Bits and Beyond...

NINE MEN'S MORRIS

The Nine Men's Morris, also called Merrills, is an old English game for two people.  It is played on a board with nine pieces each.  The board consists of three concentric squares linked at the mid points of their sides, forming 24 available spots for placement of pieces.  During the game, each player alternately place his pieces on the board, trying to get three pieces in a line, called a mill.  When a player forms a mill, he can remove one of his opponent pieces from the board.  When all the pieces are already placed on the board, each player then take turns moving one of his pieces to an adjacent spot.  Again, he can remove one of his opponent pieces by forming a mill.  The game is won by the player who reduces his opponent's pieces to two.