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OBJECT:

Reduce your opponent to only two pieces or achieve a position where he can't move. If you get three of your pieces in a row along a line then you have formed a `mill` and you can capture (`pound`) any one of your opponent's pieces that is not also in a mill. Each player begins with five pieces off the board. Place your five pieces on vacant points on the board, alternating turns with your opponent. Once all the pieces have been placed, move a single step along any line.

HISTORY:

The Morris Games are some of the most ancient games known, dating back to the ancient Egyptians. Boards have been found as far away as Sri Lanka and Iceland. Carvings of Nine Men's Morris boards have been found in ancient Viking ships and in medieval furniture of the Westminster Abbey. In the Middle Ages, Nine Men's Morris was extremely popular in Europe, and was often played outdoors with the field of play marked on turf with stones. In `A Midsummer Night's Dream` Shakespeare spoke of it:

The nine men's morris is fill'd up with mud
And the quaint mazes in the wanton green
For lack of tread are indistinguishable

`Morris` comes from Moorish, and was the name of a square dance that the game was said to resemble. Five and Six Men's Morris seem to have lost their popularity around 1600.

STRATEGY:

The initiative is extremely important. The starting player has an advantage, but must be careful because his opponent will have the final drop. The starting player may be able to force a mill in the opening phase, but may end up too crowded together (too little mobility) as a result. The ideal position is a double mill, where a man may move back and forth between two piece groups, forming a mill on every move.

PIECE:

Man:

First drop to any square on the board, then move along the lines.