Generally Accepted Rules (GAR) for Morabaraba.

 

The only accredited board for competition play

The following rules are to be used in all championships:

General:

1. The rules for the version, as depicted in the above image, are known as the Generally Accepted Rules (GAR).
2. For competition play, the board may be made of any material as long as the board has the approved notation which is owned by the International Wargames Federation.
3. Board sizes are:

• For Provincial, National, and International Championships – 490mm x 490mm (Cows being 45mm in diameter and 5mm in depth), and
• All other competitions – 300mm x 300mm (Cows being 30mm in diameter and 10mm in depth).

4. All cows shall have MSSA's logo on the cow.
5. There are 24 junctions on the board.
6. Each player is issued with a set of 12 cows. One set being of a dark colour, and one set being of a light colour.
7. The colour white may not be used for cows as the colour may confuse players as to whether a cow has been placed.
8. Only players who have won MSSA's national championships, or who have received Protea Colours for the game of Morabaraba, may use cows which are green in colour. Such cows are awarded by MSSA in numbered sets. Such players have the right to use such cows instead of any such cows as supplied by any Tournament organiser in any event falling under the jurisdiction of MSSA.
9. The outside ring is known as the “Exterior Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner E1 to E8.
10. The middle ring is known as the “Principle Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner A1 to A8.
11. The inner ring is known as the “Restricted Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner R1 to R8.
12. The notation was developed by Dr. Evgenii Rabiner.
13. Notation shall be scored as follows:

• When placing cows – just write the junction's address, that is “A1”, or “E5”, etc.
• When moving cows – write down the initial junction's address with a hyphen and then the final function's address, for example: “A1 – A8”
• When moving a cow to form a line and 'shooting' one of your opponent's cows, write down the initial junction's address with a hyphen an then the final function's address a multiplication sign and the address of the cow that has just been 'shot', for example: “A1 – A8 x E1”
• Notation of a typical game may appear as follows:

14. The notation for the board is owned by the International Wargames Federation, and boards are readily available from Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA).

How to play:

Play consists of three stages:

 

Stage 1:

• Each player starts with 12 tokens called "cows".

• The player who has been allocated the dark colour begins.

• Starting with a clear board, each player alternatively places one cow at a time on a junction (circle). The aim is to create rows of three, either vertically, diagonally, or horizontally. Cows may only be placed on unoccupied junctions.

• When three-in-a-row is achieved, the player may remove (shoot) one of the opponent's cows. A player can not shoot an opponent's "three-in-a-row" cows if there are other cows on the board left to shoot.

• Only one of the opponent's cows may be shot at a time, even if two (or more) lines of three-in-a-row are achieved with one move.

• Once a cow is shot, it shall not be used in play again. 

Stage 2

• When all twelve cows of each player have been placed on the board as per Stage 1, cows may be moved from one junction to another. A move consists of moving a cow from one junction to an unoccupied junction immediately linked and adjacent to that junction.

• Players may break their own lines of three-in-a-row in order to make new lines, or simply reposition their cows.

• Cows may be moved back and forth to the same two junctions repeatedly. A three-in-a-row may be made, broken and remade repeatedly.

• Notwithstanding the rule that lines may be broken and remade repeatedly, if a player breaks a line to immediately create a new line of three ‘cows’, such player may not move such cow back to the original junction in his/her next move, if it creates a new line.

For example:

Should a player have a ‘cow’ on the junction marked E6, such player may move it to the junction marked as A6 to immediately create a new line. However, in such player’s next move, he/she may not move the cow back to A6, instead, such player must do a different move before moving the cow back to E6 to immediately create a new line.

• Each time a three-in-a-row is remade, an opponent's cow shall be shot.

Stage 3

• When a player has lost all but three cows, then a player may move a cow to any vacant junction on the board with each move.
  

Winning the game

• The game is won when the opponent cannot move any cows: or when the opponent has lost all but two cows.

• When a player is down to three cows, and neither player is able to shoot an opponent's cow within ten moves, the game is a draw.

• For National Championships and National Team Trials, failure to hand in a correct Notation Sheet is an automatic loss.

Competition rules

• Boards and counters shall be provided for the competitors.

• A modified Swiss system will operate throughout the competition. Players shall not play against any relatives in the first degree of consanguinity. Thus a player would not be allowed to play against his/her spouse, parent, brother, sister, and/or child. Additionally where possible a player will not be drawn against any fellow club or team member in the first two rounds of the competition.

• The current IWF scoring system shall be used, that is 1 point for a victory, ½ a point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss per game.

• Each player shall play six games against each opponent. Each player shall start three of such games.

Also read:

• Affiliation: Schools
• Affiliation: Private clubs
• Affiliation: Advantages of affiliation
• Calendar of  Events: 2021
• Colours: Regional Colours
• Entry Dates: All championships
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's High School Championships.
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Student Championships
• Esports titles selected: MSSA's Premier Championships.
• Enents: Gauteng Online Provincial Championships - 29 May 2021
• Ladder: National Ladder Champions
• Notices: MSSA's new Players' Representative - Jessie Joubert (ZAG Academy
• Notices: Lenel Human makes history.
• Notices: Sahil Ebrahim of PES Society elected as MSSA's Western Cape Provincial Director.
• Notices: Derby events
• Notices: Derby events -the way forward.
  
• Notices: Learners may play for both private and school clubs.
• Notices: Home schooling
• Notices: Publishing your club news.
• Notices: Transfer season
• Notices: Calling all those wishing to serve as Selectors to volunteer
• Notices: The various events held by Mind Sports South Africa.
• Qualifiers: Counter-Strike: GO
• Rankings: Clash Royale
• Rankings: Counter-Strike: GO
• Rankings: Morabaraba
• Rankings: Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)
• Results: 2021 Combined Online Provincial Schools Championships
• Results -  Western Cape Online Provincial Championships
• Rules: Morabaraba
• Selection: New National Team Selection Criteria
• Selection: Selecting the national Protea teams for Mind Sports South Africa.
• Test Match results: South African Protea DotA 2 team rises triumphant.
• Test Match results: DOTA2: South Africa vs Azerbaijan
• Trailblazers: Michelle Marder

Morabaraba - the game of the nation.

Morabaraba is an ancient and traditional African board game that has been played for thousands of years. Its origins predate recorded history in Africa. Today, Morabaraba is played in several countries — there is even a World Championship and South African players have been awarded national colours. It has been claimed that approximately 40% of South Africans know how to play Morabaraba — which would be over 20 million people!

Morabaraba is an accessible game that is easy to learn, although its strategic and tactical aspects run deep. While it may be played on specially-produced boards (or computer software) with special counters, it is simple enough that a board can easily be scratched on a stone or into sand, with coins or pebbles, or whatever comes to hand, used as the pieces.

It is far easier to learn than chess or draughts and the rules can be internalised in a mere few minutes. 

The game is, however, not just a variation of noughts and crosses and has been described as subtle and thought-provoking.

On the surface this popular game seems to be a simple variant of the European game Nine Men’s Morris (also known as Muehle, Mill or Merelles). On closer scrutiny it seems more likely that Morabaraba evolved from Mancala games, known to date back to ancient Egypt. A Morabaraba board has actually been found carved into the Great Pyramid of Khufu. One can only speculate as to whether the board was perhaps placed there for the Pharaoh to use in his afterlife, or maybe for the relaxation purposes of the stonemasons. If the board is indeed the same age as the pyramid then the game could be dated back to 2560 BC!

Morabaraba, derived from the English Morris, is its Shangaan name and the one which has come to be actively used in promoting the game. In South Africa it is also commonly known by the name umlabalaba. The name is ultimately derived from Latin merellus meaning a gaming counter. In the traditional European game the counters are commonly referred to as “men”, but in the South African version the counters are referred to as “cows”, the game being particularly popular amongst youth who herd cattle.

Over the centuries Morabaraba has played an important role in African culture, and has been used to teach warriors an appreciation for tactical thinking, as well as evaluating the strategic skills of a chief’s advisers. The game is taken very seriously by its players and, according to legend, African chiefs would select the best Morabaraba players as their advisors and council members! With a recent revival of interest in traditional African culture, Morabaraba is being well received, and is thus being promulgated by many organisations, as well as the department of Sport and Recreation SA (SRSA) as part of the annual Indigenous Games tournaments supported by the department.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) has taken on the mandate of putting Morabaraba on a sound sporting footing in South Africa and internationally. MSSA through IWF promulgated a standard set of rules, and organise tournaments at regional, national and international levels. They also designed, and registered, a Morabaraba board and counters that have to be used in all official local and international competitions: the board has annotations along the side and the MSSA logo appears on the board and counters.

MSSA has invested financially to the development of the game. This has resulted in regular, and very successful, tournaments being held across SA, helping to popularise the traditional game with a new generation of players. MSSA runs annual SA national and provincial championships, school national and provincial championships, and inter-school leagues.

In order to qualify for the national team trials, a player has to finish in the top 20% or top 3, whichever is greater, of a recognised provincial and/or national championship. The national team is then selected at the national team trials. Any registered player can enter the provincial and national championships.

MSSA is affiliated to the International Wargames Federation, which allowed for the establishment of an official Morabaraba World Championship.

Not only has a player (David Hlophe) received the President’s Award — Silver Class — in 2002, but there are now universities, that offer bursaries to players who excel in the game.

From having argued with the NSC in 1996 to have Morabaraba recognised as a sport, it is most rewarding to see the joy on the faces of players receiving provincial and national colours.

According to a report published in the Sowetan, it is estimated that as many as 40% of all South Africans have at some stage played Morabaraba on a recreational basis. However the competitive field is a lot smaller. The largest entry that the MSSA has ever had in any one year is 36,000.

Only official boards with notation must be used in all the MSSA-organised Morabaraba championships and international competitions.

There is no doubt that with the right support, Morabaraba can be one of the biggest games in the world.

Please note that the colours of the national flag may not be used on commercial products without permission from the State President.

Morabaraba rules!

The only accredited board for competition play

The following rules are to be used in all championships:

General:

1. The rules for the version, as depicted in the above image, are known as the Generally Accepted Rules (GAR).
2. For competition play, the board may be made of any material as long as the board has the approved notation which is owned by the International Wargames Federation.
3. Board sizes are:

• For Provincial, National, and International Championships – 490mm x 490mm (Cows being 45mm in diameter and 5mm in depth), and
• All other competitions – 300mm x 300mm (Cows being 30mm in diameter and 10mm in depth).

4. All cows shall have MSSA's logo on the cow.
5. There are 24 junctions on the board.
6. Each player is issued with a set of 12 cows. One set being of a dark colour, and one set being of a light colour.
7. The colour white may not be used for cows as the colour may confuse players as to whether a cow has been placed.
8. Only players who have won MSSA's national championships, or who have received Protea Colours for the game of Morabaraba, may use cows which are green in colour. Such cows are awarded by MSSA in numbered sets. Such players have the right to use such cows instead of any such cows as supplied by any Tournament organiser in any event falling under the jurisdiction of MSSA.
9. The outside ring is known as the “Exterior Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner E1 to E8.
10. The middle ring is known as the “Principle Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner A1 to A8.
11. The inner ring is known as the “Restricted Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner R1 to R8.
12. The notation was developed by Dr. Evgenii Rabiner.
13. Notation shall be scored as follows:

• When placing cows – just write the junction's address, that is “A1”, or “E5”, etc.
• When moving cows – write down the initial junction's address with a hyphen and then the final function's address, for example: “A1 – A8”
• When moving a cow to form a line and 'shooting' one of your opponent's cows, write down the initial junction's address with a hyphen an then the final function's address a multiplication sign and the address of the cow that has just been 'shot', for example: “A1 – A8 x E1”
• Notation of a typical game may appear as follows:

14. The notation for the board is owned by the International Wargames Federation, and boards are readily available from Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA).

How to play:

Play consists of three stages:

 

Stage 1:

• Each player starts with 12 tokens called "cows".

• The player who has been allocated the dark colour begins.

• Starting with a clear board, each player alternatively places one cow at a time on a junction (circle). The aim is to create rows of three, either vertically, diagonally, or horizontally. Cows may only be placed on unoccupied junctions.

• When three-in-a-row is achieved, the player may remove (shoot) one of the opponent's cows. A player can not shoot an opponent's "three-in-a-row" cows if there are other cows on the board left to shoot.

• Only one of the opponent's cows may be shot at a time, even if two (or more) lines of three-in-a-row are achieved with one move.

• Once a cow is shot, it shall not be used in play again. 

Stage 2

• When all twelve cows of each player have been placed on the board as per Stage 1, cows may be moved from one junction to another. A move consists of moving a cow from one junction to an unoccupied junction immediately linked and adjacent to that junction.

• Players may break their own lines of three-in-a-row in order to make new lines, or simply reposition their cows.

• Cows may be moved back and forth to the same two junctions repeatedly. A three-in-a-row may be made, broken and remade repeatedly.

• Notwithstanding the rule that lines may be broken and remade repeatedly, if a player breaks a line to immediately create a new line of three ‘cows’, such player may not move such cow back to the original junction in his/her next move, if it creates a new line.

For example:

Should a player have a ‘cow’ on the junction marked E6, such player may move it to the junction marked as A6 to immediately create a new line. However, in such player’s next move, he/she may not move the cow back to A6, instead, such player must do a different move before moving the cow back to E6 to immediately create a new line.

• Each time a three-in-a-row is remade, an opponent's cow shall be shot.

Stage 3

• When a player has lost all but three cows, then a player may move a cow to any vacant junction on the board with each move.
  

Winning the game

• The game is won when the opponent cannot move any cows: or when the opponent has lost all but two cows.

• When a player is down to three cows, and neither player is able to shoot an opponent's cow within ten moves, the game is a draw.

• For National Championships and National Team Trials, failure to hand in a correct Notation Sheet is an automatic loss.

Competition rules

• Boards and counters shall be provided for the competitors.

• A modified Swiss system will operate throughout the competition. Players shall not play against any relatives in the first degree of consanguinity. Thus a player would not be allowed to play against his/her spouse, parent, brother, sister, and/or child. Additionally where possible a player will not be drawn against any fellow club or team member in the first two rounds of the competition.

• The current IWF scoring system shall be used, that is 1 point for a victory, ½ a point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss per game.

• Each player shall play six games against each opponent. Each player shall start three of such games.

33rd MSSA Gauteng Board Gaming Championships - Springbok Hall, University of Pretoria on 26 March 2016.

Lubabalo Kondlo - the 2015 Gauteng Checkers Champion

The 33rd MSSA Gauteng Board Gaming Championships shall be held in the Springbok Hall, University of Pretoria on 26 March 2016.

The championships shall start on both days at 9H00. Players need to register at least 30 minutes before the start of play. 

The following periods have qualified to be played, and shall be, should sufficient entries be received:

Board gaming
Period	CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE PLAYED
	Saturday
	ROUND 1	ROUND 2	ROUND 3	ROUND 4	ROUND 5
Backgammon	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
Checkers	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
Draughts (Brazilian)	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
Draughts (International)	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
Morabaraba	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45
SesothoMorabaraba	10H00-10H45	11H00 - 11H45	14H00 -14H45	15H00 - 15H45	16H00 - 16H45

In keeping with Mind Sport South Africa's policies re development programmes, entries are free and gratis to registered players who are unable to afford to enter such championships should the member club formally request assistance. Such applications must be directed to the MSSA at: e-mail: mindsportssa@iafrica.com

Entry fees are:              R30.00 for board gamers.

Only players who are registered with fully-paid-up members may participate.

Players are reminded that the majority choice of rules as at the closing date for entries shall be used.

Entry fees can be deposited directly into Mind Sports South Africa's account, held at ABSA Bank, account number, 90 4766 7676.

All entries must be entered onto the club's Google  Drive before or on 23 March 2016.

--

Colin Webster
General Secretary
Mind Sports South Africa
P O Box 19275
FISHER'S HILL
1408
Tel: 011 828 4994
Fax: 086 672 1911
Cell: 073 593 9451
e-mail: mindsportssa@iafrica.com
URL: http://www.mindsportsa.co.za
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa
Twitter: @mindsportssa
Skype: colin.webster4

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is an affiliate of the International eSports Federation, Federation de Jeau du Mondiale, and the International Wargames Federation. Due to its membership of such international bodies, the MSSA is the sole authority for the games that it caters for in terms of the Sport and Recreation Act, number 110 of 1998 (as amended).

The MSSA is responsible for the good governance and promotion of Historical figure games (also known as wargames), Board games (such as Diplomacy, Checkers, Draughts, Morabaraba, Sport Stacking, etc), Card Gaming, Robotics, and eSports (whether they are played on ‘cell phones, Sony® PSP’s, personal computers or similar). 

Generally Accepted Rules for the game of Morabaraba

The official board for all competitions with notation (courtesy Mind Sports South Africa)

MORABARABA/UMLABALABA

The Playing Board

Morabaraba is a game for two players, and although played under different names, is played extensively throughout Africa, Asia and Europe.

General: 

1. The rules for the version, as depicted in the above image, are known as the Generally Accepted Rules (GAR).
2. For competition play, the board may be made of any material as long as the board has the approved notation which is owned by the International Wargames Federation.
3. Board sizes are:

• For Provincial, National, and International Championships – 490mm x 490mm (Cows being 45mm in diameter and 5mm in depth), and
• All other competitions – 300mm x 300mm (Cows being 30mm in diameter and 10mm in depth).

4. All cows shall have the MSSA logo on the cow.
5. There are 24 junctions on the board.
6. Each player is issued with a set of 12 cows. One set being of a dark colour, and one set being of a light colour.
7. The colour white may not be used for cows as the colour may confuse players as to whether a cow has been placed.
8. Only players who have won MSSA's national championships, or who have received Protea Colours for the game of Morabaraba, may use cows which are green in colour. Such cows are awarded by the MSSA in numbered sets. Such players have the right to use such cows instead of any such cows as supplied by any Tournament organiser in any event falling under the jurisdiction of the MSSA.
9. The outside ring is known as the “Exterior Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner E1 to E8.
10. The middle ring is known as the “Principle Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner A1 to A8.
11. The inner ring is known as the “Restricted Ring” and the junctions are numbered clockwise from from the top left hand corner R1 to R8.
12. The notation was developed by Dr. Evgenii Rabiner.
13. Notation shall be scored as follows:

• When placing cows – just write the junction's address, that is “A1”, or “E5”, etc.
• When moving cows – write down the initial junction's address with a hyphen and then the final function's address, for example: “A1 – A8”
• When moving a cow to form a line and 'shooting' one of your opponent's cows, write down the initial junction's address with a hyphen an then the final function's address a multiplication sign and the address of the cow that has just been 'shot', for example: “A1 – A8 x E1”
• Notation of a typical game may appear as follows:

14. The notation for the board is owned by the International Wargames Federation, and boards are readily available from Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA). 

How to play:

Play consists of three stages:

Stage 1:

• Each player starts with 12 tokens called "cows".

• The player who has been allocated the dark colour begins.

• Starting with a clear board, each player alternatively places one cow at a time on a junction (circle). The aim is to create rows of three, either vertically, diagonally, or horizontally. Cows may only be placed on unoccupied junctions.

• When three-in-a-row is achieved, the player may remove (shoot) one of the opponent's cows. A player can not shoot an opponent's "three-in-a-row" cows if there are other cows on the board left to shoot.

• Only one of the opponent's cows may be shot at a time, even if two (or more) lines of three-in-a-row are achieved with one move.

• Once a cow is shot, it shall not be used in play again. 

Stage 2

• When all twelve cows of each player have been placed on the board as per Stage 1, cows may be moved from one junction to another. A move consists of moving a cow from one junction to an unoccupied junction immediately linked and adjacent to that junction.

• Players may break their own lines of three-in-a-row in order to make new lines, or simply reposition their cows.

• Cows may be moved back and forth to the same two junctions repeatedly. A three-in-a-row may be made, broken and remade repeatedly.

• Notwithstanding the rule that lines may be broken and remade repeatedly, if a player breaks a line to immediately create a new line of three ‘cows’, such player may not move such cow back to the original junction in his/her next move, if it creates a new line.

For example:

Should a player have a ‘cow’ on the junction marked E6, such player may move it to the junction marked as A6 to immediately create a new line. However, in such player’s next move, he/she may not move the cow back to A6, instead, such player must do a different move before moving the cow back to E6 to immediately create a new line.

• Each time a three-in-a-row is remade, an opponent's cow shall be shot.

 Stage 3

• When a player has lost all but three cows, then a player may move a cow to any vacant junction on the board with each move. 

Winning the game

• The game is won when the opponent cannot move any cows: or when the opponent has lost all but two cows.

• When a player is down to three cows, and neither player is able to shoot an opponent's cow within ten moves, the game is a draw.

• For National Championships and National Team Trials, failure to hand in a correct Notation Sheet is an automatic loss. 

Competition rules

• Boards and counters shall be provided for the competitors.

• A modified Swiss Chess system will operate throughout the competition. Players shall not play against any relatives in the first degree of consanguinity. Thus a player would not be allowed to play against his/her spouse, parent, brother, sister, and/or child. Additionally where possible a player will not be drawn against any fellow club or team member in the first two rounds of the competition.

• The current IWF scoring system shall be used, that is 1 point for a victory, ½ a point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss per game.

• Each player shall play six games against each opponent. Each player shall start three of such games.