====== Mancala Game ====== 



{{software:mancala:mancala.jpg}}







===== Installation =====

  * Download and extract {{download>software:mancala:mancala.zip}}. Execute mancala.exe in the extracted Mancala folder.

  * Click on the buttons with numbers on them, they represent bins with beads in them. You can change options about rules and computer play.

{{software:mancala:mancala_options.jpg}}



===== Rules of the Game =====

  * **THE REAL GAME**: The buttons represent the bins carved into a wooden block, and the numbers represent the stones placed in  these bins.

  * **2 PLAYERS**: Player1 controls the bottom row of bins and has the  store on the right, player2 controls the top row, and owns the  other store.

  * **MOVE**: On your turn, you take the stones in one of your six bins;  and drop them one by one, starting with the next bin or store,  proceeding counter-clockwise. [option: you do not drop into opponent's store.]

  * **FREE MOVE: If the last stone lands in your store, you go again.

  * **STEAL: If the last stone lands in an empty space on your side, you take the stones that are across from it on your opponent's side, and put them into your store. [option: you steal the piece that landed in the empty space.]

  * **END: When all the bins on one side become empty, the game ends.

  * **RESULT: Whoever has more stones in his/her/its store, wins.

 



===== Program Features =====

  * This program is written using MSVC 6.0, as an excercise, while learning MFC and practicing my AI skills.

  * The search engine uses an Alpha-Beta Pruned Search Algorithm. 

  * The evaluation function for a position is the difference in the stores, plus the maximum possible immediate gains, before the opponent gets his turn.

  * To simulate the human play, a //randomness// variable is introduced for selection of moves. When randomness=0, a move is selected among only the best moves. As randomness increases, the good moves  //loose weight//.

  * When the //auto-adjust// option is on, the computer adjusts its strength in order to minimize the difference b/w the storages.

  * This is a single-threaded application. So, do not expect to get a response from your mouse inputs while the engine is searching.