24-Point Variant of Morabaraba
Traditional Morabaraba
The classic 24-point board — internationally known as 12 Men's Morris (or Twelve Men's Morris).
Traditional is the name this site uses for the 24-point Morabaraba — the version most people mean when they say "Morabaraba" without qualification. It's also the variant that international board-game references call 12 Men's Morris (or Twelve Men's Morris). Its close cousin Nine Men's Morris, also called Mill or Mühle, uses the same three squares without the diagonals and gives each player nine pieces instead of twelve.
The board has 24 points on three squares, joined by eight lines: four through the midpoints and four through the corners (the diagonals). The centre is not a point. Two players place, then move, 12 cows each, forming a "mill" — three in a row along any line, diagonals included — to shoot one of the opponent's cows. A cow standing in a mill is safe unless every one of its herd is in a mill.
These are the Classic South African rules used in tournaments: cows only ever move along the lines, there is no flying, a player whose cows are all blocked loses, and one move that closes two mills earns two shots. On this site and in the app, a player down to three cows may fly.
How Morabaraba compares with Nine Men's MorrisCommon Questions
Is Traditional Morabaraba the same as 12 Men's Morris?
Yes. "Traditional" is this site's name for the 24-point variant, and "12 Men's Morris" is the term used for the same game internationally — same board, same rules.
Is Traditional Morabaraba the same as Nine Men's Morris?
No. Nine Men's Morris (Mill, Mühle) is a close relative on the same three squares, but it has no diagonal lines and gives each player 9 pieces. Traditional Morabaraba adds the diagonals and plays with 12. Both are playable here: choose Nine Men's Morris as your board when you start a game.
What makes Traditional different from Koti?
Traditional has no centre point, protects cows inside a mill, and a blocked player loses. Koti adds a live centre point, makes forming and blocking mills mandatory, lets a blocked player pass, and allows any cow to be shot regardless of mills.
How many pieces does each player start with?
12 cows each, placed one at a time until all 24 are on the board, then moved one step along the lines.
Is there flying in Traditional Morabaraba?
Not under the Classic South African rules used in tournaments: a player with three cows still moves only along the lines, and can be blocked. On this site and in the app, a player reduced to three cows may fly to any empty point.
Do mills along the diagonals count?
Yes. A mill is three cows in a straight line along any marked line of the board: a square's edge, a midline, or a diagonal. Three cows round a corner are not a mill.
Can I play Traditional Morabaraba online for free?
Yes — play free against the computer or challenge other players online, no sign-up required to start.
Looking for the other regional variant?
Read about Koti (the 25-point variant)