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Opponent ladder
Numbered opponents with increasing strength, saved locally as you beat each one.
Swahili Strategic Mancala Master Game
Bao · Swahili Strategic Mancala Master Game
Sow and capture seeds across a real four-row mancala board from Tanzania and Zanzibar, and climb a ladder of tougher AI opponents.
- Play style
- AI difficulty ladder
- Best for
- Turn-based strategy sessions
- Where to play
- Mobile or desktop
Live Preview ReadyBao · Free Play
Play Instant ➔Instructions & Rules
How to Play Bao
Follow these simple steps to master the game mechanics and clear every tier.
- 01Step
Choose an opponent from the difficulty ladder, then sow seeds from one of your pits around the board according to Bao’s sowing rules.
- 02Step
Capture opposing seeds when your sowing lands correctly in your own front row facing an occupied opponent pit.
- 03Step
Keep sowing and capturing until your opponent has no seeds left to move, or no legal move remains — the side with more captured seeds wins.
Key Features
Climb a ladder of opponents with real capture tactics.
Bao is a full rule-based four-row mancala engine, played against a heuristic AI that gets tougher as you climb the ladder.
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Four-row sowing
A deeper board than classic two-row mancala, with real Bao sowing and capture rules.
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Traditional roots
A real implementation of the Tanzania & Zanzibar mancala tradition, not a generic board reskin.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Bao?
Bao is a traditional mancala game from Tanzania and Zanzibar, played on a four-row board with real sowing and capture rules.
How is Bao different from Oware?
Bao uses a four-row board and different capture conditions, making it a deeper variant of the mancala family than the two-row Oware/Ayo style games.
How do I win at Bao?
Capture more of your opponent’s seeds until they have no seeds left to move or no legal move remains.
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