MŪ TŌRERE

MŪ TŌRERE — RULES

Mū Tōrere is a traditional two-player strategy game of the Māori people of Aotearoa (New Zealand). It's a blocking game — the goal is to trap your opponent so they cannot move.

THE BOARD

Nine points:

• Eight outer points arranged in a ring (the kewai)
• One centre point (the pūtahi)
• Lines connect each outer point to its two ring neighbours, and to the centre

THE PIECES

• Each player has four pieces
• Pōutu (gold) — the darker-coloured pieces
• Mā (red) — the lighter-coloured pieces

STARTING POSITION

Pieces are placed alternately around the ring. The centre point starts empty. Who moves first is random each game.

HOW TO MOVE

• Move one of your own pieces along a line to an adjacent empty point.
• Outer pieces can move to a neighbouring outer point, or to the centre.
• A piece in the centre can move to any empty outer point.

THE CENTRE RULE

A move into the centre is only allowed if at least one of that piece's two outer neighbours is an enemy piece. This is the soul of the game — you can't just hide in the middle. There's no such restriction when leaving the centre.

WINNING

• A player wins when the opponent has no legal moves on their turn.
• If the same position (same pieces on same points, same side to move) occurs three times, the game is a draw.

STRATEGY TIPS

• Controlling the centre gives you flexible access to every outer point — but entering costs you tempo.
• Watch out for positions where all your pieces are blocked by your own pieces.
• Forcing your opponent's pieces against a wall of your own pieces is the fastest way to trap them.
• Aim to reduce the opponent's legal move count — the AI evaluates this heavily.
• Entering the centre on the last move is often decisive.