Al Gercha

One player secretly bites a small mark into one date from the pile without letting the others see which one.

All the dates, including the marked one, are buried together under a shallow patch of sand and shuffled around.

Players take turns gently probing the sand with the palm-leaf spine, trying to feel out and identify the marked date without disturbing the wrong one.

A player who successfully pierces or uncovers the marked date wins that round and keeps it as a prize.

If a player uncovers an unmarked date instead, it is set aside and the burying and shuffling continues with the remaining dates.

The game is replayed with a freshly hidden mark for as many rounds as the players like.