Three in a row, and one stone is out!
“Mühle” is a true strategy classic that rewards patience and clever foresight. A little concentration, a little tactics - and you’ve got an exciting duel to play whenever you have a few minutes to spare.
Feel free to try it out with your little ones. Or maybe an older sibling would like to join in, too. In our edition, our delicious Obsties serve as the game pieces ;-)
What makes our version special: The goal is to form a line of three Obsties - the so-called “mill.” Every time you succeed, you get to remove one of your opponent’s Obsties from the board (and eat it). You win when your opponent has only two Obsties left or can no longer move any of their Obsties.
Instructions for the Game of the Mill in the Alete Edition
Here's what you'll need
- The Alete game board (download below)
- Various varieties of Alete Obsties, nine of each as game pieces for two players
- Exactly two players
You can download the game board for the Alete Nine Men’s Morris game here
The three phases of the game:
1. The placement phase:
Both players take turns placing their nine Obsties on empty intersections of the game board. If this results in a row of three Obsties (a mill), any opponent’s Obstie may be removed immediately. Obsties that are already part of an opponent’s closed mill may not be removed (unless all of the opponent’s pieces are in mills).
2. The Moving Phase:
Once all 18 Obsties are on the board, the players take turns moving. An Obstie may only be moved one space along the line to an empty space. If an Obstie mill is completed, an opponent’s Obstie may be removed and “eaten” (subject to the mill protection rule).
3. The Jumping Phase:
If a player has only three Obsties left due to losses, they may jump on their turn. They no longer have to follow the lines but may place their Obstie on any empty space on the board. If this player loses another Obstie (leaving them with only two), the other player wins!
"Mühle" is a great game for showing children in a playful way that you don't always have to win right away. Just like in real life: sometimes patience pays off only a few moves later. Focus on praising good ideas rather than the win itself - that way, the fun stays the main focus for everyone.
Your Alete Team
