Kauri
A timeless game of shells, strategy, and chance.
The traditional Indian cowrie-shell board game, also known as Chowka Bhara and Chau Ka Baara. Throw the cowries, race your gotis around the board and bring them home before anyone else. Play with friends, or offline against the computer.
Coming soon to Google Play
Play your way
With friends
Create a room, share the six-letter code, and play with 2 to 4 people. The server throws the cowries, so every match is fair.
Offline
Play against 1 to 3 computer opponents, or pass one phone around with family. No internet needed.
Two boards
The classic 5×5 board of the Madhya Pradesh tradition, and a larger 7×7 board for longer games.
Beautiful themes
Dark stone and bronze, parchment, emerald, obsidian, peacock sapphire and Jaipur rose. Themes change only the look, never the game.
How it plays
- Throw four cowries. The number of shells landing slit-up is your move. All four slit-up is 8, all four plain-side-up is 4, and both earn another throw.
- Move one goti. Each player has four gotis that circle the outer squares, then spiral inward to the centre.
- Capture to go inside. Land on a lone rival goti to send it home. You must capture at least once before your gotis may enter the inner path. Crossed squares are safe, and two gotis of one colour protect each other.
- Bring all four home. Reach the centre with an exact throw. The first player with every goti home wins.
The regional rules are still being confirmed with players; the game shows the rules it uses on every board.
Themes
Two themes are free. Premium themes can be tried for a day by watching a short video, or kept forever with a one-time purchase.
