Nine Men's Morris — free online Board game
Form mills, take men and corner your opponent on the classic three-square board.
Nine Men's Morris is the centuries-old strategy game of mills, free to play in your browser. Each side places nine men on the 24 points of three nested squares, then slides them along the lines. Line up three of your men on one line — a mill — and you remove one of your opponent's men. When a player is down to three men they may fly to any empty point. Reduce your opponent to two men, or leave them with no legal move, to win. Play an easy, normal or hard computer or a friend on the same device, with undo and a win record. No download, no sign-up.
Quick start
- Press Start. You play white and move first; normal is a good first opponent.
- Tap an empty point to place a man. Each side places nine, one at a time.
- When all men are down, tap one of yours, then a highlighted point next to it to slide it there.
- Three in a row on a line is a mill: tap one of the red-ringed men to remove it.
How to play Nine Men's Morris
- The board has 24 points on three nested squares, joined at the middle of each side.
- Placing: players take turns putting one of their nine men on any empty point.
- Moving: once all men are placed, each turn you slide one man along a line to a neighbouring empty point.
- Mill: whenever a move lines up three of your men on one line, remove one of your opponent's men. Men that sit in a mill cannot be taken unless every one of their men is in a mill.
- Flying: a player with only three men left may move a man to any empty point.
- You win when your opponent has fewer than three men or cannot make a legal move. Fifty moves in a row without a mill is a draw.
Controls
- Place or move: tap a point; to move, tap your man first, then its destination
- Remove after a mill: tap a man with a red ring
- Cancel a half-made move: tap the man again, or press Esc
- Take back your last move: the Undo button or U
Strategy tips
- The four midpoints of the middle square are the strongest points: each has four neighbours.
- During placing, keep your men mobile rather than racing for an early mill — blocked men lose the moving phase.
- A "running mill" (a man that can step out of a mill and back in) removes a man every two moves.
- Watch for two of your opponent's men on a line with the third point empty, and block it in time.
Frequently asked questions
Can a man in a mill be removed?
Only when all of that player's men are in mills. Otherwise you must take a man that is not part of a mill.
What is flying?
When a player is down to three men, those men may jump to any empty point instead of sliding to a neighbour. It is the standard rule and gives the losing side a last chance.
Is Nine Men's Morris free?
Yes. It is completely free to play in your browser, with no download, no account and no in-game purchases.
Can two people play?
Yes. Choose 2 players: white moves first, then black, on the same screen.
Can I play on my phone?
Yes. Every point has a large tap area and the board fills the width of a phone screen.