A strategic two-player game played on a wooden board with two rows of pits (bahay) and larger stores (ulo or inay) at each end. Players take turns scooping and distributing shells, aiming to collect the most in their store. Plan, strategize, and outsmart your opponent!
The game requires two players. There should be seven shells inside the seven holes on each side of the Sungkaan, keeping the larger holes, or “bahay” on each end of the board empty.
On a player’s turn, they pick up all the shells from one of the holes on their respective row. The player then moves clockwise, placing one shell in each following holes, including the opponent’s holes and their own storehouse (but not the opponent’s storehouse).
Rules:
If the last piece in Sungka lands in a hole that already has pieces, you pick up all the pieces from that hole (including the one you dropped) and continue distributing them clockwise.
If it lands in a player’s own home, they get another turn and can choose any hole on their side to start again.
If it lands in an empty hole on their side, the player captures all the shells from the hole on the other side and places them in their home along with the last shell, which ends their turn.
However, if the opposite hole is also empty, the turn ends automatically.
If a player has no shells left on their side during their turn, they lose their turn.
The game ends when there are no shells left in any of the small holes on both sides. The player with the most shells in their home wins the game!
Put seven beads (either shells, small stones, dried tamarind seeds, etc…) on each of the seven holes on both sides of the Sungkaan
Player 1 takes a turn by picking up all the shells in one of the holes on their side of the board and then distributing the shells in a clockwise direction, dropping one on each hole including their own storehouse except for the opponnent’s.
The game ends when there are no shells left in any of the small holes on both sides. The player with the most shells in their home wins the game!
Follow the rules of the game as you play with your opponent.
