Togyz kumalak

Togyz kumalak is a two-player mancala-type game. Each player has 9 holes and a "kazan" store on the board, with 9 stones in each hole (162 in all). Players sow the stones around the holes and capture an opponent's hole when it reaches an even number.

Requiring calculation, planning and concentration, it is called "steppe chess". In the past dried sheep droppings or small pebbles were used instead of stones.

In 2020 UNESCO inscribed Kazakh togyz kumalak, Kyrgyz toguz korgool and Turkish mangala/göçürme as a shared heritage. Kazakhstan hosts world championships and teaches the game in schools.