Nine Men's Morris online
Play Nine Men's Morris online for free, right in your browser. Also known as mill or merels, it is one of the oldest board games in the world, and it is just as gripping today. Play the computer at three levels or a friend on the same screen. The pieces are big, and the points you can move to are marked with yellow dots. There is no sign-up and no time pressure, and the game remembers where you left off.
We use the classic rules with 9 pieces for each player. Flying, when a player is down to three pieces, is on by default, but you can turn it off under New game.
How to play Nine Men's Morris
- Light goes first. Take turns placing one piece at a time on an empty point until each of you has placed all 9 pieces.
- Get three of your pieces in a row along one of the lines and you have made a mill. Then you remove one of your opponent's pieces. The pieces you are allowed to take get a red dashed ring.
- A piece that is part of a mill can't be removed, unless all of your opponent's pieces are in mills.
- Once all pieces are placed, take turns moving a piece along a line to an empty neighboring point. Tap a piece, then tap a yellow point.
- When you are down to three pieces, you may fly. That means you can move a piece to any empty point.
- You win when your opponent is down to two pieces or can't move. Use Undo as often as you like, and tap Hint to see a good move.
Tips
Place your first pieces on the middle points of the sides. They have the most neighbors, so your pieces stay free to move later. Watch for two of your opponent's pieces on the same line and block the third point. The strongest setup in the game is a double mill, where one piece can slide back and forth between two mills and make a new mill every time.
Frequently asked questions
How strong is the computer?
On Easy the computer often makes mistakes and misses your mills. On Medium it thinks a few moves ahead and blocks most mills. On Hard it calculates many moves ahead and is a tough opponent. You can always tap Hint to see what it would do in your place.
What does flying mean?
When a player is down to three pieces, that player may move a piece to any empty point instead of only to a neighboring point. It makes the endgame more exciting. You can turn flying off under New game if you prefer to play without it.
Can you remove a piece from a mill?
Normally no. Pieces in a finished mill are protected. But if all of your opponent's pieces are in mills, you may take one of them.
Can the game end in a draw?
Yes. If neither of you makes a mill in 50 moves each while moving pieces around, the game ends in a draw. That mostly happens when both players defend well.