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Rules & variations
Tsoro is not governed by one universal rulebook. The name covers several closely related Zimbabwean four-row sowing games, and neighbouring countries have their own related mancala traditions. Choose a country to read its complete ruleset.
Zimbabwe
The home of Tsoro (also called Fuva or Imbwe). Four rows of pits, anticlockwise relay sowing, paired-column capture.
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Mozambique
Ntxuva (Mβpale) is a Mozambican four-row sowing game closely related to Tsoro.
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Zambia & Malawi
Nsolo and Nchombwa share family with Tsoro but use distinct capture rules.
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South Africa
Moruba is played on a much larger 4Γ12 board and is won by the player with the highest capture total.
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Uganda
Omweso allows free opening setups and recycles captured counters back into play.
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Ghana
Oware Abapa is the classic two-row mancala with 2/3 capture and the 25-seeds-to-win goal.
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Nigeria
Ayo α»lα»Μpα»Μn exists in many family variants; the documented version captures on a final pit of exactly four.
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Bao (Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya)
Bao is a much deeper four-row game with reserves, compulsory captures, and two phases.
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