Ayo Olopon
Ayo Olopon (Yoruba: Ayò Ọlọ́pọ́n)(pronounced as in A in Cat, YO in Yolk, and the remaining O are pronounced as O in Hot).
Ayo Olopon is a traditional game played by the Yoruba in South Western Nigeria. Known as the "Game of the Intellectual", this game requires a lot of mathematical skill. This game is normally played in with carved wooden box, containing twelve holes (with six holes on each side), and 48 Ayo seeds (four seeds in each hole).
NOTE: any object can be used in place of seeds
Ayo Olopon is a traditional game played by the Yoruba in South Western Nigeria. Known as the "Game of the Intellectual", this game requires a lot of mathematical skill. This game is normally played in with carved wooden box, containing twelve holes (with six holes on each side), and 48 Ayo seeds (four seeds in each hole).
NOTE: any object can be used in place of seeds
Supplies
Since most of us don't have a workshop or weirdly-shaped seeds, we will be using:
1. A Platform (we will be using the ground as the platform)
2. And 48 small stones(1-1.5cm in size)(not larger than your index finger and not smaller than the width of a pen).
Setting up the platform
1. Draw a horizontal line(the line shows the sides of the two players)
2. Draw a very small central vertical line to mark the center, make it almost invisible.
3. Draw the four circles at the centers first, it makes it easier to draw other circles when this is done.
4. Draw the other circles now;
5. Your Platform is basically complete now, but to further Dig holes out of the circles,
6. Put your stones into the circles you drew, make them 4 each.
7. Find a worthy opponent.
Check pictures below for diagram and design(ps: You may decide not to draw the circles and line)
The last picture is a clay model of the ayo playing board, and I use limestone as seeds because it is rare around my place(this makes it impossible to cheat).
1. A Platform (we will be using the ground as the platform)
2. And 48 small stones(1-1.5cm in size)(not larger than your index finger and not smaller than the width of a pen).
Setting up the platform
1. Draw a horizontal line(the line shows the sides of the two players)
2. Draw a very small central vertical line to mark the center, make it almost invisible.
3. Draw the four circles at the centers first, it makes it easier to draw other circles when this is done.
4. Draw the other circles now;
5. Your Platform is basically complete now, but to further Dig holes out of the circles,
6. Put your stones into the circles you drew, make them 4 each.
7. Find a worthy opponent.
Check pictures below for diagram and design(ps: You may decide not to draw the circles and line)
The last picture is a clay model of the ayo playing board, and I use limestone as seeds because it is rare around my place(this makes it impossible to cheat).
How to PLAY
This two player game runs counter-clockwise. Players can only pick up stones from their side of the board, unless they are “capturing” stones from the opponent’s side of the board. The objective is to “capture” all your opponent’s stones.
Step 1 - the BEGINNING (Ibere)
The first player begins by picking up all of the stones from one of their holes, and running them counter-clockwise.
Step 2 - the Opponent's Turn
The opponent does the same, starting from their side.
Step 3 - Capturing, Eating, Getting(Jije)
If the stone movement ends in a hole with four Ayo stones on the opponent’s side, the player “captures” those stones.
When this happens, they win one “house” and remove the stones from the game.
When this happens, they win one “house” and remove the stones from the game.
Step 5 - the Counters (Ibopada)
The opponent must always choose their move to bring one or more stones into the other’s row.
Step 6 - the CONTINUITY
Players take turns until the stones are exhausted.
Step 6 - the WINNER(Ota)
If a player records three straight wins, they become a champion (ota). The loser (ope) quits, and a new player then takes over.
Isetan
Have fun playing Ayo... And learning the terms too.