Three Men's Morris

How to play Three Men's Morris?

Three Stones is very similar to the familiar XOX game, but the tiles can be shifted after being lined up — adding an extra layer of strategy to the game. It is a beginner brain game that can be played in a short time and is easy to learn.

1. Each player has 3 tiles. You take turns placing stones on the empty spots of the 3x3 board.
2. If you place 3 tiles side by side on a line (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) while lining up, you win immediately.
3. If no one has won when all 3 pieces are lined up, it's time to "move": you can only move your pieces to a connected adjacent empty spot.
4. The first player to place their pieces in a row of 3 on a line wins.
5. Neither side can win and if the same situation happens again, the game ends in a draw.

Three Men's Morris strategy tips

• The center point is connected to six of the eight lines; Taking the center in the first move is a great advantage.
• If two of your opponent's pieces are on a line during the stacking phase, immediately cover the third point.
• Consider whether your opponent can use the point you emptied during the sliding phase.

Three Men's Morris history

Three Stones is one of the smallest and oldest members of the mill games. On a 3x3 board, each player has 3 tiles; It is similar to XOX, but is much more strategic as the pieces can be moved after being arranged.

It is a great start for those who are new to strategy games, as the rules can be learned in a few minutes.

Other names: Three Men's Morris, XOX, three stone, Slide XOX