How does "mancha" translate in the phrase "jugar a la mancha"?

Question

How does "mancha" translate in the phrase "jugar a la mancha"? I am trying to translate Mario Benedetti's poem Hombre Preso Que Mira a Su Hijo, which has the line:

Answer 1

Well, I do know that "jugar a" can mean "to mock", so with that being said:

vos sabés que tuve que elegir otros juegos y que los jugué en serio y jugué por ejemplo a los ladrones y los ladrones eran policías y jugué por ejemplo a la escondida y si te descubrían te mataban y jugué a la mancha y era de sangre

I believe he is saying that he "played" all of the parts, but I am not 100 percent sure.

You know that I had to choose other games

and that I played them seriously

and I played for example thieves

and the thieves were police

and I played for example the hidden

and if they found you they killed you

and I played the stain

and it was of blood.

Answer 2

Hello, I looked up this poem, and the lines:

"Jugué a la mancha

y era de sangre"

to me suggest the author is saying:

I played to the stain/spot, and it was of blood.

Mancha: f, noun is a stain, a spot

That is quite a daunting task you've taken on, translating this poem!

I have no idea what the author means by his words, with any luck, others here will enlighten you!