| How to Capture in Mancala Posted: 26 Jun 2021 05:00 PM PDT People play the strategy game mancala using stones on a board with cups in it. The object of the game is to be the first player with the most stones in your mancala or home base. Capturing your opponent's stones helps you to get to this goal faster! Learn the basics of the game, and then use capturing strategies to help you win faster. There are only a couple of ways to capture in mancala, so learning these winning strategies is easy. [Edit]Mastering the Basics of Mancala - Place 4 stones into each of the 12 cups. Mancala sets come with a total of 48 stones or marbles. Divide these between you and your opponent so that each of you has 24 stones. Place 4 of your stones into each of the 6 cups on your side of the board and have your opponent do the same. Don't put stones into the mancalas (home cups) at the ends of the board.[1]
- Pick up the stones from 1 of your cups on your turn. To start the game, choose someone to go first. You can do this by tossing a coin or let the youngest player go first. On your turn, pick up the stones in 1 of the cups on your side of the board.[2]
- Never pick up stones from your opponent's side of the board to start your turn. You must start your turn by emptying one of your cups.
- Place 1 stone into each of the cups to the right of that cup. Redistribute the stones into the cups to the right. Move counter-clockwise around the board to redistribute any remaining stones. Only put 1 stone into each cup. When you reach the end of your row, place 1 stone into your mancala, but don't put a stone into your opponent's mancala if you pass it.[3]
- Take turns to continue playing the game. After you finish placing all of your stones into cups, your turn is over. Allow your opponent to do the same on their turn. Alternate turns with your opponent until someone wins the game.
- End the game when all the cups on 1 side of the board are empty. It does not matter if you or your opponent is the first player with empty cups on their side. When 1 of you has no stones in any of the 6 cups on your side, the game is over. Stop taking turns at this point.[4]
- For example, if you empty the last of your cups on your turn, then the game would end right after your turn. Play would not pass to your opponent.
- Count your stones to see who has the most. The player with the most stones is the winner, so count your stones and have your opponent do the same. If you have the most stones, then you win. If your opponent has the most stones, they win. It does not matter how many more stones you have than your opponent or vice versa.[5]
- For example, if you have 26 stones and your opponent only has 18 stones, then you win the game. But if your opponent has 21 stones and you have 20, then your opponent is the winner.
- Note that there will still be stones on the board when the game is over. Only 1 side of the board needs to be empty to end the game. Any stones that remain on the board will not count towards either player's points. For example, say your opponent ends the game by clearing the stones from their side, but you still have stones on your side. These stones do not count towards either of your points. The person with the most stones in their mancala is the winner.[6]
- For example, if you have 21 stones in your mancala and your opponent has 20 stones, then the other 7 stones still on the board are neutral. You would be the winner because you have the most stones.
[Edit]Capturing Stones from Your Opponent's Side - Identify a move that would end on an empty cup on your side. You have to have enough stones in the cup to go all the way around the board and back to your own side. By placing your last stone into an empty cup on your side, you can capture your opponent's stones in the opposite cup. Look for a cup that would allow you to do this. Then, find a cup with the right amount of stones in it and collect them.[7]
- For example, if you see an empty cup on your side and spot a cup 2 spaces away with 2 stones in it, then pick up these stones to make the move.
- Place 1 stone into each space going counter-clockwise. After you pick up your stones, drop only 1 into each cup ahead of that cup. Move counter-clockwise around the board.[8]
- Keep dropping 1 stone at a time until you reach the last space, then drop that stone as well.
- Collect the stones in your opponent's cup across from your cup. As long as the last cup you dropped a stone into was on your side and empty, you may capture the stones in your opponent's cup. You also get the stone you placed into your cup.[9]
- For example, if there are 4 stones in your opponent's cup, then capture those 4 plus your 1 stone for a total of 5 stones.
- Remember, it does not matter how many stones are in your opponent's cup. Whether there is 1, 2, 3 or more stones in a cup, you get to capture them all using this strategy!
- Place your opponent's stones and your stone into your mancala. Once you have gathered up your stones and your opponent's stones, place them into your mancala. These stones are now yours.[10]
- If your board does not have mancalas, then place the stones you capture into a dish or pile in front of you.
- Note that after you capture, your turn is over and it is your opponent's turn.
[Edit]Using the Wari Variation to Capture - Determine if you will be playing by Wari rules before you start. In this variation, you can capture stones the normal way, or depending on the number of stones in your opponent's cups. If the last cup you place stones in on your turn is an opponent's cup with 2 or 3 stones in it, capture the stones in that cup. You can also take the stones in any other preceding cups with 2 or 3 stones in them.[11]
- For example, if you place 1 stone into 4 of your opponent's cups and they each have 2 or 3 stones in them after you do this, then you can capture the stones in all 4 cups.
- However, if only the first and last cup out of 4 have 2 or 3 stones in them, then you can only capture the stones in these cups.
- Look for cups that have 1 or 2 stones and target those cups. You need to have enough stones in your cup to go around your side to the opponent's side of the board. Before you start your turn, look to see if your opponent has any cups with 1 or 2 stones in them. If they do, then you can capture these stones by placing stones into them for a total of 2 to 3 stones per cup. Gather up stones from 1 of the cups on your side of the board. Choose a cup that will allow you to put stones in cups on your opponent's side.[12]
- Collect stones from the cup that you end on if it has 2 to 3 stones. If you place stones into your opponent's cups and the last cup has 2 or 3 stones, capture those stones and place them into your mancala.[13]
- These stones are yours now.[14]
- Gather the stones in previous cups if they also have 2 to 3. Make sure to check the previous cups that you dropped stones into as well. If any cup before the last one has 2 to 3 stones in it, then you may also collect these stones.[15]
- After you finish your capture move, let your opponent take their turn.
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| How to Cook Artichokes Posted: 26 Jun 2021 09:00 AM PDT Artichokes are absolutely delicious, but you may be wondering just how in the world you cook them. With their tough, spiky leaves, they can seem like an intimidating vegetable to prepare. But they're actually really easy! The key is to choose fresh artichokes and properly prepare them. After that, cooking is easy. To help you out, we've put together a handy list of things you can do to make cooking your artichokes a breeze. [Edit]Choose the freshest artichokes. - Look for heavy artichokes with closed leaves that "squeak." Look for healthy, green artichokes and pick them up to inspect them. Artichokes that are nice and weighty and don't feel hollow are ideal and the freshest. As an artichoke gets older, the leaves start to open up, so you want one with leaves still tightly bound. Pick up an artichoke and hold it near your ear. Give it a gentle squeeze and listen for a tiny squeaking sound. It's a simple way to tell if they're fresh and ready to cook.[1]
- A little bit of purple or dark coloring is totally normal.
- If an artichoke looks like it's been burned by frost, it's okay. In fact, they taste even better!
- You also don't want an artichoke that is sealed shut. It may not be ripe and ready to eat. The leaves should be loose enough for you to spread them with your fingers.
[Edit]Cut off the stem and from the top. - Trim down the artichokes to make them easier to cook. Take a sharp kitchen knife and slice off the stem from the bottom so the base of the artichoke is flat. Then, cut off the tips of the leaves from the top of the artichokes to remove them and create an even surface.[2]
- The stem isn't edible and cutting off the tops of the leaves helps the artichokes cook evenly.
[Edit]Trim off about from the perimeter leaves. - The tips of the outer leaves are tough and inedible. They also sit lower than the rest and are tougher to trim when you cut off the tops of the leaves. Take a pair of kitchen shears and trim off the ends of all of the perimeter leaves so they match the leaves at the top of the artichokes.[3]
[Edit]Rinse the artichokes and gently separate the leaves. - Use your fingers to help remove any dirt in between the leaves. It's super easy for dirt to get lodged in the space between the leaves of the artichokes. Hold an artichoke under a cold tap and gently separate the leaves with your fingers to allow the water to flush out dust and dirt.[4]
[Edit]Boil artichokes for 20-40 minutes for a simple option. - Place the artichokes in a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Once the water starts to boil, turn down the heat to keep it at a simmer. Keep an eye on the water as the artichoke cooks and make any necessary temperature adjustments so the water doesn't return to a full, rolling boil.[5]
- The idea is to gently boil the artichoke. A hard, rolling boil could overcook parts of the artichoke and turn it mushy.
[Edit]Steam them for 25-35 minutes as an alternative to boiling. - Add of water to a pot and use a steaming basket. Place your artichokes on top of the steaming basket and bring the water to a boil. Once it starts to boil, turn it down to a simmer and cover the pot to allow the steam to cook the artichoke.[6]
- Try not to open the lid too much so the steam doesn't escape.
[Edit]Grill the artichokes to add a nice charbroiled flavor. - Cut them in half and start with the flat side up. Boil (or steam) the artichokes first. Then, simply cut them in half and place them on a hot grill for about 4 minutes. Flip them to cook the other side. Then, you can eat them by pulling off the leaves and enjoying the fleshy, white part at the base.[7]
[Edit]Roast the artichokes for savory deliciousness. - Bake the artichokes for 70-80 minutes at . Preheat your oven first and gently separate the leaves of the artichokes to loosen them. Drizzle the artichokes with lemon juice and olive oil and season them with salt and black pepper. Wrap the artichokes tightly in aluminum foil, place them in an oven-safe baking dish, and stick them in the oven until they're done.[8]
[Edit]Microwave the artichokes if you're in a hurry. - Place them in a casserole dish and microwave them for 7-10 minutes. Choose a microwave-safe casserole dish and add about of water into the dish with the artichokes. Cover the artichokes with vented plastic wrap or the lid of the dish. Cook them on high for 7-10 minutes and then stick a toothpick into the bottom of the artichoke to see if it's done. It should pierce easily.
- If they aren't done cooking, microwave them for another minute and then test them again.
- You can also add of lemon juice and olive oil to the dish if you want to add more flavor.
[Edit]Pull off the leaves and eat the white fleshy end. - Dip them in a sauce or enjoy them simply with butter. If you're ready to eat the artichoke, simply pull off an outer leaf! Bite down on the small, white fleshy part at the base of the leaf. You can also dip it into a savory sauce like a vinaigrette or some garlic butter. As you work your way through the artichoke, the leaves will become more and more tender.[9]
[Edit]Scrape out the choke and cut the heart into sections. - Remove the hairy bristles and enjoy the meaty core of the artichokes. Eventually, you'll reach the center of the artichoke, which is known as the "choke." Use something like a spoon or butter knife to scrape out the hairy center of the choke so you're left with the heart. Cut the heart into sections and enjoy![10]
[Edit]Artichoke Recipes [Edit]Warnings - The tough, fibrous parts of the artichoke's leaves and the choke aren't edible and could be a choking hazard for young children.[11]
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