Nine Men's Morris: Rules and How to Play
Nine Men's Morris is a 10-minute game for 2 from ancient Rome: line up three to take an opponent's stone. Place nine each, then move. Free in your browser, no sign-up.
Setup
- 2 players. On your own, play against the computer.
- The board has three nested squares joined by four lines, giving 24 points to play on.
- White and Black have nine stones each; White goes first.
How to play
- First, take turns placing one stone at a time on an empty point.
- When all nine are placed, move one of your stones along a line to a neighbouring empty point.
- When three of your stones stand in a line (a mill), remove one of your opponent's stones. Stones in a mill are safe unless every one of the opponent's stones is in a mill.
- Open a mill and close it again on a later turn to capture again.
- With three stones left, you may fly a stone to any empty point (this can be turned off in the settings).
Winning and scoring
- You win when your opponent is down to two stones or cannot move.
- 50 moves in a row without a capture is a draw.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | In ranked play, a draw counts as halfway between a win and a loss for your rating. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fly with three left | With three stones left, a stone may move to any empty point. Turn this off to keep moving to neighbours only. | On | Can be changed |
| Swap first player on rematch | Play again switches who plays White and moves first. | On | Can be changed |
Terms
- Mill
- Three of your stones in a line. Each new mill lets you remove an opponent's stone.
- Point
- A place for a stone: the 24 corners and crossings of the lines.
- Flying
- With three stones left, a stone may move to any empty point, not just a neighbour.
- First player
- White places first. Play again swaps who goes first.
FAQ
How do I win?
Bring your opponent down to two stones, or leave them with no move.
Can I take a stone that is in a mill?
No — unless every one of your opponent's stones is in a mill.
Can the game be drawn?
Yes: 50 moves in a row without a capture is a draw.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-09-19 · Run by Qdan, Inc.