Morabaraba
Free online African board game · Play the computer · No sign-up
Morabaraba in a nutshell
Morabaraba is a two-player strategy game from Southern Africa, played with 12 pieces each, known as cows. You place and then move your cows along the lines of the board, trying to make a row of three, called a mill. Each mill lets you shoot one of your opponent's cows, and you win when they have only two left or cannot move.
- Start with an empty board. Each player has 12 cows in hand. The board has 24 points where lines meet.
- Place your cows. Take turns placing one cow on any empty point, until all 24 cows are on the board or captured.
- Make a mill. Three of your cows in a straight line along a marked line is a mill. Each new mill lets you shoot one enemy cow.
- Shoot a cow. Remove one of your opponent's cows. You may not take one that is in a mill unless all of their cows are in mills.
At a glance
- Players
- 2 players 12 cows each
- Length
- 10 to 20 minutes per game
- Equipment
- 24-point board three squares with diagonals
- Learn it in
- 5 minutes three simple stages
Morabaraba questions
Is Morabaraba the same as nine men's morris?
They are closely related. Morabaraba uses 12 pieces each and a board with diagonal lines, which makes it very similar to twelve men's morris. Nine men's morris uses 9 pieces and has no diagonals.
What is a mill in Morabaraba?
A mill is three of your cows in a row on one of the board's lines, including the diagonals. When you make a new mill, you may shoot one of your opponent's cows.
Can I break a mill and make it again?
Yes. Moving a cow out of a mill and back again on a later turn makes a new mill, which lets you shoot again. Some clubs restrict this, so agree beforehand.
What happens if two mills are made at once?
In the common rules, making two mills with one move lets you shoot two cows. Some players allow only one, so it is worth agreeing first.
What is Umlabalaba?
Umlabalaba is a Zulu name for the same game. It is also known by other names in different languages across Southern Africa.
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