Chisolo
(Tshuba, Mchombwa, Msuo, Natatu)
Ruleset:
Natatu
Game
See the game Chisolo for more details.
Period(s)
Modern
Summary
Most commonly played rules observed by Smith and Dale.
Description
These rules were observed by Smith and Dale among the Ba-Ila people of what is now Zambia.
Rules
4x7-10 board (seven most common). Three counters in each hole, except the leftmost four in the inner row which have, from right to left: 0-0-1-2. On the first turn, sowing occurs in a clockwise direction. On the second turn, the player may sow in either direction, but must continue in the chosen direction for the rest of the game. When the final counter lands in an empty hole in the inner row, the contents of the hole in the opponent's inner row are also captured. If there are also contents in the opponent's outer row hole opposite, these are also taken. When a capture is made, the player may then capture the counters in any one of the opponent's holes as well. If the final counter lands in an occupied hole, the player picks up these counters and continues sowing. The player who captures all of the opponent's counters wins.
Concepts
Browse all concepts for Natatu here.
Reference
Smith and Dale 1920: 232-237.
Other Rulesets
Observed rulesets
One counter
One counter in each hole.
Namudilakunze
Captures only in the outer row.
Nambidi
Two counters per hole.
Origin
Zambia
Identifiers
DLP.GameRulesets.256
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