre><code>oooooooo
oooxoooo
ooooxooo
oooooooo
</code></pre>

<p>Has anyone seen a board like this before?  Does anyone know if there are rules for playing on a board like this?</p>

<mancala>
What are the rules for playing with this unusual Mancala board?
David Oneill
# What are the rules for playing with this unusual Mancala board?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-02-03)

I recently received a Mancala set hand-made from Africa.  It has an unusual set up, and I was hoping someone knew the rules for playing on this set up.
The board is an arrangement of circle and square pits in a board.  There are 4 rows and 8 columns arranged as follows (o = circle pit, x = square pit)
oooooooo
oooxoooo
ooooxooo
oooooooo

Has anyone seen a board like this before?  Does anyone know if there are rules for playing on a board like this?

**Tags:** mancala


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-02-03. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

Sounds like you've got a [Bao board](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bao_%28mancala_game%29).

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/UwBGw.jpg)

Bao, an East African Mancala, is the only known Mancala to make use of square pits as well as round ones. These are called *nyumba* (house), one for each player, and marks your starting position. There are also some extra rules for the *nyumba* in the main variation *Bao la kiswahili*. The Wikipedia article I've linked to has detailed instructions for both simplified (*Bao la kujifunza*) and *Bao la kiswahili*.

You can also use the same board, and ignore the shape of the special pits, to play other four-rank Mancala variants. One example would be [Omweso](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omweso). Enjoy the cool board!

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That's it!  My board is just like the hinged one on the wikipedia page.  Thanks :)  

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