Suggest a new activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Report a bug

Optional, 1 image up to 5 MB.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
DoInFreeTime
Report an error in this activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Nine Men's Morris

Nine Men's Morris

Min number of participants 2
Age 7+ yrs.
Safety support by adult Not required
Min duration 15 min.
Cost None (Free)
Environment Indoor / Outdoor

Players alternately place and move nine pieces on a grid to form rows of three called mills, removing an opponent's piece each time a mill is formed until the enemy has none left.

The Essentials

Rules

  • Each player has nine pieces to place on the board's intersections during the placing phase, since the game only moves to the next phase once both players have placed all their pieces.
  • Forming a mill (three of your pieces in a straight line, either during placement or by moving) lets you remove one opponent piece from the board, since mills are the only way to reduce the opponent's pieces.
  • You cannot remove a piece from an opponent's existing mill unless no other pieces are available, since this prevents a player from freely breaking up an opponent's formations.
  • Once both players have placed all nine pieces, movement begins and pieces may only slide to an adjacent empty intersection along the board's lines, not jump or move diagonally (except in the endgame flying rule below).
  • If a player is reduced to exactly three pieces, that player may then move ("fly") a piece to any empty intersection on the board rather than only an adjacent one, since this endgame rule keeps a losing position playable rather than immediately hopeless.
  • A player loses when reduced to fewer than three pieces or when they cannot make a legal move on their turn, since either condition means they can no longer meaningfully continue.

Tips

  • During placement, prioritize intersections with four connecting lines (like the midpoints of each square's sides) over corner intersections, since these central points offer more mill-forming opportunities.
  • Watch for a "double mill" setup, where you can slide a single piece back and forth between two mill positions to repeatedly break and reform a mill each turn, since this creates a strong repeatable piece-removal advantage.
  • Block your opponent's potential mills during placement rather than only building your own, since letting an opponent complete an obvious two-in-a-row is one of the most common beginner mistakes.
  • Save weaker, less valuable pieces to sacrifice when your opponent forces a mill removal, keeping your key formation pieces protected.
  • Study the flying-phase endgame carefully once you or your opponent reaches three pieces, since the tactics change completely and mistakes at this stage are usually decisive.
Activities

Similar activities (see all)

Report an error in this activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Mancala

Mancala

One of the world's oldest strategy games — sow stones around a row of pits, capturing as many as possible in your store, in a deceptively simple yet deeply strategic two-player duel.

Report an error in this activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Backgammon

Backgammon

One of the world's oldest board games — two players race their fifteen pieces around the board using dice, blending luck with deep tactical decisions to bear off first.

Report an error in this activity

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Checkers

Checkers

A two-player strategy classic on an eight-by-eight board — move disc-shaped pieces diagonally and capture your opponent's pieces by jumping over them to clear the board.