Nine men’s morris
Three in a line takes a piece — the ancient game of mills.
Place your nine pieces in turn, then move them along the lines to a neighbouring empty point. Three in a line (a mill) takes one of the other side’s pieces, never one in a mill unless all are; a move closing two mills takes one. With three pieces left you may fly to any empty point. Two pieces left, or no legal move, loses. Once all pieces are placed, a position seen a third time or 50 moves in a row (both sides counted) without a mill is a draw. Who places first alternates from game to game.
Click or tap a point; to move, pick a piece, then where it goes. Arrow keys move between points, Enter plays, Esc drops the selection.
Nothing leaves your device
This tool runs entirely in your browser. What you type, play or record here stays on your device: nothing is uploaded or saved on a server.
How it works
- Choose the computer and its level, or a friend; take turns placing your nine pieces on empty points.
- Make a mill — three of yours in a line — to take one of the opponent’s pieces; then move pieces along the lines.
- Leave your opponent with two pieces or no move to win; with three left, a player may fly anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the rules of nine men’s morris?
- Players place nine pieces each on the 24 points, then move them to neighbouring points. Every mill — three in a row along a line — removes an opponent’s piece. A player reduced to two pieces, or unable to move, loses.
- What is flying?
- When a player is down to three pieces, they may move a piece to any empty point instead of a neighbouring one — a last chance that makes endgames tense.
- Can I take a piece that is in a mill?
- Only when all of the opponent’s pieces are in mills; otherwise you must take one that isn’t.
- Any tips?
- Don’t rush to make mills while placing — keep your pieces mobile and aim for a position where one piece can open and close a mill every move.
- Is anything sent anywhere?
- No. The game runs in your browser.