PEG SOLITAIRE
Print an outline and use coins, counters or small buttons as pegs. Put one counter in every hole except the listed starting vacancy; aim for the starred target. For a safer classroom craft, draw the holes on card rather than drilling. The short exercises include a separate answer section.
Rules
Each jump needs two neighbouring pegs in a straight line and an empty hole immediately beyond them. The jumped peg is removed; every jump reduces the count by one.
On square grids, jump horizontally or vertically. On the triangle, use any of the six directions parallel to its three sides. A diagonal on a square grid is never legal.
The star marks the required finishing hole. One peg somewhere else is a different result, not a win in this target puzzle. You can undo a jump and explore a different route.
English cross · 33
The 33-hole English cross has rows of 3, 3, 7, 7, 7, 3, 3. Empty d4 and finish at d4 in 31 jumps. This is the classic central game.
European · 37
The 37-hole European board adds four holes to the English shape. Our solvable opening empties c1 and finishes at e1 in 35 jumps. A d4 vacancy cannot finish with a single peg anywhere.
Triangle · 15
The 15-hole triangle has five rows, from one to five holes. Empty a1 and return the survivor to a1 in 13 jumps. Use all six lattice directions. The b3 complement and a1-to-b3 target are impossible.
Diamond · 41
The 41-hole diamond has rows of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1. Empty d2 and finish at f2 in 39 jumps. Do not confuse it with the 32-hole diamond. The centre complement is impossible.
Wiegleb · 45
Wiegleb’s 45-hole cross extends each arm by one row. Empty e5 and finish at e5 in 43 jumps. Unlike the central game, an e1-to-e1 complement is impossible.
Square · 36
The square board has 36 holes in a 6×6 grid. Empty c3 and return to c3 in 34 jumps. It has four middle holes and no unique centre; diagonal jumps are not allowed.
Practice
Planning: solve the 1-, 3- and 5-jump exercises. Before each jump, predict which pegs will remain. Compare two paths and discuss why an isolated peg cannot jump.
Puzzle 1 · 1 Jumps · Leave one peg at a1
1. __________ 2. __________ 3. __________ 4. __________ 5. __________
Puzzle 2 · 3 Jumps · Leave one peg at a1
1. __________ 2. __________ 3. __________ 4. __________ 5. __________
Puzzle 3 · 5 Jumps · Leave one peg at a1
1. __________ 2. __________ 3. __________ 4. __________ 5. __________
Solutions
Puzzle 1: a3 → a1
Puzzle 2: e5 → c3 · c3 → a3 · a3 → a1
Puzzle 3: c5 → c3 · b2 → d4 · e5 → c3 · c3 → a3 · a3 → a1