Togyzkumalak

How to play Togyzkumalak

Each player starts with nine stones in each of nine pits. You play the lower row. Select any nonempty pit on your side. With more than one stone, leave one in the starting pit and sow the rest counterclockwise. A single stone moves to the next pit. On a full lap, the original pit receives a stone again.

If the last stone lands on the opponent’s side and makes an even number, capture all stones in that pit. If it makes exactly three, create a tuz and capture those three. Every later stone sown into your tuz goes straight to your score, regardless of who sowed it.

You may own only one tuz. Neither player’s ninth pit can become a tuz, and you cannot create a tuz with the same pit number as the opponent’s existing tuz. Numbering is shown from each player’s perspective. The move remains legal if a restriction prevents creation; the three stones simply stay there.

Capture 82 of the 162 stones to secure the win; 81 each is a draw. If a player has no legal pit on their turn, play ends: each player collects the stones still on their side and the scores decide the winner. This ending is called atsyray.

Can both players own a tuz in pit three?

No. Your tuz cannot have the same pit number as your opponent’s tuz, and neither ninth pit can become a tuz.

Tap a gold-bordered pit to sow. Keyboard players can use Tab then Enter or Space. Undo reverses your last turn and the computer reply. Hint highlights a legal suggestion, not a guaranteed win. Rules reference. Original implementation and board art.