01/07/2025
SUNGKA is a traditional game that originated in the Philippines. It is also known by various other names such as Congkak, Dakon, and Mancala, which are played in different regions around the world.
However, the specific rules and variations of the game can differ from one country to another. In the Philippines, Sungka is a popular board game that is often played by children and adults alike. The Sungka game is indeed proof of how full the culture, tradition, and history of the Philippine is. We hope that you will be able to try playing this fun game.
SUNGKA Mechanics
Before playing, one must have pebbles, marbles, or seashells, and the most important thing, the Sungka board
To become a legit Sungka player, you should be familiar with the mechanics of the game. To begin a new game, you must place the board horizontally between the two players so that each player has seven houses/holes in front of him, and the heads should be at the far ends to the left and right. Each player's head is the hole/pit to his extreme left. Each player controls the seven holes on his side of the board and owns the "head" to his right. The goal is to accumulate as many pieces in your own "head.
Each player has 49 game pieces (shells, marbles, pebbles or seeds) equally distributed to each of their holes - seven pieces in every hole - except the heads which remain empty.
For the first turn, a player may decide which of the seven houses directly in front of him (on his side of the board) he wishes to begin with. He picks up all of the shells from his chosen hole, and he should then move his hand around the board in a clockwise-direction, dropping one shell in each hole or head he passes over, including all of the holes on both sides of the board and the player's head but NOT the opponent's head.
Where you release the last shell from your hand is very important, as it dictates whether you may continue your turn. If you land in your head, then you may continue your turn from any of your holes.
If you drop your last shell into a hole that already had shells in it, you may pick up every shell in that hole (including the one you dropped) and continue your turn.
The player's (current) turn ends when the last piece falls into an empty hole, whether on the player's side or the opponent's side. If this happens in one of your holes, on your side of the board, then you may claim all the shells in the hole directly opposite (from your opponent's side of the board) and drop them in your head, although the turn is still over.
Both players play simultaneously, and it can be quite hectic. Once a player has ended their first turn, he must also wait for the opponent to complete his turn, and from that point on, players take it in turns to play their turns.
