Morris – Three, Six and Nine men’s morris

Nine Men’s Morris

Nine Men’s Morris is a strategy board game for two players that dates back to at least the Roman Empire. The game is also known as nine-man morris, mill, mills, and has been found widely around the world. The game’s origin is uncertain, but it has been speculated that its name may be related to Morris dances, and hence to Moorish, but according to Daniel King, “the word ‘morris’ has nothing to do with the old English dance of the same name. It comes from the Latin word merellus, which means a counter or gaming piece”. The game was popular among Roman soldiers and was widely played during the Middle Ages, along with similar games such as Three, Six, and Twelve Men’s Morris.

Game Components of Morris
– Three, Six and Nine men’s morris

– 1 game board
– 9 player pieces of each color

Game Setup of Morris
– Three, Six and Nine men’s morris

The board is made up of three concentric squares and several transversals, making 24 points of intersection. In modern play, the diagonal lines of the board are usually omitted. Two players, each provided with nine counters of a single color, lay pieces alternately upon the points.

Gameplay Mechanics of Morris
– Three, Six and Nine men’s morris

The object of the game is to get three in a row (a mill) upon any line. On doing so, the player is entitled to remove from the board (capture) one adverse counter, but not one that is in a mill. When all pieces are placed, they slide from one position to another, still trying to form mills and capture enemy pieces. The aim of the game is to reduce the opponent to two pieces, rendering them unable to form any more mills.

Game Objective of Morris
– Three, Six and Nine men’s morris

The objective of the game is to capture the opponent’s pieces by forming mills (three pieces in a row) while simultaneously avoiding being captured.

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