The basic move of Bao is sowing (spreading) of seeds. Sowing is the process of putting a determined number of seeds one by one in consecutive holes in the own two rows of the board in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.
Msingi wa Bao ni kusambaza kete. Maana ya kusambaza ni kuhamisha kete moja moja kutoka shimo fulani ndani mashimo yanayofuata kwenye mistari yake kuelekea kutoka upande wa kushoto kuenda kulia (mwendo wa saa) au kutoka upande wa kulia kuenda kushoto (kinyume na mwendo wa saa).