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OWARIX is an open source small game for the Commodore 64, Vic20 (Unexpanded), Plus4/C16, PET40/80, ZX Spectrum, DOS and Windows/Linux via SDL. The Vic20 version is just 3K.

Owarix is a version of one of the oldest known two player games, Oware or Mancala. Boards dating back to Ancient Egypt and Rome have been found, and some finds possibly date the game back as far as 6000 BC.

Commands:
1-6 - Choose pit to move.
N - Start a new game.
Y - Change no of pits.
U - Change no of stones in each pit.
G - Make computer take turn, swapping sides.
A - Auto play demo, Computer v Computer.
I - Change computer IQ, depth of search.
T - Toggle 2 player mode, human v human.
V - Toggle simpler/faster display.
H - Display help.
ESC - Quit to OS (if there is one).

(For a simple quick demo, hit A for Autoplay.)

HOW TO PLAY

The board has 6 small pits on each side; and a large Master pit at each end. Your master pit is on your right, the stones in that are your score. To start four stones are put in each small pit. When it is your move, the player picks up the stones in a pit (1-6) then, moving counter-clockwise, drops a stone in each pit in turn (but skipping the opponents master pit).

If the last stone lands in an empty pit owned by the player, and the opposite pit contains stones, both pits are captured and placed in the players master pit. If the last stone lands in the players master pit, the player moves again. When a player has no stones in their small pits, the game ends. All players stones are added to their master pit, and the player with the most stones wins.

In this version of the game "Side A" (human) plays the bottom pits, with the Master pit to the right, and the Computer plays the top pits. You type a number 1-6 to choose a pit. Remember, if your last stone lands in your Master pit, you get another move!

NOTES

The IQ search level is normally restricted to the range 1-9, wrapping back to 1 when you go past 9.
This is the number of moves the computer looks ahead. To search deeper, you can set 2 player mode then the IQ can be set as high as you want.
But searches can become very slow when you do this, which is why it is normally restricted. On 8 bit platforms levels above 5 will be slow.
A few features are missing from the 3K Unexpanded Vic20 version, ie: the Help screen is not available, and the Board width is limited.