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.