While cleaning out the games closet I game across a wooden peg solitaire triangle game. It's a classic logic game, but some of the pegs were missing so the remaining parts were a bit useless. I knew immediately, however, that I cold design a peg game that would not take up precious space in our tiny closet AND would keep my kids busy!
I tossed the wooden board and plastic pegs in the recycling and created a triangle printable, repurposed some pegs from another game and voilà ! I presented peg solitaire to the boys. Neither of them remembered playing it (although I have photographic evidence in the form of this airplane games post) so it was as exciting and challenging as a brand new toy.
Lucky you, I'm sharing the printable, rules and even a video so you and your kids can play, too. Fair warning though: peg solitaire is not as easy as it looks!
How to play:
Follow our step by step instructions below, or watch the how-to video:
Step 1: Download the Printable by entering your email in the form below. Alternatively, you can draw the board by creating a triangle in which the top is one circle and the bottom is five circles.
Step 2: Raid your game closet for pegs from other board games. Any color, or combination of colors will do. In a pinch you can use coins.
Step 3. Arrange pegs in spaces so that there is one empty space. If this is your first time playing, leave one of the corners empty. If you think you are a logic game savant, leave empty a random space in the middle of the board.
Step 5. One peg at a time, jump over other pegs, removing the jumped peg.
Goal: Jump all the pegs, until you have only one peg left on the board.
How to score:
1 peg left: WOW! You are the smartest person in the world.
2 pegs left: Pretty good, my friend
3 pegs left: Try again, I'm sure you can do it.
4 pegs left: Don't quit your day job.
5 pegs left: Nothing left to say.
There are other configurations of peg solitaire games, most notably these two traditional versions (for which we have instructions here!).
Do you want the peg solitaire solution? You'll have to Google it, my friend. We aren't cheaters around here.
More totally awesome and groovy diy games for you and the kids:
- Tchuka Ruma, a solitary mancala game
- Math Tic Tac Toe
- Tapatan 3 in a row game
- Pong-hau-ki from China
- Len Choa: a leopard tiger hunt game from Thailand
Corrin Knebel says
oh my goodness, I am LOVING your site!!! our kids love games and these are some wonderful things I've never heard of. Thank you!
Erica says
Thank you for your kind words. I'm delighted you found some useful ideas for your family.
Mary Lynne Foster says
I remember playing Fox and geese and Nine Hole as a child? Very good games for an only child. I also remember a game with a board like the Fix and Geese board but it was a solitaire game and the goal was to jump pegs until there was only one peg on the board. Does this sound familiar or am I imagining it?
Bonita Fougere says
Do you have a downloadable book with your dice and paper games?