ninemensmorris
or
millstones
Basic Layout of the board for you to print and mount on a board, pine ideal.
The History of the game
Nine Men's Morris History reveals that the origin of the game was a dance. A dance that started a long time ago. Nine people dance the Morris dance wearing costumes which relate a story every year in celebration in Europe. The game was brought to us based on this dance.
The Origin of the game
Nine Men's Morris origin is as old as ancient Egypt itself. The board discovered there was carved into the temple of Kurna and it is the first board ever discovered. There as also been reports of a board seen at the castle of Wales, in England, from the 13th century. It was popular during the middle ages. The game is also mentioned in Shakespeares play of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
The Concept of the game
The concept of playing Nine Men's Morris is like playing noughts and crosses. The board is empty in the beginning of the game and then players take turn positioning their stone until a line of 3 stones form a line. Once the line of 3 consecutive stones have been formed, it is called a mill. Unlike noughts and crosses, the stones are not placed on the points of intersection of the horizontal and vertical lines. Once a mill has been formed, then you can take one of the opponents stones off the board. You cannot take one of the opponents stones that is part of a mill. What happens if all the opponents stones are part of a mill and you have just form a mill? Then since there is no regular stones of the opponents on board, you are allowed to take one of his stones that is part of a Mill.
The Nature of the game
The nature of the Nine Mens Morris game is . . .two players use their stones to compete and outdance the opponent off the board. They accomplish this by forming mills and taking the opponents stone until he has less than 3 stones. You can also win if you block all of the opponents possible moves. Coming to the conclusion of the battle of wills, the stones lie strewn about the board, start testament to the meeting of strategies, and tell the stories of battles won and lost.
The Fundamental Rules
The Game starts with the board been empty.There are two players for this game. Each player starts the game with 9 stones. There are 24 points that the stones could be placed at. The players take turn placing the stones until all the stones have been used and placed. Then move a stone along a line to an empty point next to your stone.
Making Mills: When 3 consecutive stones of the same color are placed forming a line, it is called a Mill. A Mill can be formed when the stones are been placed on the board during the first part of the game or when all the stones have been placed and you must slide to form a mill.When a mill is formed then the player is allowed to take a stone of the opponents as long as the stone been taken doesnˇ¦t belong to a mill. What happens if all the opponents stones are part of a mill and you have just form a mill? Then since there is no regular stones of the opponents on board, you are allowed to take one of his stones that is part of a Mill.Hint: Remember that a stone that moves out a mill can always return there to reform a mill and take another stone, when it is the players turn again.
Hint: Remember that a stone that moves out a mill can always return there to reform a mill and take another stone, when it is the players turn again.
3 basic stages:
First Stage:Place all the stones on the Nine Mens Morris board.Second Stage:Move the stones to any vacant points on the board.
Third Stage: "hop" the stones. This is an optional rule but it gives the player some advantage over the opponent and therefore it is sometimes disallowed or discourage.
Hopping: Hopping is the third stage of the game. When a player has 3 stones left, that player is allowed to "hop" to any vacant point and gain some advantage giving new life to the game now that the player has a chance of survival.
Prohibitions: You cannot take an opponents stone that forms a mill unless the opponent does not have any regular stones on board.
Have Fun -
LITTLE HALLINGBURY VILLAGE HISTORY