Learn Navakankari: Step-by-Step Instructions for Playing Nine Men's Morris

How to Play Navakankari (Nine Men’s Morris)

Navakankari is a strategy board game for two players, known by many names worldwide and often seen etched into temple floors in Karnataka. It’s a game of skill and planning, with the goal to outwit your opponent by forming "sequences of three" pieces while capturing their pieces.

Game Overview

  • Board Design: The Navakankari board is made up of three nested squares connected by intersecting lines. There are 24 points where pieces can be placed, marked by discs.
  • Game Pieces: There are 18 pieces in total — 9 orange and 9 coffee brown.*
  • Objective: The goal is to reduce your opponent to just two pieces or block all their moves.
(In the classic game set, the pieces are boy figurines in red and girl figurines in green.)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Setting Up the Game

  1. Place the empty board between the players.
  2. Divide the pieces so each player gets 9 pieces of the same color.
  3. Decide who goes first.

2. Opening Phase: Placing Pieces

  • Players take turns placing one piece on any vacant point on the board.
  • The aim is to form a sequence of three pieces (a mill) in a straight line (horizontal or vertical).
  • When a mill is formed:
    • Remove one of your opponent’s pieces from the board.
    • You must prioritize removing a piece that is not part of a mill unless all their pieces are in mills.
  • Continue placing pieces until all 18 pieces are on the board.

3. Midgame Phase: Moving Pieces

  • Once all pieces are placed, players take turns moving one piece at a time.
  • A piece can only be moved to an adjacent vacant point connected by a line.
  • The aim is to form new mills and remove more opponent pieces.
  • When a mill is formed during this phase:
    • Remove one opponent piece as per the rules.
  • The game continues until one player cannot move or forms a mill.

4. Endgame Phase: Flying Moves (Optional)

  • If a player has only three pieces left, they enter the flying phase:
    • A piece can "fly" to any vacant point on the board, not just adjacent ones.
  • This rule allows more freedom and can help players make strategic comebacks.

5. Winning the Game

  • The game ends when one player is left with only two pieces, making it impossible for them to form a mill.
  • Alternatively, the game ends in a draw if players block each other or repeat the same moves endlessly.

Simplified Gameplay Flow

  1. Set Pieces: Players alternate placing pieces, aiming to form mills. Capture opponent pieces when a mill is formed.
  2. Move Pieces: Slide pieces to adjacent points, again forming mills to capture more opponent pieces.
  3. Fly Pieces (if applicable): When down to 3 pieces, move freely to any vacant spot.
  4. Win Condition: The game ends when one player has 2 pieces left or cannot make a valid move.

Example Gameplay in Words

  1. Opening Phase: Orange places a piece in a corner. Coffee Brown places one on the opposite corner. Orange forms a mill on the top line and removes one of Coffee Brown’s pieces.
  2. Midgame Phase: Players now move their pieces to adjacent points. Coffee Brown forms a mill and captures one Orange piece. Orange retaliates by forming another mill and removing a Coffee Brown piece.
  3. Endgame Phase: Coffee Brown has only 3 pieces and enters the flying phase. They move a piece from one corner to the opposite side of the board. Orange blocks them, leading to a win.

Navakankari combines strategy and foresight, making it a timeless game for all ages. It’s not just a game—it’s a cultural heritage passed down through generations!