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Reply To: [Cult Radio] Topic suggestion thread

February 14, 2021 at 11:20 am #1610837

blinky465

17028xp

When I was first taught to play Mancala, we played by what I was told were called “African rules” (we used to host international students, and I’m ashamed to admit, I forgot exactly who it was taught me the game) – there’s a specific rule in the game that says if a move exists whereby you make it impossible for your opponent to play, you must choose an alternative move. It reinforces the idea that the game is a passtime, not a competition.

It had a subtlety to the rules for scoring (so someone could be “winning” without collapsing the game) that I’ve forgotten since. But it stuck with me that there existed a game that had a rule specifically preventing a player from ending the game by creating a “winning” situation.

@limburger – we should all get to play a no-win game you say? (cough, Brexit, cough). No thanks.