Andada

From Wikimanqala

Andada

Played in: Western Eritrea
Multiple lap
One cycle
12 to 24 holes per row but a multiple of three
Two rows

Andada is played by the Kunama in western Eritrea, mainly by the elders. The boards are dug in the ground.

The game was first described by Richard Pankhurst in 1972 who called it "Andada I (Game 10)". Despite its simple rules, it is very challenging to play well.

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Rules

Andada is based on two long rows of any multiple of three from 12 to no less than 24 holes, which are called ita ("house"). Initially there are two seeds in each hole called ayla ("cow").

Initial position (shortest board)

Play is conducted in an anti-clockwise direction, if not otherwise agreed.

At the first turn a player picks up the contents of any hole of his row and drops them one by one in the next two holes, after which he takes up the next pair of seeds, and proceeds in this way, until a 3,3,0 pattern results.

Possible pattern after the opening

After the opening, the other player decides whether he or his opponent should play the next move (the first regular move of the game).

Seeds are now distributed one by one in the usual manner. If the last seed falls in a non-empty hole, its contents are picked up and distributed in another lap.

The move ends when the last seed falls in an empty hole.

If the last seed falls in an empty hole on the player's own side, all seeds in the opposite hole of the opponent are removed. The captured seeds are not counted at the end, and, for that reason, they needn't be stored.

When both players have only singletons left, seeds reaching the end of the row are removed from the board, instead of moving across on to the opponent's side.

The player who could move last is declared the winner. A draw is not possible.

The game can be also played by agreement in a clockwise direction, which, however, is less common.

The game is often played in teams of two, three or four players, which control an equal portion. Team members may consult among itself how best to move.

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