But always keep in mind that sometimes it can be better not to follow the general instructions I present here, just as sometimes it can be wise to give away a chess piece in order to gain an advantage. It is important to recognise certain situations in order to be able to apply a certain tactical moves. Those situations are presented here. When you are able to understand and recognise a situation when a given tactical move is appropriate, you can force the opponent to play in such a way that the desired situation will be created. The nyumba is central during the first part of the Bao game.
Most situations seek to develop and empty the nyumba most profitably.
In order to acquire skill in the defence and development of the nyumba one is required to know the various combinations that empty the house, since it cannot be emptied withut a preceding capture. We begin with the situation that you will easily recognise. The 'x' stands for the fact that you don't know the exact number of seeds in that hole. When you play A8 the last seed will end in hole A5. Because a4 is empty, you have to choose whether to play the nyumba or to end the move.