Nine Men's Morris Strategy: 6 Tips
1. Spread out while placing
Don't rush mills in the placing phase. Men spread across the board move better later; men crowded together get blocked.
2. Take the midpoints
The four midpoints of the middle square each touch four lines: they're the most mobile points on the board.
3. Block, then build
A man your opponent can't move is as good as captured. Before chasing a mill, make sure you're not leaving three men lined up for them.
4. The running mill
Two mills that share a corner man: slide that man out, then back, and you take a man every turn. Setting one up usually wins.
5. Keep mobility in the moving phase
The side with more legal moves is usually ahead. Count your moves and your opponent's before each turn.
6. Three men can fly
Being reduced to three is not the end: a flying man can threaten two mills at once, and the opponent must block both.
Frequently asked questions
What is a running mill?
Two mills sharing a man, so that moving that man back and forth closes a mill every turn, taking a man each time. It's the strongest formation in the game.
Last updated 2026-10-20