Roman Empire Times · Games

Three Men’s Morris.
One clear thought.

Play Three Men's Morris. A small board, a patient move, and the pleasure of finding the line.

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A little play. A place to return.

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The history and full rules are open to everyone below.

How to play Three Men's Morris

  1. You play the ivory stones. The computer plays sage. Make a straight line of three of your stones to win.
  2. In a game from an empty board, take turns placing one stone on an empty point. Each side has three stones.
  3. Once all six stones are down, move one of your stones along a drawn line to the next empty point. You cannot jump over a point or a stone.
  4. A winning line can run across, down or diagonally. The computer replies after your move.

Our first lesson teaches placement. The remaining challenges begin with six stones already on the board: you find the winning continuation. Levels 1–10 have a one-move finish; levels 11–30 require two player moves; levels 31–35 require three, levels 36–38 four, and levels 39–40 five, against the strongest defence. Tap an ivory stone, then a neighbouring empty point. Gold dots show the available destinations.

Undo takes back your move and the computer's reply. Hint marks a suggested move. If the same position returns three times, or a game reaches one hundred individual turns, the game calls it a draw; restart or undo to try another approach. This draw rule is our digital safeguard against endless play.

The Roman story behind the board

Ovid briefly describes a small board, three counters on each side and victory through joining one's pieces. Locus Ludi identifies this with Three Men's Morris, a game whose fuller rules appear in Alfonso X's medieval Book of Games. The Roman name is not securely known.

Square patterns with intersecting lines survive in ancient Roman towns. Roman Empire Times uses the nine-point square with diagonals described by Locus Ludi. It offers eight winning lines and a simple change of pace: after placing the stones, players must move them.

A collection to return to

Forty challenges build from a guided first line to positions that reward looking ahead. The computer follows the same rules as you and chooses its strongest defence. Every starting position has a mathematically verified winning path; a wrong turn can still give your opponent the advantage. Nothing is timed.

Open Collection to choose a level or continue from your saved position. Create a free Roman Empire Times account, or sign in, to save your place and return whenever you like.

A full game, whenever you like

After the forty lessons, try Free play. Each new game starts with an empty board and randomly chooses who goes first. Beginner gives you room to learn. Advanced looks ahead. Master uses a complete solution of the board to choose its strongest move, from the opening placements through the sliding phase. You can still win from a winning position; Master never needs to break the rules.

Use the difficulty slider to choose the next game, then select New game. Your current game stays saved until you begin another. The computer takes its turn after yours.

Sources and rules

Ulrich Schädler / Locus Ludi: square Three Men's Morris, rules and historical evidence

University of Fribourg's Locus Ludi: playing ancient games

The board and artwork here are original Roman Empire Times designs. Tutorial positions, computer play and difficulty settings are modern additions.