Black has now but three men; and when either party is so reduced in numbers he can jump to any part of the board, regardless of men or intersections, provided the station at which he wishes to stop is not occupied.
To illustrate this latter portion of the game: Give White seven men, on stations 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 17, and 18, and Black three men, at 7, 12, and 15. White moves from 6 to 14; Black, 7 to 13; White, 17 to 20; Black, 15 to 7. By this last move of Black's he can jump to 16, make a line, and pound. White moves 3 to 15; Black, 13 to 16, and pounds 14.
When Black is reduced to two men he loses the game, and this would have occurred had he pounded any other man but 14, as otherwise White could have made a line by the next move.
The game is continued by—
| White. | Black. |
| 15 to 14 | 16 to 13 |
| 20 " 21 | 13 " 16 pounds 9 |
| 8 " 9 | 7 " 13 |
| 11 " 19 | 13 " 7 pounds 9 |
| 18 " 17 | 7 " 20 |
This portion of the game calls for the most skillful playing, since White can also jump when he has but three men left; and as his men stand now, he could complete a line in one or two moves despite Black, provided he could jump. Black must therefore play to gain the advantage of position rather than to pound:
| White. | Black. |
| 14 to 6 | 12 to 18 |
| 21 " 14 | 16 " 21 |
| 17 " 16 | 18 " 17 |
| 6 " 5 |
Now if Black should make his line by jumping from 21 to 23, and pound one of White's men, White could make a line in two moves by jumping to 6, 11, or 12, and thus win the game; but in such a position, between equal players, the game should be a draw.
It is possible to display quite as much skill in Morris as in checkers. But the one, although it looks so simple, requires quite as much study as the other.
In playing, avoid crowding all your men on two squares. If you have the first move, take the corners, and try to make a cross with three men. Keep your adversary blocked as much as possible, and leave your own men free to move. Do not try too hard to form a line while placing the men, or your adversary will have an opportunity to place his for position, and you will be beaten easily when the moving begins.