Numeracy: OwareOware The strategy Game for Two People Oware is one of the oldest existing board games in the world. It belongs to the pit and pebbles classification of games which have been around for over 5000 years and has stood the test of time. Oware and its relatives are played on four major continents America (North and South), Africa, Asia, The Caribbean and Europe. The origins of Oware is lost over time. Some have said it was used as a recording system for monitoring grain going in and out of grain silos in ancient times. Oware is also known as LINKLINK Next Resource Author: Mr Paul Dix & Ms Sarah Scott, Bilbrook Middle School, Staffordshire

The Rules Next Arrangement of board at the beginning of each game or round : Four seeds are placed in each house on a board that is made up of two rows of six houses making twelve in total. Each row of six houses is the territory of the player sitting nearest to them, with two end houses used as stores for captured seeds.

The Rules (continued) BackNext Object of the game: The object of the game is to capture as many seeds as possible. To start: Each player takes it in turns to start. The player must then choose a house from their own territory, from which all the seeds are picked up. Sowing seeds The seeds are then sown in an anticlockwise direction placing one seed in each house around the board. (Not including your store.) Capturing seeds If your last seed lands in an opponents house, and makes the total 2 or 3, then these seeds are captured to your store.

The Rules (continued) Multiple Capture If the house just captured has other houses next to it that have just been made to contain 2 or 3 seeds, these are also captured. Compulsory moves If the situation arises where one player has no seeds to play with, the other player must provide some seeds to the opponent if possible. A move that does not do this whilst being able to feed the other player with seeds is not allowed. End of game The game ends when one player has no seeds to play, any seeds left on the other side add to the opponent’s total. The winner is the player with the most seeds BackNext

Play the Game Oware If you want to know more, play against other people or join in competitions, perhaps become the world champion, here are some useful sites: Stop press:The 6th National Schools Tournament took place on Sunday the 23rd of May 2004 at Gayhurst Primary School, North London. Link