Objective of the Game:
The objective of Congkak is to collect more seeds in your storehouse than your opponent.
Materials Needed:
- A Congkak board, which consists of two rows with seven pits each and a larger pit at each end called the "storehouse."
- 98 seeds, evenly distributed at the start (normally 7 per pit).
Basic Rules:
- Setup: Each of the 14 smaller pits receives 7 seeds.
- Begin Play: Randomly decide who will play first.
- Making a Move: During a turn, a player takes all seeds from one pit in their row and sows them clockwise, dropping one seed in each pit (including their own storehouse) but not in the opponent's storehouse.
- Capturing: If the last seed ends in an empty hole on the player's side, the player can capture this seed and the opposing seeds from the opponent's row to put them into their storehouse.
- Extra Turn: If the last seed is placed in the player's storehouse, they get an extra turn immediately.
- Non-Capturing Seeds: Seeds placed into a filled pit are not captured.
- End of a Round: If a player cannot make a move (their row is empty), the game for them ends, and the opponent puts all remaining seeds into their storehouse.
Strategic Considerations:
- Multi-turn Advantage: Try to distribute seeds in a way that allows you to take multiple turns in a row.
- Defensive Play: Avoid leaving your pits with minimal seeds on your opponent's side to prevent captures.
- No Attack Without Defense: Balance your row to prevent the opponent from achieving easy gains from empty pits.
End of the Game:
The game ends when one player's pits are empty, and the other cannot make a valid move. The player with the most seeds in their storehouse wins.
Advanced Rules and Tips:
- Some variations of Congkak feature special rules or starting conditions that make the game more challenging.
- Clever planning and adapting your strategy during the game can be crucial for victory.
