48 seeds · African Mancala · A little strategy every day

Ayo Daily

Your side. Your seeds. Your next clever move.

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ComputerComputer's captured seeds
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COMPUTER← Sowing direction
YOU · Tap a gold-edged pitSow →

How to Play Ayo (Oware Rules)

Ayo (also known as Ayoayo in Nigeria, Oware in Ghana, and part of the worldwide Mancala family) is one of the oldest and purest mathematical strategy games on Earth. This edition uses official single-lap Abapa tournament rules.

  1. Your Pits: You control the 6 bottom pits (1 to 6). The computer controls the 6 top pits. A classic game begins with 4 seeds in each pit (48 total).
  2. Sowing: Pick any non-empty pit on your side. Lift all its seeds and distribute them one by one counter-clockwise (right along your side, left along the computer's side). If a pit has 12 or more seeds, skip the starting pit.
  3. Capturing: If your last seed lands in an opponent's pit and makes its count exactly 2 or 3, you capture those seeds! If the preceding pits on the opponent's side also contain 2 or 3 seeds, you capture those too (in sequence).
  4. Grand Slam Rule (No Starvation): If a capture would strip every single seed from your opponent's side, the capture is cancelled. You cannot starve your opponent.
  5. Feeding: If your opponent has 0 seeds on their side, you must choose a move that sows seeds to their side if available. Legal moves are highlighted with gold borders.
  6. Winning: First player to capture 25 seeds wins immediately! 24–24 is a draw.

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The Heritage & Mathematics of Ayo

Ayo Olopon is a classical African board game originated by the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria, deeply interconnected with the Pan-African Mancala family (known as Oware in the Akan culture of Ghana, Awale in Côte d’Ivoire, Omweso in Uganda, and Bao in Swahili East Africa).

Cultural Significance

Historically carved from single solid blocks of rich hardwood (such as Iroko or Mahogany), the Ayo board was traditionally kept on verandas and community courtyards. The smooth seeds used are traditionally Caesalpinia bonduc (known locally as ashey or nickernuts)—durable, marble-like seeds that produce a resonant, musical click against carved timber.

Mathematical Depth & AI

Unlike chess or checkers, Ayo contains no hidden information and zero chance. It is a game of perfect knowledge, combinatorial math, and forward calculation. Grandmasters anticipate long sowing cycles, creating "kru" (accumulations of 12+ seeds) to trigger massive chain captures. In 2002, computer scientists solved Oware, proving that with flawless play from both sides, the game ends in a draw.

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Last updated: October 2026

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