How to play Peg Solitaire
Jump pegs over each other to remove them; finish with one peg — ideally in the centre. Also known as Brainvita, Marble Solitaire, Hi-Q.
The rules
- The board starts full of pegs except for one empty hole (usually the centre).
- A move is a jump: a peg jumps over a neighbouring peg into an empty hole straight beyond it, and the jumped peg is removed.
- Jumps go horizontally or vertically on the English board; other boards (Triangular, Hexagonal and more) allow other directions.
- The goal is to leave a single peg — on the classic board, in the centre.
Playing Peg Solitaire on Puzzle Solvers
- Choose a board — English, European, French, three Triangles, Diamond, Square, Hexagonal, Octagonal or Custom — and the rules.
- Click a peg, then click the empty hole to jump into. Chain jumps continue with the same peg.
- Undo, hints and full replay help you learn the patterns.
A worked example
On the English 33-hole board with the centre empty, the first move is always a peg two holes away jumping into the centre — all four first moves are equivalent by symmetry.
Strategies
- Clear the arms first. On the cross-shaped board, empty the four arms before the centre block.
- Avoid isolated pegs. A peg with no neighbours can never be removed — plan jumps so pegs stay in groups.
- Think in packages. Experienced players learn short sequences that clear a 3-peg line or an L-shape in a fixed number of moves.
- Use undo and hints. The game has undo, hints, chain jumps and replay — use them to learn the patterns.
Common mistakes
- Leaving pegs stranded in corners of the arms.
- Rushing the centre — it is the last area to clear.
Where it comes from
Peg solitaire was played at the French court by the late 1600s. The classic English board has 33 holes and the European board 37.
Frequently asked questions
Which boards are there?
Ten board shapes: English, European, French, Triangle (15, 21 and 28 holes), Diamond, Square 7×7, Hexagonal and Octagonal — plus a custom board you design.
Is it always solvable to one peg?
From the standard English start, yes. Some starting holes on other boards cannot finish in the centre.
What is the fewest number of moves?
On the English board, counting a chain of jumps by one peg as a single move, the record is 18 moves.
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