Nine Holes is a two-player

abstract strategy game Abstract strategy games admit a number of definitions which distinguish these from strategy games in general, mostly involving no or minimal narrative theme, outcomes determined only by player choice (with no randomness), and perfect information. ...

from different parts of the world and is centuries old. It was very popular in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

. It is related to

tic-tac-toe Tic-tac-toe (American English), noughts and crosses (Commonwealth English), or Xs and Os (Canadian or Irish English) is a paper-and-pencil game for two players who take turns marking the spaces in a three-by-three grid with ''X'' or ''O''. T ...

, but even more related to

three men's morris Three men's morris is an abstract strategy game played on a three by three board (counting lines) that is similar to tic-tac-toe. It is also related to six men's morris and nine men's morris. A player wins by forming a mill, that is, three of thei ...

, Achi,

Tant Fant Tant Fant is a two-player abstract strategy game from India. It is related to tic-tac-toe, but more closely related to three men's morris, Nine Holes, Achi, Shisima, and Dara, because pieces are moved on the board to create the 3 in-a-row. It is ...

Shisima Shisima is a two-player abstract strategy game from Kenya. It is related to tic-tac-toe, and even more so to three men's morris, Nine Holes, Achi, Tant Fant, and Dara, because pieces are moved on the board to create the 3-in-a-row. Unlike those ...

Picaria Picaria is a two-player abstract strategy game from the Zuni Native American Indians or the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest. It is related to tic-tac-toe, but more related to three men's morris, Nine Holes, Achi, Tant Fant, and Shisim ...

, and

Dara Dara is a given name used for both males and females, with more than one origin. Dara is found in the Bible's Old Testament Books of Chronicles. Dara �רעwas a descendant of Judah (son of Jacob). (The Bible. 1 Chronicles 2:6). Dara (also known ...

, because pieces are moved on the board to create the 3 in-a-row. It is an alignment game.

Goal

To create a 3 in-a-row of one's pieces either horizontally or vertically. Diagonals do not count.

Equipment

A 3 x 3 peg board is preferable. Each player has 3 pieces. One plays the black pieces, and the other plays the white pieces, however, any two colors or distinguishable objects will suffice. The board is easily drawn on the ground or paper.

Rules and gameplay

The board is empty in the beginning. Players decide what colors to play, and who will start first. The game is then played through two stages: ;Drop phase: Each player drops one piece per turn on any vacant space on the board. Players alternate their turns. Pieces cannot move until all three pieces have been dropped. ;Move phase: After each player's three pieces have been dropped on the board, each player can move a piece to ''any'' vacant space on the board. Only one piece can be moved per turn. Players can create the 3 in-a-row at either the drop phase or move phase, and win the game.

Analysis

Analysis has shown that the game is a draw with perfect play.

External links

* http://healthy.uwaterloo.ca/museum/VirtualExhibits/rowgames/nineholes.html * Play online https://parlor-games.azurewebsites.net/game/ternilapilli/ {{Tic-Tac-Toe Abstract strategy games Traditional board games