Play Nine Men's Morris Online

Roman Empire, about 500 BCE

If you've ever seen three squares nested inside each other carved into an old step or a church pew, that was probably a Morris board. People have played it almost everywhere.

It's quick to learn and it gets tense fast. Play the AI or a friend here, no download.

Play Nine Men's Morris now, it's free

How to play Nine Men's Morris

  1. The board has 24 points on three nested squares joined at their midpoints. Each player has 9 pieces.
  2. First you take turns placing pieces on empty points. Three in a row on a line is a mill, and a mill lets you remove one of your opponent's pieces.
  3. You can't take a piece that's sitting in a mill unless there's nothing else to take.
  4. Once all pieces are down, you take turns sliding one piece along a line to an empty neighbor.
  5. When you're down to 3 pieces, you can fly to any empty point.
  6. You win when your opponent has only 2 pieces left, or can't move.

Want every detail? Read the full Nine Men's Morris rules.

A little history

Romans carved Morris boards into steps, forums and basilicas all over their empire. Boards have also turned up in medieval cathedral pews, on Viking ships, and in temples in Egypt and Sri Lanka.

Shakespeare mentions it in A Midsummer Night's Dream, where Titania says "the nine men's morris is filled up with mud." It was still a common game in England in his day.

There's more on the history page.

Strategy that actually helps

Don't spend the placing phase chasing mills. It's tempting, but pieces stuck on the outside get trapped once the moving phase starts. Grab the middle ring and the spots where lines cross, they give you the most ways to move later.

The best setup is a piece that can slide back and forth between two mills. Every move makes a mill and takes a piece. If you see your opponent building one, break it up early.

Always check what your opponent can do next before you move. Most games are lost by one missed mill, not by some clever plan.

Nine Men's Morris FAQ

Is Nine Men's Morris free to play here?

Yes. Play the AI or a friend in your browser for free.

How old is Nine Men's Morris?

Boards have been found carved into Roman buildings and medieval churches, and it was hugely popular in medieval Europe. Some older claims about Egypt are disputed, so it's safest to say it's at least two thousand years old.

What happens when you get down to three pieces?

In the common rules, a player with only three pieces left can fly, meaning any piece can jump to any empty spot. If you drop below three, or can't move, you lose.

How long does a game take?

Usually five to fifteen minutes.

Ready to play?

Play the AI at your own level, make a private room for a friend, or hit Quick Match. It all runs in your browser on ancientboardgames.io.

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