Terni Lapilli

How to play

"Three little stones" — the moving three-in-a-row Ovid mentions among the games lovers played. Set your three stones on the points of the little board, then slide them along the lines.

Rules

  • First, place your three stones one at a time onto the board’s points.
  • Once placed, tap one of your stones, then a highlighted point to slide it to any neighbouring empty point — including diagonally.
  • Get all three of your stones in a straight line — any row, column or diagonal — to win.
  • An extremely long standoff (90 moves) resolves as a draw.

Tips

Hold the centre — it lies on four of the eight lines and is the strongest point on the board. In the movement phase, threaten two different lines at once so the enemy can only block one; then complete the other.