Togyzkumalak · Toguz Korgool — Rules / Правила

1The board

Each player has 9 holes (called otau) in a row, and one kazan (a big store) for stones they win. You sit at the bottom; your opponent is at the top. Numbers 1–9 are counted from each player's own left to right, so the opponent's hole 1 is at the top right.

2The starting position

Every hole starts with 9 stones. There are 18 holes, so 9 × 18 = 162 stones in all. Both kazans start empty. White (the bottom player) moves first.

3The direction of play

Stones always travel the same way round the board: counter-clockwise. Along your own row they go to the right (from hole 1 towards hole 9), then they continue into your opponent's row from their hole 1 (top right) towards their hole 9 (top left).

4Making a move: sowing

On your turn you choose one of your own holes that is not empty. Take all the stones from it and drop them one by one, along the path: the first stone goes back into the same hole, the next stones go into the following holes.

5Capture: the last stone makes an even number

Look at the hole where the last stone lands. If it is one of your opponent's holes and it now holds an even number of stones (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 …), you take all the stones from that hole into your kazan.

Here is a smaller example. Hole 5 has 6 stones, so the last stone lands in the opponent's hole 1, which had 5 and now has 6: even.

6If the hole has only one stone

A hole with a single stone is special: that stone simply moves to the next hole (it does not stay in the same hole).

7No capture: an odd number

If the last stone lands in an opponent's hole and the number there is odd (1, 3 *, 5, 7 …), nothing is captured. (* exactly 3 is special, see Step 9.)

8Landing in your own row

If the last stone lands in one of your own holes, you never capture, whatever the number is. The turn simply ends.

9The tuzdyk: a special hole

If the last stone lands in an opponent's hole and makes it exactly 3, that hole becomes your tuzdyk (a “salt hole”): you take its 3 stones into your kazan, and the hole is marked with a star. A tuzdyk is a hole that works for you for the rest of the game.

10Tuzdyk: three limits

A tuzdyk cannot always be made. ✗ means “not allowed”; then a count of 3 is treated like any other odd number: nothing happens.

11How a tuzdyk works

Every stone that is dropped into your tuzdyk, by either player, goes straight into your kazan. Nobody can play from a tuzdyk. The opponent's tuzdyk works the same way for them, in one of your holes.

12How the game ends

You win as soon as your kazan holds 82 or more stones (more than half of 162). If both have exactly 81, it is a draw.

If you have no stones to play: when it is your turn and all your holes are empty, the game ends. Your opponent puts all the stones left in their own holes into their kazan, and then the two kazans are compared.

13Playing on this site

Here is what you do on screen.

• Not sure? Tap a hole once to preview the result; nothing is played until you tap it a second time.
• Use Undo to take a move back, and the game analysis after the game to find your biggest mistakes.

14Tips for beginners

• Before every move, check where the last stone lands, and whether the number there will be even.
• Also check what your opponent can capture next. A hole with an odd number of stones can become even when a last stone lands in it.
• Big holes are tempting targets. Try to keep your largest holes away from the opponent's last stones.
• A tuzdyk keeps paying you for the whole game, so choose the right moment. Remember you can only have one.
• Do not run out of stones: if your row is empty on your turn, your opponent keeps everything left on their side.
• You need 82 of 162 stones. Count the kazans as you play.

1Доска

У каждого игрока в ряд 9 лунок (они называются отау) и один казан (большое хранилище) для выигранных камней. Вы сидите внизу, соперник — наверху. Номера 1–9 считаются слева направо со стороны каждого игрока, поэтому лунка 1 соперника — вверху справа.

2Начальная позиция

В каждой лунке сначала по 9 камней. Лунок 18, поэтому всего 9 × 18 = 162 камня. Оба казана пусты. Первыми ходят белые (нижний игрок).

3Направление игры

Камни всегда идут по доске в одну сторону — против часовой стрелки. По своему ряду они идут вправо (от лунки 1 к лунке 9), затем продолжают в ряд соперника, начиная с его лунки 1 (вверху справа) к его лунке 9 (вверху слева).

4Ход: раздача камней

В свой ход выберите одну свою непустую лунку. Возьмите из неё все камни и раскладывайте их по одному вдоль пути: первый камень кладётся обратно в ту же лунку, следующие — в следующие лунки.