^C^1KALAH
^Cby
^CBrian Sietz

If you heard a brief description of the ancient game of Kalah, you probably 
would not be impressed.  How could a game that is played with a few rocks and 
some holes dug in the ground be the least bit challenging?  Appearances can be 
deceiving, however.  If you enjoy pitting your wits against your computer, 
you're in for a pleasant surprise. 

In the game of Kalah, each player (you and the computer) has six pits; each 
pit is filled with an equal number of stones.  In addition to the six smaller 
pits, each player has large pit, called a "kalah."   To play, the player 
chooses a pit to empty.  The program then distributes the stones counter- 
clockwise around the pits (including the computer's pits, if there are enough 
stones).  If a stone lands in the player's kalah, it stays there.  The player 
who fills his kalah with the most stones wins. 

It is also possible to acquire free moves and to capture the computers pieces.  
To learn more about these options and how they affect your strategy, consult 
the instructions contained within the program itself. 

Running the Program
-------------------

Brian Sietz's Kalah program has a number of special features. The program's 
main menu lets you choose one of four levels of play. (If you are just 
beginning, we suggest that you start out on Level One.  Trust us.)  You can 
also specify the number of stones contained in each pit (from three to eight), 
as well as determine who receives first move in the game.  Another menu option 
runs a short demonstration of a game of Kalah.  (The computer's pits are lined 
up at the top of the screen; your pits are at the bottom.  The computer's 
kalah is located on the left side of the screen, yours on the right side.) 

During the game, you also have a number of options.  If you enter "C", the 
computer will show you what move it recommends. Entering a "T" lets you take 
back a move that proved to be disastrous.  You also have the option of saving 
a game in progress to disk and restoring it later.  To see a full list of 
available commands, press "H" for help. 

DISK FILES THIS PROGRAM USES: 
^FKALAH.CHN
^FPASRUN.COM
^FRETURN.CHN

