Rules & objective
Finish with exactly one peg remaining.
- A legal jump moves horizontally or vertically by two holes. The intervening hole must contain a peg and the destination must be empty.
- Each jump removes exactly one peg. Diagonal jumps and jumps over empty holes are not allowed.
- A single remaining peg wins. If several pegs remain and no legal jump exists, you can view the board and use Undo to try a different sequence.
Key terms
- Landing hole
- The empty hole two spaces from the selected peg.
- Isolated peg
- A peg that lacks a nearby partner and landing space for a useful jump.
- Center finish
- Leaving the final peg in the middle hole of the cross.
Difficulty levels
| Level | What changes |
|---|---|
| Easy | Start with 8 pegs in a solvable position. Finish with one. |
| Medium | Start with 16 pegs. Plan a longer sequence of jumps. |
| Hard | The classic 32-peg cross. Aim for a single peg in the center. |
Changing difficulty starts a fresh round. Personal bests are tracked separately.
This version on puzzle free online
Easy starts with 8 pegs in a solvable position, Medium with 16, and Hard with the classic 32 pegs around an empty center. Selecting a peg highlights its available landing holes.
Common questions
Must the final peg be in the center?
Any single-peg finish wins. A center finish is recognized as the stronger result.
Can I recover after running out of jumps?
Yes. Return to the board and use Undo to restore earlier positions, then choose another jump.
Keep exploring
Put the rules into practice.
Use the companion guide for a worked example, strategy and a small practice challenge.
Read the Peg Solitaire guide ↗Browse all wiki articles