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9 Men's Morris - Handcrafted Game Board 2026

Project overview

It all started with an idea and design — first sketches on Instagram. I made this 9 Men's Morris board in early 2026. It's an old game — three concentric squares, 24 intersection points, nine pieces per player. The goal: form a row of three (a "mill") and remove an opponent's piece. First to reduce the opponent to two pieces wins.

Why this game? It's quick to learn, plays in 10–15 minutes, and the board fits on a small piece of wood. Good for a gift or a coffee table.

The game in short

  • Placement phase: Players take turns putting pieces on empty points. Form a mill → remove one opponent piece.
  • Moving phase: After all 18 pieces are on the board, you slide one piece to an adjacent point. Form a mill again → remove another piece.
  • Flying (optional rule): When you have only three pieces left, you can jump to any empty point.

The board has three squares. Each side has three points — corners and midpoints. Lines connect them. That's it.

Technical details

  • Material: Linden wood
  • Dimensions: 20х30х5 см — compact, easy to store
  • Finish: Natural wood with protective coating
  • Technique: Hand-carved, traditional tools
  • Pieces: 18 total (9 per player) — can use pebbles, coins, or custom pieces
  • Duration: About 25–30 hours

9 Men's Morris board - complete view Board with pieces Playing surface detail Corner detail Carving lines Board layout Surface texture Edge work Wood grain Finish detail Natural lighting Alternative angle Complete overview Carving precision Final presentation

Project progress

Marking the board

Early carving

Carving the lines

Refining details

Surface finishing

Finished board

How I made it

  1. Layout: Drew three squares and marked the 24 points
  2. Carving: Cut the grooves for the lines — depth matters so pieces sit well
  3. Points: Made sure each intersection is clear and usable
  4. Finish: Applied oil or varnish for protection

The tricky part: keeping the lines even. If one square is off, the whole board looks wrong. I used a ruler and went slow.

Pieces

The board works with any 18 pieces in two colors. I didn't carve custom pieces for this one — you can use glass marbles, pebbles, or small wooden sticks.

Conclusion

Simple board, old game, plays well. Good for teaching kids or a quick game with a friend. The carving took a few weekends; the result is something you can actually use.

Completed in early 2026. Board is playable as-is; pieces not included.