Mancala, the ancient 2-player game of strategy from Africa. Workers who constructed Egypt's Great Pyramid carved mancala boards into discarded building blocks--some of the oldest-known boards date back nearly 4,000 years.

You start by placing stones one by one in the carved bins. Sit back and talk. Relax a little, but not too much, because you have to figure out how to accumulate the most pieces. Be careful - the odds can shift if you take time to blink.

Strategy, which shifts depending on which version of the game you're playing, is necessary in determining where to begin and end your turn to gain the best advantage. A complete game takes about 20 minutes. The wooden board comes complete with glass stones and instructions for a variety of games.