Each player starts with nine (or three, six, or twelve) pieces ("men"). At the start of the game, there are no pieces on the board. The pieces may rest at any dot on the board, where the lines intersect. The object of the game is to capture all but two of the opponent's pieces.

Players alternate turns. In a turn, the player may either place a piece on the board, or move a piece that is already on the board. A piece may be placed at any open position on the board. A piece may be moved along a line on the board to the next unoccupied position.


When one player has two or fewer pieces left to place or on the board, the game is over, and that player has lost.