To set up the next round, each player uses their seeds to refill the pits on their own side of the board with the original number of seeds. The player with additional seeds collected from the previous round keeps these in their collection, thus getting a head start; while the other player must block out the pits that they have been unable to fill completely. These pits are not included in the gameplay of the new round, placing the trailing player at a disadvantage in terms of choosing pits from which to pick and deposit shells. However, if the player is able to collect six shells, they may choose to deposit these in the blocked pits during the round, thus reviving the pit. The game is over when a player has collected less than the original number of seeds at the end of a round, and is therefore unable to refill any pits to begin a new round. 

Several variations of pallanguzhi exist across the South Indian states. While the rules are usually the same, the number of seeds varies, ranging from four to twelve per pit, with five or six most commonly used. In order for three or four players to play, the board is divided into as many parts, with a certain number of pits assigned to each player. In local languages depending on the region, the pits are often referred to as ‘houses’, and the collection of seeds as ‘capturing’. As the counters are called seeds, the act of dropping seeds into the pits is referred to as ‘sowing’. Historically, boards have been made from wood, with precious materials like sandalwood, ivory or silver used in those commissioned by the wealthy. The boards are sometimes hinged so they can be folded and easily carried, and often feature two larger cavities, in which players deposit their respective seed collections during the game.

The game is rarely played in urban areas today, and has traditionally been more popular in rural parts of South India, especially among women. Here it is commonly played on temporary surfaces, by simply creating rudimentary pits or a grid in sand and using any available material as seeds. Women are also known to have played pallanguzhi during the night-long celebrations for festivals such as Shivaratri and Ramzan. The game is particularly noteworthy on a practical level for training players in quick arithmetic and hand-eye coordination. Organisations such as Kreeda are making an effort to revive pallanguzhi and other traditional games by packaging and selling contemporary versions, and introducing them to families, students and researchers.