How to Play · 🫘
How to Play Wawi: the Seed Sowing Board Game, Counting in Saint Lucian Kwéyòl
By Nigel Shomari Nicholas, founder of Jwé Kwéyòl
Goal
Capture 25 of the 48 seeds before your opponent does.
How to play
- You own the 6 pits along the bottom. Each starts with 4 seeds.
- Tap one of your pits to sow its seeds one by one, right along your row and left along the top.
- If your last seed lands on your opponent's side and makes that pit 2 or 3, you capture those seeds.
- Each pit before it on their side that also holds 2 or 3 is captured too.
- The first player to capture 25 seeds wins.
Scoring
A win scores 600, plus 20 for every seed you finish ahead. A draw scores 300. Lose, and each seed you captured earns 10. Higher levels multiply your points.
Timer
No timer against the computer. In a friends room you have 60 seconds a turn. Run out and a random pit is played for you, and running out three times in a row gives up the game.
Levels
Beginner
Pits show the number and the Kwéyòl word, like 4 kat. The computer grabs any capture it sees and otherwise plays at random. Points × 1.
Intermediate
Pits show only the Kwéyòl word. The computer thinks one move ahead. Points × 1.3.
Advanced
Pits show only the Kwéyòl word. The computer plans several moves ahead. Points × 1.6.
Tips
- A pit with 12 or more seeds goes all the way round the board. It skips the pit it came from.
- A move that would capture every seed your opponent has captures nothing, so leave them at least one.
- If your opponent has no seeds left you must give them some. If you can't, the game ends and you keep the seeds on your side.
- Count the seeds in a pit before you play it. That count tells you exactly where your last seed lands.
- Watch for pits on your side holding 1 or 2 seeds. One more seed from your opponent makes them 2 or 3, ready to capture.
- Play with a friend: open a room, send the link, and take turns. Anyone else with the link can watch.