The Molino, also known as Nine Men’s Morris, has thousands of years of history, with evidence of similar games in ancient Egypt around the 14th century BCE. It was popularized in Europe by the Romans, already mentioned in 8 CE in Ovid’s Ars Amatoria. During the Middle Ages, it became a favorite pastime in European courts, especially in the Iberian Peninsula, where Alfonso X played it. Its cultural significance is reflected in boards carved into medieval cathedrals and castles.
Safety Warnings:
This game is not suitable for children, as its pieces are small and can pose a choking hazard if ingested. Therefore, no one—whether child, adult, or animal—should be allowed to put the pieces in their mouth.
If you decide to play with a child, it is essential that they are always supervised by an adult.
Molino
Board:
The game is played on a board consisting of three concentric squares connected by lines, with a total of 24 intersections where pieces are placed and moved.Players:
The game is designed for 2 players. Each player has 9 pieces of a specific color (black or white).Objective:
The goal is to capture 7 of the opponent's pieces or immobilize their movements. A player wins when their opponent has fewer than 3 pieces or cannot make any valid moves.Start:
The board starts empty. Players take turns placing their pieces, one at a time, on any free intersection on the board.Moves:
Once all pieces are placed, players can move them to adjacent free intersections. If a player aligns 3 pieces of the same color in a straight line (horizontal or vertical), they form a "Mill" and can capture one of their opponent's pieces. When a player is left with only 3 pieces, those pieces gain freedom of movement and can jump to any free intersection on the board.
Additional Rules:
A piece that is part of a Mill cannot be captured unless all the opponent's pieces are in Mills.
The same piece cannot be moved twice consecutively in a single turn.
Victory:
The game ends when a player captures 7 of their opponent’s pieces, leaving them with fewer than 3 or Completely blocks their opponent, preventing any possible moves.